I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4859 

To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to reduce social isolation among 

older individuals. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 24, 2019 

Mr. TRONE (for himself and Mr. WALBERG) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 

A BILL 

To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to reduce social 

isolation among older individuals. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Older 

5 Americans from Social Isolation Act of 2019’’. 

6 SEC. 2. INCREASED FOCUS OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY ON 

7 HEALTH EFFECTS OF SOCIAL ISOLATION. 

8 Section 202(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 

9 (42 U.S.C. 3012(a)) is amended— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 4859 IH

1 (1) in paragraph (30) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 

2 inserting a semicolon; 

3 (2) in paragraph (31) by striking the period at 

4 the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

5 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

6 ‘‘(32) develop objectives, priorities, and a long7 term plan for supporting State and local efforts in8 volving education about, prevention of, detection of, 

9 and response to negative health effects associated 

10 with social isolation among older individuals.’’. 

11 SEC. 3. ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HEALTH EFFECTS OF SO12 CIAL ISOLATION. 

13 Section 202 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 

14 U.S.C. 3012) is amended by adding at the end the fol15 lowing: 

16 ‘‘(h)(1) The Assistant Secretary shall convene an ad17 visory council on negative health effects associated with 

18 social isolation with aging network stakeholders, including 

19 caregivers, and select members in a manner that ensures 

20 geographic diversity of the members— 

21 ‘‘(A) to review and evaluate efforts to address 

22 negative health effects associated with social isola23 tion among older individuals; and 

24 ‘‘(B) to identify challenges, solutions, and best 

25 practices related to such efforts. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 4859 IH

1 ‘‘(2) The advisory council convened under paragraph 

2 (1) shall— 

3 ‘‘(A) ensure consideration of consumer-directed 

4 care models; and 

5 ‘‘(B) submit a report to Congress on its find6 ings. 

7 ‘‘(3) The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 

8 App.) shall not apply with respect to the advisory council 

9 convened under paragraph (1).’’. 

10 SEC. 4. SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND SENIOR CENTERS. 

11 Section 321(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 

12 (42 U.S.C. 3030d(a)) is amended— 

13 (1) in paragraph (24) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 

14 end; 

15 (2) by redesignating paragraph (25) as para16 graph (26); and 

17 (3) by inserting after paragraph (24) the fol18 lowing: 

19 ‘‘(25) services that promote or support social 

20 connectedness and reduce negative health effects as21 sociated with social isolation; and’’. 

22 SEC. 5. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS. 

23 (a) DEMONSTRATIONS.—Section 411(a) of the Older 

24 Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3032(a)) is amended— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 4859 IH

1 (1) in paragraph (13) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 

2 end; 

3 (2) by redesignating paragraph (14) as para4 graph (15); and 

5 (3) by inserting after paragraph (13) the fol6 lowing: 

7 ‘‘(14) projects that address negative health ef8 fects associated with social isolation among older 

9 adults; and’’. 

10 (b) REPEAL.—Section 416 of the Older Americans 

11 Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3032e) is repealed. 

12 SEC. 6. YOUNGER ONSET ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE. 

13 (a) DEFINITION OF ‘‘FAMILY CAREGIVER’’.—Section 

14 302(3) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 

15 3022(3)) is amended by inserting ‘‘of any age’’ after ‘‘an 

16 individual’’. 

17 (b) DEFINITION OF ‘‘RESIDENT’’.—Section 711(6) of 

18 the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3058(6)) is 

19 amended by inserting ‘‘of any age’’ after ‘‘individual’’. 

Æ 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS