Strengthening Social Connections Act of 2020

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8026 Making emergency supplemental appropriations for social isolation services under the Older Americans Act of 1965. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AUGUST 11, 2020 Mr. TRONE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com- mittee concerned 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 Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strengthening Social 4 Connections Act of 2020’’. 5 SEC. 2. SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS. 6 The following sums are hereby appropriated, out of 7 any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:52 Aug 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8026.IH H8026 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 8026 IH for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, and for 1 other purposes, namely: 2 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 3 SERVICES 4 ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING 5 AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES PROGRAMS 6 For an additional amount for ‘‘Aging and Disability 7 Services Programs’’, for carrying out the Older Americans 8 Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) (‘‘OAA’’), 9 $104,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 10 2022, of which— 11 (1) $80,000,000 shall be made available for 12 supportive services under part B of title III of such 13 Act (42 U.S.C. 3030d et seq.), provided that such 14 amount made available under this paragraph shall 15 be made available for prevention and mitigation ac- 16 tivities focused on addressing extended social isola- 17 tion among older individuals, which may include ac- 18 tivities for investments in technological equipment 19 and solutions or other strategies aimed at alleviating 20 the negative health effects of social isolation due to 21 long-term stay-at-home recommendations for older 22 individuals for the duration of the coronavirus pan- 23 demic; 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:52 Aug 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8026.IH H8026 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 8026 IH (2) $18,000,000 shall be made available for ac- 1 tivities authorized under sections 202(a)(33), 2 202(b)(11), and 411(a)(18) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3 3012(a)(33), 3012(b)(11), and 3032(a)(18)), pro- 4 vided that such amount made available under this 5 paragraph shall be made available for— 6 (A) technical assistance to State agencies, 7 area agencies on aging, aging services and nu- 8 trition providers, and other community groups, 9 to reduce the negative health effects of social 10 isolation and loneliness among older individuals 11 by promoting social engagement; and 12 (B) coordinated efforts to prioritize activi- 13 ties that prevent and address social isolation 14 and loneliness among a wide range of older in- 15 dividuals, including activities for strategies that 16 identify best practices, support demonstration 17 of innovative approaches in the aging services 18 network, conduct public education, develop 19 partnerships and collaborations to advance pro- 20 gram objectives, or enhance the capacity of the 21 aging network, and other activities as appro- 22 priate to mitigate social isolation and loneliness 23 among older individuals; and 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:52 Aug 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8026.IH H8026 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 8026 IH (3) $6,000,000 shall be made available for 1 aging network support activities, provided that such 2 amount made available under this paragraph shall 3 be used to develop targeted outreach strategies to 4 reach particularly at-risk populations, including— 5 (A) populations targeted under section 6 306(a)(4)(A)(i)(I) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 7 3026(a)(4)(A)(i)(I)); and 8 (B) older individuals whose needs were the 9 focus of centers funded under title IV of such 10 Act (42 U.S.C. 3031 et seq.) for fiscal year 11 2019: 12 Provided, That, notwithstanding section 304(d)(1)(D) of 13 the OAA (42 U.S.C. 3024(d)(1)(D)) or any other provi- 14 sion in such Act, the requirement for a non-Federal share 15 under such section shall not apply for fiscal year 2021 16 with respect to services under part B of title III of such 17 Act: Provided further, That the amount appropriated 18 under this heading is designated by Congress as being for 19 an emergency requirement pursuant to section 20 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 21 Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(A)(i)). 22 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:52 Aug 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H8026.IH H8026 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS