[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3230 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3230
To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of
Health and Human Services to make grants to develop or expand in-person
and virtual peer support programs for family caregivers.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 20, 2025
Mr. Markey (for himself, Ms. Baldwin, 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 authorize the Secretary of
Health and Human Services to make grants to develop or expand in-person
and virtual peer support programs for family caregivers.
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 ``Family Caregiver Peer Support Act''.
SEC. 2. PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS.
Title IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965 is amended by inserting
after section 414 (42 U.S.C. 3032c) the following:
``SEC. 415. PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Disability.--The term `disability' has the meaning
given such term in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102).
``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) a State;
``(B) a nonprofit organization;
``(C) an institution of higher education (as
defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001));
``(D) an aging and disability network entity;
``(E) a junior or community college (as defined in
section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1058(f)));
``(F) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); or
``(G) a Tribal organization (as defined in section
4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).
``(3) Family caregiver.--The term `family caregiver' has
the meaning given such term in section 2 of the RAISE Family
Caregivers Act (42 U.S.C. 3030s note) and includes paid and
unpaid family caregivers.
``(4) Immigrant.--The term `immigrant' has the meaning
given the term `alien' in section 101(a) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)).
``(5) Peer support program.--The term `peer support
program' includes a program, to assist family caregivers,
that--
``(A) is carried out with the best practices
identified under section 373(e);
``(B) consists of activities of national
significance described in or conducted under section
373(i); or
``(C) consists of activities described in or
conducted under section 411(a)(11) or 417(a)(1)(F).
``(b) Grants.--The Secretary may make grants to eligible entities
to develop or expand in-person and virtual peer support programs for
family caregivers.
``(c) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under
this section may use the funds awarded through such grant--
``(1) to develop or expand in-person and virtual peer
support programs, including programs under which family
caregivers assist other family caregivers with navigating
administrative or financial forms, policies, and processes and
provide emotional support;
``(2) to carry out workforce development, recruitment, and
retention activities to train, recruit, and retain certified
peer support specialists; and
``(3) to develop, expand, or improve virtual, peer, mental,
and behavioral health support services for family caregivers
carried out by the entity, including language access services,
including translation and interpretation services for family
caregivers--
``(A) for whom English is not their primary
language; or
``(B) who use American Sign Language.
``(d) Identification of Underserved Communities.--The Secretary
shall identify regions and populations that are underserved with
respect to peer support programs for family caregivers.
``(e) Priority.--In making grants under this section, the Secretary
shall give priority to eligible entities that propose to serve or
currently serve--
``(1) underserved regions and populations identified under
subsection (d);
``(2) low-income communities;
``(3) underserved racial and ethnic communities;
``(4) communities with a high number of immigrants;
``(5) communities with a high number of individuals for
whom English is not their primary language;
``(6) the LGBTQ+ community;
``(7) family caregivers younger than age 35; or
``(8) family caregivers with a disability.
``(f) Outreach Program.--The Secretary shall conduct outreach to
family caregivers to increase awareness about the availability of
grants under this section.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $10,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.''.
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