I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3099 
To provide for the establishment and maintenance of a National Family 
Caregiving Strategy, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 16, 2015 
Mr. HARPER (for himself, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN 
GRISHAM of New Mexico, and Mrs. BLACK) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To provide for the establishment and maintenance of a 
National Family Caregiving Strategy, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Recognize, Assist, In-
clude, Support, and Engage Family Caregivers Act of 
2015’’ or the ‘‘RAISE Family Caregivers Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:46 Jul 21, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3099.IH
H3099
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) ADVISORY COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Advisory 
Council’’ means the Family Caregiving Advisory 
Council convened under section 4. 
(2) FAMILY
CAREGIVER.—The term ‘‘family 
caregiver’’ means a relative, partner, friend, or 
neighbor who has a significant relationship with, and 
who provides a broad range of assistance for, a per-
son with a chronic or other health condition, dis-
ability, or functional limitation. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 
(4) STRATEGY.—The term ‘‘Strategy’’ means 
the National Family Caregiving Strategy estab-
lished, maintained, and updated under section 3. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVING STRATEGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall 
develop, maintain, and periodically update a National 
Family Caregiving Strategy. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The Strategy shall identify specific 
actions that Federal, State, and local governments, com-
munities, health care, long-term services and supports and 
other providers, employers, and others can take to recog-
nize and support family caregivers in a culturally com-
petent manner, including with respect to the following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:46 Jul 21, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3099.IH
H3099
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) Promoting greater adoption of person- and 
family-centered care in all health and long-term 
services and supports settings, with the person re-
ceiving services and support and the family caregiver 
(as appropriate) at the center of care teams. 
(2) Assessment and service planning (including 
care transitions and coordination) involving family 
caregivers and care recipients. 
(3) Training and other supports. 
(4) Information, education, referral, and care 
coordination, including hospice, palliative care, and 
advance planning services. 
(5) Respite options. 
(6) Financial security. 
(7) Workplace policies and supports that allow 
family caregivers to remain in the workforce. 
(c) RESPONSIBILITIES
OF
THE SECRETARY.—The 
Secretary, in carrying out this section, shall be responsible 
for the following: 
(1) Collecting and making publically available 
information, including evidence-based or promising 
practices and innovative models (both domestically 
and internationally) regarding the provision of care 
by family caregivers or support for family caregivers. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:46 Jul 21, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3099.IH
H3099
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(2) Coordinating Federal Government programs 
and activities to recognize and support family care-
givers while ensuring maximum effectiveness and 
avoiding unnecessary duplication. 
(3) Providing technical assistance, such as best 
practices and information sharing, to State or local 
efforts, as appropriate, to support family caregivers. 
(4) Addressing disparities in recognizing and 
supporting family caregivers and meeting the needs 
of the diverse family caregiving population. 
(5) Assessing all Federal programs regarding 
family caregivers, including with respect to funding 
levels. 
(d) INITIAL STRATEGY; UPDATES.—The Secretary 
shall— 
(1) not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, develop, publish, and submit 
to Congress the initial Strategy incorporating the 
items addressed in the Advisory Council’s report in 
section 4(d)(2) and other priority actions for recog-
nizing and supporting family caregivers; and 
(2) not less than annually, update, republish, 
and submit to Congress the Strategy, taking into ac-
count the most recent annual report submitted 
under section 4(d)(1)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:46 Jul 21, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3099.IH
H3099
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(A) to reflect new developments, chal-
lenges, opportunities, and solutions; and 
(B) to assess progress in implementation 
of the Strategy and, based on the results of 
such assessment, recommend priority actions 
for such implementation. 
(e) PROCESS FOR PUBLIC INPUT.—The Secretary 
shall establish a process for public input to inform the de-
velopment of, and updates to, the Strategy, including a 
process for the public to submit recommendations to the 
Advisory Council and an opportunity for public comment 
on the proposed Strategy. 
(f) NO PREEMPTION.—Nothing in this Act preempts 
any authority of a State or local government to recognize 
or support family caregivers. 
SEC. 4. FAMILY CAREGIVING ADVISORY COUNCIL. 
(a) CONVENING.—The Secretary shall convene a 
Family Caregiving Advisory Council to provide advice to 
the Secretary on recognizing and supporting family care-
givers. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The members of the Advi-
sory Council shall consist of— 
(A) the Federal members under paragraph 
(2); and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:46 Jul 21, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3099.IH
H3099
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(B) the appointed members under para-
graph (3). 
(2) FEDERAL MEMBERS.—The Federal mem-
bers of the Advisory Council shall consist of the fol-
lowing: 
(A) The Administrator of the Centers for 
Medicare & Medicaid Services (or the Adminis-
trator’s designee). 
(B) The Administrator of the Administra-
tion for Community Living (or the Administra-
tor’s designee who has experience in both aging 
and disability). 
(C) The Assistant Secretary for the Ad-
ministration for Children and Families (or the 
Assistant Secretary’s designee). 
(D) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs (or 
the Secretary’s designee). 
(E) The Secretary of Labor (or the Sec-
retary’s designee). 
(F) The Secretary of the Treasury (or the 
Secretary’s designee). 
(G) The National Coordinator for Health 
Information Technology (or the National Coor-
dinator’s designee). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:46 Jul 21, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3099.IH
H3099
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(H) The heads of other Federal depart-
ments or agencies (or their designees), as ap-
pointed by the President or the Chair of the 
Advisory Council. 
(3) APPOINTED MEMBERS.—In addition to the 
Federal members under paragraph (2), the Sec-
retary shall appoint not more than 15 members of 
the Advisory Council who are not representatives of 
Federal departments or agencies and who shall in-
clude at least one representative of each of the fol-
lowing: 
(A) Family caregivers. 
(B) Older adults with long-term services 
and supports needs. 
(C) Individuals with disabilities. 
(D) Advocates for family caregivers, older 
adults with long-term services and supports 
needs, and individuals with disabilities. 
(E) Health care and social service pro-
viders. 
(F) Long-term-services-and-support pro-
viders. 
(G) Employers. 
(H) Direct care workers or advocates for 
such workers. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:46 Jul 21, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3099.IH
H3099
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(I) State and local officials. 
(J) Accreditation bodies. 
(K) Relevant industries. 
(L) Veterans. 
(M) As appropriate, other experts in family 
caregiving. 
(4) DIVERSE
REPRESENTATION.—The Sec-
retary shall ensure that the membership of the Advi-
sory Council reflects the diversity of— 
(A) the overall population; and 
(B) family caregivers. 
(c) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Council shall meet 
quarterly. Meetings of the Advisory Council shall be open 
to the public. 
(d) ADVISORY COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually 
thereafter, the Advisory Council shall submit to the 
Secretary and Congress a report concerning the de-
velopment, maintenance, and updating of the Strat-
egy and the implementation thereof, including a de-
scription of the outcomes of the recommendations 
and priorities under paragraph (2), as appropriate. 
Such report shall be made publically available by the 
Advisory Council. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:46 Jul 21, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3099.IH
H3099
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(2) INITIAL REPORT.—The Advisory Council’s 
initial report under paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) an inventory and assessment of all fed-
erally funded efforts to recognize and support 
family caregivers and the outcomes of such ef-
forts, including analyses of the extent to which 
federally funded efforts are reaching family 
caregivers and gaps in such efforts; 
(B) recommendations for priority actions— 
(i) to improve and better coordinate 
programs; and 
(ii) to deliver services based on the 
performance, mission, and purpose of a 
program while eliminating redundancies 
and ensuring the needs of family caregivers 
are met; 
(C) recommendations to reduce the finan-
cial impact and other challenges of caregiving 
on family caregivers; and 
(D) an evaluation of how family caregiving 
impacts the Medicare program, the Medicaid 
program, and other Federal programs. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:46 Jul 21, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3099.IH
H3099
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 5. SHARING OF DATA. 
The heads of Federal departments and agencies, as 
appropriate, shall share with the Secretary any data that 
is— 
(1) maintained by the respective department or 
agency; and 
(2) needed by the Secretary to prepare the ini-
tial and updated Strategies under section 3(d). 
SEC. 6. SUNSET PROVISION. 
The authority and obligations established by this Act 
shall terminate on December 31, 2030. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:46 Jul 21, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3099.IH
H3099
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS