[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3337 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3337
To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to require the Assistant
Secretary for Aging to award grants to States, Indian tribes, and
tribal organizations to create or implement Multisector Plans for Aging
and Aging with a Disability, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 3, 2025
Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself, Ms. Alsobrooks, and Mr. Kim) 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 require the Assistant
Secretary for Aging to award grants to States, Indian tribes, and
tribal organizations to create or implement Multisector Plans for Aging
and Aging with a Disability, 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 ``Strategic Plan for Aging Act''.
SEC. 2. SUPPORTING MULTISECTOR PLANS FOR AGING AND AGING WITH A
DISABILITY.
(a) In General.--Part A of IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965
(42 U.S.C. 3032 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 423. SUPPORTING MULTISECTOR PLANS FOR AGING AND AGING WITH A
DISABILITY.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Aging and disability stakeholders.--
``(A) In general.--The term `aging and disability
stakeholders' means a group of individuals with
experience or expertise in aging or disability issues,
which shall consist of--
``(i) representatives from area agencies on
aging;
``(ii) covered individuals; and
``(iii) representatives from not less than
3 of the groups described in subparagraph (B).
``(B) Additional groups.--The groups described in
this subparagraph are the following:
``(i) Advocates for covered individuals.
``(ii) Academics with expertise in aging or
disability issues.
``(iii) Philanthropic organizations with
experience in supporting aging or disability
initiatives.
``(iv) Individuals and community partners
serving older individuals, including
individuals employed by area agencies on aging
or by multipurpose senior centers.
``(v) Providers of aging or disability
services.
``(vi) Representatives of units of general
purpose local government (as defined in section
301).
``(vii) Any other group of individuals
serving or representing covered individuals, as
determined appropriate by the Assistant
Secretary.
``(2) Covered individuals.--The term `covered individuals'
means--
``(A) older individuals, including older
individuals with disabilities;
``(B) individuals who are family members of older
individuals, including family members of older
individuals with disabilities;
``(C) paid caregivers, and unpaid caregivers, of
older individuals, including any such caregivers of
older individuals with disabilities; and
``(D) older relative caregivers.
``(3) Disability.--Notwithstanding section 102(13), the
term `disability' has the meaning given the term in section 3
of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
12102).
``(4) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a
State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization.
``(5) Multisector plan for aging and aging with a
disability; master plan for aging; plan.--The terms
`Multisector Plan for Aging and Aging with a Disability',
`Master Plan for Aging', and `Plan' mean a multi-year planning
process, administered by an eligible entity, that convenes
cross-sector stakeholders, including aging and disability
stakeholders, to collaboratively address the diverse needs of
covered individuals.
``(6) Older relative caregiver.--The term `older relative
caregiver' has the meaning given such term in section 372.
``(7) Qualified leader.--The term `qualified leader', with
respect to an eligible entity, means--
``(A) the head of the eligible entity, or the head
of an agency or department of the eligible entity;
``(B) a legislative committee of the eligible
entity; or
``(C) another leader of the eligible entity, as
determined appropriate by the Assistant Secretary.
``(8) Targeted subgroup.--The term `targeted subgroup'
means a subgroup of older individuals (including older
individuals with disabilities) who are older individuals with
greatest social need, or greatest economic need, as a result of
geographic location, disability status, sexual orientation,
gender identity, sex characteristics, socioeconomic status,
language, immigration status, or other factors determined
appropriate by the Assistant Secretary.
``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide eligible
entities with resources to create, coordinate, implement, and evaluate
cross-sector plans to improve the health, well-being, and quality of
life of covered individuals, which may include targeted subgroups.
``(c) Grants.--
``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary shall award
grants on a competitive basis in accordance with this section
to eligible entities to each create or implement a Multisector
Plan for Aging and Aging with a Disability (also known as a
`Master Plan for Aging') that meets the requirements under
paragraph (2). Such grants may be used in the creation or
implementation stage of such a Plan.
``(2) Plans.--A Plan created or implemented by an eligible
entity through a grant under this section shall--
``(A) have a creation or implementation process
that is informed or led by a working group of aging and
disability stakeholders (which may include stakeholders
who represent targeted subgroups) that reflects the
diversity and demographics of the population in the
jurisdiction of the eligible entity;
``(B) serve as a strategic planning resource that
helps the eligible entity work across agencies or
departments of the eligible entity (including political
subdivisions of the eligible entity), in collaboration
with public or private programs operating in the
jurisdiction of the eligible entity, and through
collaborations with other eligible entities receiving
such a grant to serve an area in the jurisdiction of
the first eligible entity, to transform the
infrastructure and coordination of key services,
supports, and initiatives described in paragraph (3)
for covered individuals;
``(C) enable a qualified leader of the eligible
entity to communicate a clear vision, and priorities,
for a period of not less than 10 years for the eligible
entity with respect to the transformation described in
subparagraph (B);
``(D) guide policy of the eligible entity
(including a political subdivision of the eligible
entity), including through public or private programs,
and through funding priorities, to assist people in the
jurisdiction of the eligible entity in aging with
dignity and autonomy;
``(E) include at least one goal for each of the key
aging issues described in paragraph (4) and develop
initiatives to carry out each such goal;
``(F) be more comprehensive than the area plans
approved under section 306 by the State agency prior to
the date of the creation of the Plan;
``(G) be more comprehensive than the State plans
approved under section 307 by the Assistant Secretary
prior to the date of the creation of the Plan; and
``(H) be created through a planning process that
builds on the planning processes for the area plans
described in subparagraph (F) and the State plans
described in subparagraph (G).
``(3) Key services, supports, and initiatives.--The key
services, supports, and initiatives described in this paragraph
may include--
``(A) disease prevention and health promotion
services, long-term care services and supports, human
services, and any other public health or health care,
services, supports, or initiatives;
``(B) services, supports, and initiatives with
respect to--
``(i) retirement security;
``(ii) nutrition and food security;
``(iii) economic security, including
benefits access and job training and placement;
``(iv) elder rights protection and
autonomy;
``(v) housing, including home
modifications, minor home repair, and home
technology improvements;
``(vi) education, including digital and
financial literacy and education on retirement
planning;
``(vii) accessible and reliable
transportation;
``(viii) civic participation and social and
community engagement; and
``(ix) broadband access;
``(C) services, supports, and initiatives for
assisting covered individuals with disaster
preparedness and during a major disaster or emergency
declared by the President under section 401 or 501 of
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170, 5191) or any other
natural disaster declared by the Governor of the
applicable State;
``(D) affordable, accessible, and culturally and
linguistically appropriate services, including
translation, interpretation, and outreach for limited
English proficiency communities; and
``(E) any other services, supports, or initiatives
with respect to covered individuals, as determined
appropriate by the eligible entity.
``(4) Key aging issues.--The key aging issues described in
this paragraph are each of the following:
``(A) Supporting the ability of older individuals
to be stably and safely housed, which may include
supporting their ability to age well in the setting of
their choice and to access homelessness prevention
services.
``(B) Expanding access to affordable, age-friendly
disease prevention and health promotion services and
health care, including nutrition services, exercise
programs, stress management services, fall prevention
services, mental health services, behavioral health
care, and substance use disorder services to promote
longevity.
``(C) Promoting disaster and pandemic preparedness.
``(D) Promoting age-friendly communities, as
defined in section 203(c)(9).
``(E) Addressing the ability of older individuals
to access affordable, high-quality long-term services
and supports, including access to caregivers and home
and community-based services.
``(F) Expanding access to services that promote
elder justice and reduce elder abuse, neglect, and
exploitation.
``(G) Reducing disparities in outcomes for covered
individuals.
``(H) Promoting economic security and retirement
security and reducing poverty for covered individuals.
``(I) Promoting social connection and reducing
isolation and loneliness for covered individuals.
``(J) Ensuring public spaces are accessible to,
including safe for, older individuals, including older
individuals with disabilities.
``(K) Ensuring access to healthy and affordable
foods and reducing food insecurity, hunger, and
malnutrition.
``(d) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under this section,
an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Assistant
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Assistant Secretary may require, including--
``(1) information demonstrating the commitment of the
eligible entity to creating or implementing a Plan, as
evidenced by--
``(A) an Executive order issued by the head of the
eligible entity, or legislation enacted in the
jurisdiction of the eligible entity, authorizing a
Plan;
``(B) a letter from a qualified leader of the
eligible entity demonstrating the commitment of the
eligible entity to working across government agencies
or departments of the eligible entity, as well as with
aging and disability stakeholders and other
stakeholders in the public and private sectors, to
create or implement a Plan; and
``(C) any other declarations, activities, or
actions as determined appropriate by the Assistant
Secretary;
``(2) a description of--
``(A) the working group described in subsection
(c)(2)(A) that the eligible entity has convened or
plans to convene; and
``(B) any other anticipated activities and programs
(such as public hearings, public comment periods, or
listening sessions) to support creating or implementing
a Plan that reflects demonstrated input from aging and
disability stakeholders, including covered individuals,
and other members of the public, including input from
members of Indian tribes or tribal organizations;
``(3) an assessment of the needs of covered individuals,
which may include targeted subgroups, served by the eligible
entity;
``(4) a consideration of varying needs of populations
across different types of geographies in the jurisdiction of
the eligible entity, including urban, rural, and frontier, as
applicable; and
``(5) details on how the Plan will comply with
subparagraphs (F), (G), and (H) of subsection (c)(2).
``(e) Awards.--
``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary shall award not
more than 65 grants under this section during the 5-year period
beginning on the date of enactment of this section.
``(2) Set aside.--Of the grants awarded under paragraph
(1), the Assistant Secretary shall award not less than 10
grants to eligible entities that are Indian tribes or tribal
organizations.
``(3) Process.--The Assistant Secretary shall establish a
process for--
``(A) selecting, including for prioritizing,
eligible entities to receive a grant under this
section; and
``(B) subject to paragraph (4), determining the
amount of each such grant, which shall include a tiered
system depending on the population in the jurisdiction
of the eligible entity.
``(4) Maximum amount.--No grant awarded under this section
to an eligible entity shall exceed $500,000.
``(5) Terms.--
``(A) In general.--An eligible entity receiving a
grant under this section shall--
``(i) receive a total amount for the grant
as a lump sum; and
``(ii) subject to subparagraph (B),
obligate and expend such total amount in
accordance with this section not later than 3
years after receiving such lump sum.
``(B) Extension of availability.--An eligible
entity may, pursuant to an agreement with the Assistant
Secretary, obligate and expend amounts from a grant
under this section in accordance with the requirements
of this section after the 3-year period described in
subparagraph (A)(ii).
``(f) Deadline.--In the case of a grant awarded under this section
to create a Plan, the eligible entity receiving the grant shall create
the Plan and begin implementing the Plan not later than 2 years after
receiving the grant.
``(g) Assessment and Evaluation Process.--
``(1) Developmental assessment.--Not later than 1 year
after receiving a grant under this section, the eligible entity
receiving the grant shall submit to the Assistant Secretary a
developmental assessment. Such assessment may include--
``(A) 3 or more goals with respect to the Plan that
the eligible entity commits to addressing in the final
Plan described in paragraph (2)(A);
``(B) demonstrated use of data metrics to inform
the goals of the Plan, which data metrics are derived
from--
``(i) datasets or qualitative data with
respect to the population in the jurisdiction
of the eligible entity; and
``(ii) nationwide datasets or qualitative
data, with an awareness that national datasets
may not include data with respect to Indian
tribes and tribal organizations;
``(C) demonstrated involvement with 3 or more
governmental departments or agencies of the eligible
entity on creation or implementation of the Plan;
``(D) demonstrated input from--
``(i) the working group described in
subsection (c)(2)(A) convened by the eligible
entity; and
``(ii) any other aging and disability
stakeholders;
``(E) demonstrated input from other individuals who
will be impacted by the Plan;
``(F) as applicable, demonstrated incorporation of
aging, disability, and older relative caregiver plans
and initiatives existing on the day before the receipt
of the grant in the jurisdiction of the eligible
entity, which may include such existing age-friendly
plans, Tribal plans and resolutions, initiatives in
area plans submitted under section 306 and State plans
submitted under section 307, and working groups or task
forces related to aging, disability, or older relative
caregiver initiatives;
``(G) demonstrated assurances that the eligible
entity agrees to make available (directly or through
public or private entities) non-Federal contributions
towards the costs of the Plan; and
``(H) as applicable, a timeline and working plan
for finalizing the Plan and beginning implementation of
the Plan not later than 2 years after the grant is
awarded.
``(2) Implementation assessment.--Not later than 2 years
after receiving a grant under this section, the eligible entity
receiving the grant shall submit to the Assistant Secretary an
implementation assessment. Such assessment shall include--
``(A) a final Plan, including 3 or more goals for
the Plan and short- and long-term priorities or
initiatives to meet each of those goals;
``(B) an update regarding all matters included in
the developmental assessment submitted under paragraph
(1);
``(C) for each priority or initiative described in
subparagraph (A), identified benchmarks or data metrics
that are identified in a publicly accessible way such
as through a data dashboard or in a report;
``(D) a plan for accountability that includes--
``(i) demonstrated commitment of a
qualified leader of the eligible entity to
execute and oversee such plan for
accountability, as evidenced by information
determined appropriate by the Assistant
Secretary;
``(ii) one or more departments or agencies
of the eligible entity listed as accountable
for each priority or initiative described in
subparagraph (A);
``(iii) a plan to continue to engage aging
and disability stakeholders, and other key
players or partners as determined by the
eligible entity, through advisory groups,
public hearings held by the implementation
committee as described in clause (iv)(II)(cc),
or other means;
``(iv) the establishment of an
implementation committee, which shall--
``(I) consist of the working group
described in subsection (c)(2)(A)
convened by the eligible entity and as
applicable other regional, State,
local, or Tribal participants as
determined appropriate by the eligible
entity; and
``(II) be responsible for--
``(aa) assisting in
ensuring that the goals of the
Plan described in subparagraph
(A) are implemented;
``(bb) participating in the
development of the progress
report described in
subparagraph (E); and
``(cc) holding public
hearings, with an opportunity
for public comment, for the
purposes described in clause
(iii); and
``(v) a plan for identifying and responding
to any disparities in access to key services,
supports, and initiatives in the jurisdiction
of the eligible entity as described in
subsection (c)(3); and
``(E) a progress report schedule that includes--
``(i) an established process for bi-yearly
updates to the Plan throughout a 10-year
period; and
``(ii) opportunities for input from aging
and disability stakeholders and any other
individuals impacted by the Plan.
``(h) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the Assistant
Secretary shall consult the Interagency Coordinating Committee on
Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities established under section
203(c).
``(i) Technical Assistance.--The Assistant Secretary shall provide
technical assistance to eligible entities who are seeking or have
received a grant under this section in complying with the requirements
of this section or otherwise creating or implementing a Plan.
``(j) Funding.--
``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030
to the Assistant Secretary to remain available until expended
$6,500,000 to carry out this section.
``(2) Administrative costs.--Of the amounts appropriated
under this section for a year, the Assistant Secretary shall
use not more than 3 percent to carry out subsection (i) and for
any other administrative costs.''.
(b) Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-
Friendly Communities.--Section 203(c)(1) of the Older Americans Act of
1965 (42 U.S.C. 3013(c)(1)) is amended by striking ``with respect to
aging issues and'' and inserting ``with respect to aging issues,
advising the Assistant Secretary on carrying out the grant program
under section 423, and''.
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