[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 410 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 410
Making emergency supplemental appropriations for social isolation
services under the Older Americans Act of 1965.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 24, 2021
Ms. Smith (for herself and Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Appropriations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
Making emergency supplemental appropriations for social isolation
services under the Older Americans Act of 1965.
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 ``Strengthening Social Connections Act
of 2021''.
SEC. 2. SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS.
The following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2021, and for other purposes, namely:
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Community Living
aging and disability services programs
For an additional amount for ``Aging and Disability Services
Programs'', for carrying out the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C.
3001 et seq.) (``OAA''), $104,000,000, to remain available through
September 30, 2022, of which--
(1) $80,000,000 shall be made available for supportive
services under part B of title III of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3030d
et seq.), provided that such amount made available under this
paragraph shall be made available for prevention and mitigation
activities focused on addressing extended social isolation
among older individuals, which may include activities for
investments in technological equipment and solutions or other
strategies aimed at alleviating the negative health effects of
social isolation due to long-term stay-at-home recommendations
for older individuals for the duration of the coronavirus
pandemic;
(2) $18,000,000 shall be made available for activities
authorized under sections 202(a)(33), 202(b)(11), and
411(a)(18) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3012(a)(33), 3012(b)(11), and
3032(a)(18)), provided that such amount made available under
this paragraph shall be made available for--
(A) technical assistance to State agencies, area
agencies on aging, aging services and nutrition
providers, and other community groups, to reduce the
negative health effects of social isolation and
loneliness among older individuals by promoting social
engagement; and
(B) coordinated efforts to prioritize activities
that prevent and address social isolation and
loneliness among a wide range of older individuals,
including activities for strategies that identify best
practices, support demonstration of innovative
approaches in the aging services network, conduct
public education, develop partnerships and
collaborations to advance program objectives, or
enhance the capacity of the aging network, and other
activities as appropriate to mitigate social isolation
and loneliness among older individuals; and
(3) $6,000,000 shall be made available for aging network
support activities, provided that such amount made available
under this paragraph shall be used to develop targeted outreach
strategies to reach particularly at-risk populations,
including--
(A) populations targeted under section
306(a)(4)(A)(i)(I) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
3026(a)(4)(A)(i)(I)); and
(B) older individuals whose needs were the focus of
centers funded under title IV of such Act (42 U.S.C.
3031 et seq.) for fiscal year 2019:
Provided, That, notwithstanding section 304(d)(1)(D) of the OAA (42
U.S.C. 3024(d)(1)(D)) or any other provision in such Act, the
requirement for a non-Federal share under such section shall not apply
for fiscal year 2021 with respect to services under part B of title III
of such Act: Provided further, That the amount appropriated under this
heading is designated by Congress as being for an emergency requirement
pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(A)(i)).
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