Supporting Our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4889
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T04:53:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Supporting Our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers Act (S. 4889)
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill establishes grant programs and a national technical assistance center to address shortages in the direct care workforce. It focuses on recruiting, training, retaining, and advancing direct care professionals who support older individuals and people with disabilities. It also provides resources to assist paid and unpaid family caregivers.
Key Provisions Outlined
- Definitions: The bill defines key terms, including "direct care professional" (individuals providing services like help with daily living, community inclusion, and health support), "family caregiver," "eligible entity" (such as states, nonprofits, tribes, or community colleges), and various workforce terms from existing laws like the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
- Technical Assistance Center: Creates a national center under the Department of Health and Human Services to develop training recommendations, share best practices, address data gaps, and suggest career pathways for direct care workers.
- Grant Categories: Authorizes four types of grants to eligible entities:
- For recruiting and advancing direct care professionals.
- For managers and supervisory staff in direct care roles.
- For self-directed care professionals (those employed directly by care recipients).
- For supporting family caregivers through education and resources.
- Project Requirements: Grant applicants must submit plans including workforce data, advisory committees with input from care recipients and workers, strategies to improve wages and safety, and training that covers rights of service recipients, cultural competence, and evidence-based practices.
- Fund Uses and Limits: Grants require at least 5% for direct financial support to workers (except family caregiver grants); administrative costs capped at 5%. Funds must supplement, not replace, existing resources.
- Evaluations and Reporting: Requires annual reports from grantees on outcomes like employment rates and participant satisfaction, plus independent evaluations and a GAO study.
- Funding: Authorizes $2 million annually for the technical assistance center (fiscal years 2027–2031) and $1 billion for grants in fiscal year 2027, with funds available until 2036.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
This legislation creates new federal grant authority rather than amending core existing statutes. It builds on referenced laws (such as the Older Americans Act, Social Security Act provisions on Medicaid waivers, and the National Apprenticeship Act) by adding specific funding streams and requirements for direct care workforce development. It introduces mandates for inclusive advisory structures and data collection on workforce shortages, without altering underlying program structures in Medicaid or aging services.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases coordination among the Department of Health and Human Services (via the Administration for Community Living), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Labor, and Department of Education. State Medicaid agencies and aging offices must be consulted on grant activities.
- Citizens: Aims to expand access to care services for older individuals and people with disabilities by addressing workforce shortages; may improve support and training for family caregivers.
- International Relations: No provisions address international matters.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Direct care professionals (including home health aides, personal care workers, and direct support professionals) and those training for these roles.
- Family caregivers (paid and unpaid).
- Older individuals and people with disabilities receiving services.
- Eligible entities such as states, labor organizations, nonprofits, Indian Tribes, community colleges, and employers.
- State agencies (Medicaid, developmental disabilities, mental health) and local workforce boards.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Emphasizes compliance with wage laws (Fair Labor Standards Act), safety standards, and reporting on abuse; requires consultation with state agencies, raising federal-state coordination issues.
- Constitutional: Relies on Congress's spending power to fund new programs; includes requirements for diverse representation in advisory roles, which may touch on equal protection considerations.
- Political: Focuses on workforce equity, including outreach to individuals with barriers to employment and underserved communities; mandates at least 30% of projects support career advancement pathways.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (7)
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH], Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2026-06-24: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Supporting Our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers Act — issued 2026-06-24 — PDF (33 pages)