I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8490 

To establish the Office of Social Connection Policy, to establish a national 

strategy on social connection, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 22, 2024 

Mr. BERA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To establish the Office of Social Connection Policy, to establish a national strategy on social connection, and for 

other purposes. 

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 ‘‘National Strategy for 

5 Social Connection Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) The health of the Nation is rightly meas9 ured not only by its aggregate wealth or global 

10 power, but more centrally by its shared vision and 


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1 the bonds of connection that knit its people into a 

2 community. 

3 (2) The fraying of the social fabric is directly 

4 implicated in the growth of loneliness, decline of 

5 civic and religious participation, the disintegration of 

6 communities, rising economic inequality and 

7 precarity, falling economic mobility, rising rates of 

8 depression, anxiety and addiction, diminishing health 

9 and life expectancy and rising levels of polarization 

10 and radicalization. 

11 (3) These changes affect all people of the 

12 United States, but fall with particular force on the 

13 poor and marginalized, on children and adolescents, 

14 on individuals residing in economically disadvan15 taged regions, on veterans and on the elderly, and 

16 individuals without a college degree. 

17 (4) The Surgeon General declared an epidemic 

18 of loneliness and isolation on May 2, 2023. 

19 (5) According to the Surgeon General, social 

20 isolation and loneliness pose a significant risk to in21 dividual health and longevity, including a 29 percent 

22 increased risk of heart disease, a 32 percent in23 creased risk of stroke, and for older adults, a 50 

24 percent increased risk of developing dementia. 


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1 (6) Loneliness and social isolation increase the 

2 risk for premature death by 26 percent and 29 per3 cent, respectively. 

4 (7) The general flourishing, economic health 

5 and stability of the United States, and the effective 

6 functioning of government and society require re7 newed attention to social connection at every level of 

8 society, from individual and family, to local commu9 nity and Nation. 

10 (8) The causal connections between these 

11 changes are complex, and thus the various cultural, 

12 technological, demographic, economic, political and 

13 institutional drivers of social connection require at14 tention from a dedicated expert body that may de15 velop and share knowledge to incorporate into the 

16 national decision making process and align relevant 

17 agency actions. 

18 (9) Federal funding for research and policy 

19 around social connection represents an investment in 

20 the future that is indispensable to sustained national 

21 progress and human flourishing, and there should be 

22 continuing national investment in identifying and ex23 panding proven local strategies, assessing how agen24 cies are or are not contributing to social connection, 


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1 and funding incentives to drive improvement com2 mensurate with addressing contemporary problems. 

3 SEC. 3. OFFICE OF SOCIAL CONNECTION POLICY; NA4 TIONAL STRATEGY ON SOCIAL CONNECTION. 

5 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

6 (1) ADVISORY COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Advisory 

7 Council’’ means the advisory council established 

8 under subsection (c)(1). 

9 (2) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 

10 the Director of the Office. 

11 (3) INADEQUATE.—The term ‘‘inadequate’’, 

12 with respect to loneliness, means the discrepancy or 

13 unmet need between an individual’s or community’s 

14 preferred and actual experience. 

15 (4) LONELINESS.—The term ‘‘loneliness’’, with 

16 respect to an individual, means a subjective dis17 tressing experience of an individual that results from 

18 perceived isolation or inadequate meaningful connec19 tion. 

20 (5) OFFICE.—The term ‘‘Office’’ means the Of21 fice of Social Connection Policy. 

22 (6) SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS.—The term ‘‘so23 cial connectedness’’ means the degree to which an 

24 individual or community achieves and maintains so25 cial connection needs. 


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1 (7) SOCIAL CONNECTION.—The term ‘‘social 

2 connection’’ means a continuum of the size and di3 versity of an individual’s social network and roles, 

4 the functions such relationships and roles serve, and 

5 the positive or negative qualities of such relation6 ships and roles. 

7 (8) SOCIAL DISCONNECTION.—The term ‘‘social 

8 disconnection’’ means objective or subjective deficits 

9 in social connection, including deficits in social rela10 tionships and roles, the functions such relationships 

11 and roles serve, and the positive or negative qualities 

12 of such relationships and roles. 

13 (9) SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE.—The term ‘‘so14 cial infrastructure’’ means the programs (such as 

15 volunteer organizations, sports groups, religious 

16 groups, and member associations), policies (such as 

17 public transportation, housing, and education), and 

18 physical elements (such as libraries, parks, green 

19 spaces, and playgrounds) of a community that sup20 port the development of social connection. 

21 (10) SOCIAL ISOLATION.—The term ‘‘social iso22 lation’’, with respect to an individual, means that 

23 the individual objectively has few social relation24 ships, social roles, or group memberships and has in25 frequent social interaction. 


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1 (b) OFFICE OF SOCIAL CONNECTION POLICY.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is established within 

3 the Executive Office of the President an office, to be 

4 known as the ‘‘Office of Social Connection Policy’’. 

5 (2) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Office 

6 shall be to provide to the President independent, ex7 pert judgment and assistance on policy matters that 

8 require accurate assessments of social connection. 

9 (3) DIRECTOR.— 

10 (A) IN GENERAL.—The head of the Office 

11 shall be the Director, who shall be appointed by 

12 the President, by and with the advice and con13 sent of the Senate. 

14 (B) COMPENSATION.—The Director shall 

15 be compensated at the rate provided for level IV 

16 of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 

17 of title 5, United States Code. 

18 (4) ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS.— 

19 (A) IN GENERAL.—The President may ap20 point, by and with the advice and consent of the 

21 Senate, not more than 4 Associate Directors of 

22 the Office. 

23 (B) COMPENSATION.—An Associate Direc24 tor appointed under subparagraph (A) shall be 

25 compensated at the rate provided for level V of 


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1 the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 

2 title 5, United States Code. 

3 (5) DUTIES.— 

4 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall— 

5 (i) advise the President on timely and 

6 authoritative research regarding public 

7 health, technological, and social infrastruc8 ture aspects of social connection and loneli9 ness that require attention at the highest 

10 levels of the Federal Government; 

11 (ii) advise the President on social con12 nection and loneliness considerations with 

13 respect to issues of national concern, in14 cluding the economy, public health, na15 tional security, the environment, and civic 

16 and community engagement; 

17 (iii) with respect to research and de18 velopment relating to social connection and 

19 loneliness— 

20 (I) assist the Director of the Of21 fice of Management and Budget with 

22 an annual review and analysis of 

23 funding proposed for such research 

24 and development for all Federal agen25 cies; and 


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1 (II) assist the Director of the Of2 fice of Management and Budget and 

3 the heads of the Federal agencies 

4 throughout the budget development 

5 process; 

6 (iv) assist the President in providing 

7 general leadership and coordination of 

8 Federal research and development pro9 grams relating to social connection and 

10 loneliness; 

11 (v) provide prompt, effective, reliable, 

12 and systematic information to the public 

13 on the impact of policies and programs 

14 conducted by the Federal Government on 

15 social connection and maintenance and de16 velopment of social infrastructure; 

17 (vi) establish, maintain, and update 

18 the national strategy in accordance with 

19 subparagraph (B); and 

20 (vii) carry out such other activities as 

21 the President may determine. 

22 (B) NATIONAL STRATEGY.— 

23 (i) IN GENERAL.—The Office shall es24 tablish, maintain, and periodically update 

25 an integrated national strategy to improve 


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1 social connection, ameliorate loneliness, 

2 and slow or stop the progression of social 

3 disconnection. 

4 (ii) REQUIREMENT.—The national 

5 strategy under clause (i) shall be an inclu6 sive, Federal Government-wide approach 

7 that leverages existing Federal resources 

8 and authorities to achieve enhanced social 

9 connection. 

10 (c) ADVISORY COUNCIL.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 

12 the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall 

13 establish an intergovernmental advisory council the 

14 purpose of which shall be to address loneliness, so15 cial disconnection, and social connection experienced 

16 by individuals in the United States. 

17 (2) ACTIVITIES.—The Advisory Council shall— 

18 (A) carry out an annual assessment on so19 cial connection in accordance with paragraph 

20 (5); 

21 (B) provide information on, and coordi22 nate, social connection research and services 

23 across all Federal agencies; 

24 (C) encourage the development of effective 

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1 connection and improve social infrastructure, 

2 quality of life, and community; 

3 (D) review the impact of social disconnec4 tion and loneliness on physical, mental, and so5 cial health; 

6 (E) to the maximum extent practicable, co7 ordinate with international bodies to integrate 

8 and inform the global mission to improve social 

9 connection; 

10 (F) advise the Director; 

11 (G) issue national guidelines on social con12 nection; and 

13 (H) carry out such other activities as the 

14 Director determines appropriate. 

15 (3) MEMBERSHIP.— 

16 (A) COMPOSITION.—The Advisory Council 

17 shall be composed of— 

18 (i) the Director (or the Director’s des19 ignee), who shall serve as the Chair of the 

20 Advisory Council; 

21 (ii) the Federal members under sub22 paragraph (B); and 

23 (iii) the non-Federal members under 

24 subparagraph (C). 

25 (B) FEDERAL MEMBERS.— 


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1 (i) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the 

2 Director (or the Director’s designee), the 

3 Federal members of the Advisory Council 

4 shall consist of 1 representative from each 

5 of— 

6 (I) the Department of Commerce; 

7 (II) the Department of Defense; 

8 (III) the Department of Edu9 cation; 

10 (IV) the Department of Health 

11 and Human Services, including— 

12 (aa) the Administration on 

13 Community Living; 

14 (bb) the Centers for Disease 

15 Control and Prevention; and 

16 (cc) the Office of the Direc17 tor of the National Institutes of 

18 Health; 

19 (V) the Department of Homeland 

20 Security; 

21 (VI) the Department of Housing 

22 and Urban Development, including 

23 the Office of Community Planning 

24 and Development; 

25 (VII) the Department of Justice; 


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1 (VIII) the Department of Labor; 

2 (IX) the Department of the 

3 Treasury; 

4 (X) the Department of Transpor5 tation; 

6 (XI) the Department of Veterans 

7 Affairs; 

8 (XII) the Corporation for Na9 tional and Community Service; and 

10 (XIII) other relevant Federal 

11 agencies, as determined by the Direc12 tor. 

13 (ii) APPOINTMENT.—The Federal 

14 members under clause (i) shall be ap15 pointed— 

16 (I) by the head of the respective 

17 agency or office; and 

18 (II) so as to ensure that the 

19 membership of the Advisory Council is 

20 diverse and inclusive. 

21 (C) NON-FEDERAL MEMBERS.—The non22 Federal members of the Advisory Council shall 

23 be appointed by the Director, and shall consist 

24 of experts in their respective fields, including— 

25 (i) 1 or more caregivers; 


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1 (ii) 1 or more health care providers; 

2 (iii) 1 or more representatives of non3 profit organizations that advocate for poli4 cies that reduce loneliness and social isola5 tion; 

6 (iv) 1 or more representatives of 

7 State, territorial, local, and Tribal govern8 ments; 

9 (v) 1 or more researchers from re10 search institutions; 

11 (vi) 1 or more representatives of State 

12 education agencies; 

13 (vii) 1 or more representatives of Vet14 erans Service Organizations; 

15 (viii) 1 or more employers; 

16 (ix) 1 or more workplace representa17 tives; 

18 (x) 1 or more representatives of volun19 teer organizations; 

20 (xi) 1 or more representatives of non21 profit organizations that advocate for 

22 youth and have youth serving on their 

23 boards or in leadership positions; 

24 (xii) 1 or more representatives of com25 munity action agencies; 


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1 (xiii) 1 or more representatives of dis2 ability rights organizations; and 

3 (xiv) 1 or more representatives of 

4 LGBTQIA+ advocacy organizations. 

5 (4) MEETINGS.— 

6 (A) QUARTERLY MEETINGS.—The Advi7 sory Council shall meet not less frequently than 

8 quarterly, and at the call of the Director. 

9 (B) OPEN MEETINGS.—The meetings of 

10 the Advisory Council shall be open to the pub11 lic. 

12 (5) ANNUAL ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 2 

13 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and 

14 annually thereafter, the Advisory Council shall carry 

15 out an assessment of the progress of the United 

16 States in improving social connection, including— 

17 (A) an assessment of steps that have been, 

18 or should be, taken— 

19 (i) to increase the use of the national 

20 strategy described in subsection (b)(5)(B) 

21 in Federal policy development and imple22 mentation; 

23 (ii) to establish a framework to im24 prove and connect social services; 


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1 (iii) to promote continuous commu2 nity-led planning and design to improve so3 cial connection through reimagined com4 munity spaces, transportation, housing, 

5 and technologies; 

6 (iv) to establish and scale community 

7 connection programs; 

8 (v) to coordinate public health cam9 paigns that raise awareness and reduce the 

10 stigma surrounding loneliness; 

11 (vi) to strengthen measurement prac12 tices to increase collection of data meas13 uring loneliness and social connection; 

14 (vii) to provide assistance to State, 

15 local, and Tribal governments seeking to 

16 improve social connection among residents; 

17 and 

18 (viii) to support youth participation in 

19 strategies to improve social connection and 

20 community connection; and 

21 (B) an assessment of other issues the Di22 rector determines appropriate. 

23 (6) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 18 

24 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and 

25 annually thereafter, the Advisory Council shall subVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:55 Jul 04, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8490.IH H8490

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1 mit to the Director and Congress a report that de2 scribes— 

3 (A) an evaluation of all Federal efforts to 

4 address loneliness and improve social connec5 tion; 

6 (B) recommendations for legislative 

7 changes needed to implement goals described in 

8 clauses (i) through (viii) of paragraph (5)(A); 

9 and 

10 (C) an evaluation of the implementation, 

11 including outcomes, of the national strategy de12 scribed in subsection (b)(5)(B). 

13 (d) DATA SHARING.—Each Federal agency that has 

14 data relating to loneliness and social connection shall 

15 share such data with the Director and make such data 

16 publicly available, subject to applicable Federal law relat17 ing to disclosure of such data, to enable the Advisory 

18 Council to complete the reports described in subsection 

19 (c)(6). 

20 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

21 authorized to be appropriated to the Centers for Disease 

22 Control and Prevention $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 

23 2024 through 2029 to conduct or support research on 

24 loneliness and social connection. 

Æ 


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