[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4374 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4374

   To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include screening for 
 loneliness and coordination of supportive services and health care to 
address the negative health effects of loneliness, to require a report 
                 on loneliness, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 21, 2024

Mr. Rubio (for himself, Ms. Smith, and Mr. Scott of Florida) introduced 
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee 
               on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include screening for 
 loneliness and coordination of supportive services and health care to 
address the negative health effects of loneliness, to require a report 
                 on loneliness, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Social Engagement and Network 
Initiatives for Older Relief Act'' or the ``SENIOR Act''.

SEC. 2. SCREENING OLDER INDIVIDUALS FOR LONELINESS AND COORDINATION OF 
              SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND HEALTH CARE TO ADDRESS 
              LONELINESS.

    Section 102(14)(N) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
3002(14)(N)) is amended by inserting ``and loneliness'' after ``social 
isolation'' each place it appears.

SEC. 3. REPORT ON LONELINESS.

    (a) Preparation of Report.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall, in carrying out 
        activities under section 206(a) of the Older Americans Act of 
        1965 (42 U.S.C. 3017(a)), prepare a report--
                    (A) on programs authorized by such Act (42 U.S.C. 
                3001 et seq.), and supported or funded by the 
                Administration on Aging, that include a focus on 
                addressing the negative health effects associated with 
                loneliness through targeting older individuals 
                identified as being in greatest social need, as 
                appropriate; and
                    (B) that examines the relationship between the 
                strength of multigenerational family units and 
                loneliness in older individuals.
            (2) Impact.--Such report shall identify--
                    (A) whether loneliness is being adequately 
                addressed under the programs described in paragraph 
                (1)(A), including, to the extent practicable--
                            (i) the prevalence of loneliness across 
                        geographic areas;
                            (ii) the negative physical and mental 
                        health effects associated with loneliness; and
                            (iii) the role of preventive measures and 
                        services under this Act in addressing the 
                        negative health effects associated with 
                        loneliness among older individuals; and
                    (B) public awareness of and efforts to address the 
                negative health effects associated with loneliness.
            (3) Types of programs.--Such report shall identify whether 
        programs described in paragraph (1)(A)--
                    (A) support projects in local communities and 
                involve diverse sectors associated with such 
                communities to decrease the negative health effects 
                associated with loneliness among older individuals and 
                caregivers;
                    (B) support outreach activities to screen older 
                individuals for negative health effects associated with 
                loneliness; and
                    (C) include a focus on decreasing the negative 
                health effects associated with loneliness.
            (4) Recommendations.--Such report shall, as appropriate, 
        include--
                    (A) recommendations for reducing the negative 
                health effects associated with loneliness and to 
                address any negative health effects identified under 
                clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (A), and 
                subparagraph (B), of paragraph (2); and
                    (B) recommendations for policies or programs that 
                foster strong and stable connections across different 
                generations in a family.
    (b) Submission of Report.--
            (1) Interim status report.--Not later than 2 years after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
        an interim report, to the committees of the Senate and of the 
        House of Representatives with jurisdiction over the Older 
        Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.), and the Special 
        Committee on Aging of the Senate, on the status of the 
        evaluation underway to develop the final report required under 
        this section.
            (2) Final report.--Not later than 5 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a final 
        report that meets the requirements of this section to the 
        committees of the Senate and of the House of Representatives 
        with jurisdiction over the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 
        U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) and the Special Committee on Aging of the 
        Senate.
    (c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the terms 
``greatest social need'', ``older individual'', and ``Secretary'' have 
the meanings given such terms in section 102 of the Older Americans Act 
of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002).
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