U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka is urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to begin implementing a law he wrote that requires caregiver support for wounded veterans.

Akaka said in a statement Tuesday the law went into effect Jan. 30, but the Obama administration’s departments haven’t even planned to carry out the law.

Akaka says the federal government has a duty to provide assistance to families and caregivers of veterans who served the nation.

He says the nation should support respite care, technical assistance, counseling and a living stipend for those who must give up their jobs to care for their loved ones.

The Democratic senator representing Hawaii and 17 other senators sent a letter Monday to Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew.