Expressing support for the designation of the week of November 10 through November 16, 2025, as "National Caregiving Youth Week" to raise awareness and encourage national recognition of children and adolescents under 18 years of age who serve as a primary or secondary caregiver for family or household members.
- Bill Number
- H.Con.Res. 60
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Families
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-13: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-11-19T12:59:54Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 60) expresses congressional support for designating the week of November 10 through November 16, 2025, as National Caregiving Youth Week. Its main goal is to raise awareness and promote national recognition of children and adolescents under 18 who act as primary or secondary caregivers for family or household members with health needs, such as aging, chronic illness, disability, or frailty. It highlights the challenges these young people face and calls for better support and research.
Key Provisions
The resolution includes background "Whereas" clauses that outline the situation of caregiving youth, followed by a "Resolved" section with five specific actions for Congress:
- Supports the designation of "National Caregiving Youth Week."
- Recognizes caregiving youth as an underserved and underrecognized group in the United States.
- Encourages educators, research institutions, health care professionals, community leaders, policymakers, and others to learn about the roles, needs, and contributions of caregiving youth.
- Recommends including caregiving youth in statewide family caregiver task forces (groups that plan support for caregivers).
- Supports federal efforts to conduct up-to-date, nationwide research on caregiving youth.
The background notes key facts, such as:
- An estimated 6 million caregiving youth exist, though data is outdated since 2005 due to limited tracking and family privacy concerns.
- Their duties include hands-on care (e.g., helping with bathing, medications, meals) and emotional support, often for military families or veterans.
- Challenges include balancing school, mental health risks (like anxiety or depression), higher dropout rates, and limited access to adult caregiver resources.
- Disproportionate impact on families of color and low-income households, driven by factors like an aging population, the opioid crisis, and more home-based care.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding concurrent resolution, meaning it expresses Congress's opinion but does not create, amend, or repeal any laws. It introduces no enforceable changes to existing statutes.
Potential Impacts
- On citizens: Increases public awareness of caregiving youth, potentially leading to more community support, reduced stigma, and better access to resources, which could improve their education, mental health, and future opportunities. Families, especially low-income or minority ones, may benefit from greater recognition.
- On government agencies: Encourages federal agencies (e.g., those focused on health and education) to prioritize research and data collection on this population, possibly influencing future programs without mandating them.
- On international relations: No direct impact, as it focuses on domestic U.S. issues.
Overall, it could inspire voluntary initiatives by states, schools, and nonprofits to address the growing number of caregiving youth.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Caregiving youth (children and adolescents under 18 providing care): Primary beneficiaries through increased visibility and potential support.
- Families and households: Including those with aging members, veterans, military families, single-parent or grandparent-led homes, and low-income or minority groups who rely on young caregivers.
- Educators and schools: Encouraged to understand and accommodate caregiving students to prevent dropouts.
- Health care professionals and community leaders: Prompted to recognize and assist this group.
- Policymakers and researchers: Urged to include youth in task forces and conduct new studies.
- Federal and state governments: Indirectly affected through calls for research and inclusion in caregiver policies.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: As a concurrent resolution, it has no force of law and cannot be challenged in court; it simply signals congressional intent and may influence future binding legislation.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to express support for awareness efforts under the First Amendment (free speech) and general welfare clause, without infringing on individual rights.
- Political: Highlights a bipartisan issue (introduced by Democrats but potentially appealing across parties) to address an underserved population amid demographic shifts like aging and the opioid crisis. It could build momentum for related policies, such as expanded caregiver support in health or education laws, without partisan controversy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (10)
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-13: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-11-13: Submitted in House
- 2025-11-13: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Expressing support for the designation of the week of November 10 through November 16, 2025, as "National Caregiving Youth Week" to raise awareness and encourage national recognition of children and adolescents under 18 years of age who serve as a primary or secondary caregiver for family or household members. — issued 2025-11-13 — PDF (4 pages)