I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9383 
To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include screening for loneliness 
and coordination of supportive services and health care to address the 
negative health effects of loneliness, to require a report on loneliness, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 20, 2024 
Mr. BANKS (for himself, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. BUCHANAN, Ms. LOIS FRANKEL 
of Florida, Mr. MEUSER, Mr. EVANS, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Ms. BARRAGA´N, 
Mr. BALDERSON, and Mrs. CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce 
A BILL 
To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include 
screening for loneliness and coordination of supportive 
services and health care to address the negative health 
effects of loneliness, to require a report on loneliness, 
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 ‘‘Social Engagement 
and Network Initiatives for Older Relief Act’’ or the 
‘‘SENIOR Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. SCREENING OLDER INDIVIDUALS FOR LONELINESS 
AND COORDINATION OF SUPPORTIVE SERV-
ICES AND HEALTH CARE TO ADDRESS LONE-
LINESS. 
Section 102(14)(N) of the Older Americans Act of 
1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002(14)(N)) is amended by inserting 
‘‘and loneliness’’ after ‘‘social isolation’’ each place it ap-
pears. 
SEC. 3. REPORT ON LONELINESS. 
(a) PREPARATION OF REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, in car-
rying out activities under section 206(a) of the Older 
Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3017(a)), pre-
pare a report— 
(A) on programs authorized by such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.), and supported or 
funded by the Administration on Aging, that in-
clude a focus on addressing the negative health 
effects associated with loneliness through tar-
geting older individuals identified as being in 
greatest social need, as appropriate; and 
(B) that examines the relationship between 
the strength of multigenerational family units 
and loneliness in older individuals. 
(2) IMPACT.—Such report shall identify— 
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(A) whether loneliness is being adequately 
addressed under the programs described in 
paragraph (1)(A), including, to the extent prac-
ticable— 
(i) the prevalence of loneliness across 
geographic areas; 
(ii) the negative physical and mental 
health effects associated with loneliness; 
and 
(iii) the role of preventive measures 
and services under this Act in addressing 
the negative health effects associated with 
loneliness among older individuals; and 
(B) public awareness of and efforts to ad-
dress the negative health effects associated with 
loneliness. 
(3) TYPES OF PROGRAMS.—Such report shall 
identify whether programs described in paragraph 
(1)(A)— 
(A) support projects in local communities 
and involve diverse sectors associated with such 
communities to decrease the negative health ef-
fects associated with loneliness among older in-
dividuals and caregivers; 
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(B) support outreach activities to screen 
older individuals for negative health effects as-
sociated with loneliness; and 
(C) include a focus on decreasing the nega-
tive health effects associated with loneliness. 
(4) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Such report shall, as 
appropriate, include— 
(A) recommendations for reducing the neg-
ative health effects associated with loneliness 
and to address any negative health effects iden-
tified under clauses (ii) and (iii) of subpara-
graph (A), and subparagraph (B), of paragraph 
(2); and 
(B) recommendations for policies or pro-
grams that foster strong and stable connections 
across different generations in a family. 
(b) SUBMISSION OF REPORT.— 
(1) INTERIM STATUS REPORT.—Not later than 
2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall submit an interim report, to the com-
mittees of the Senate and of the House of Rep-
resentatives with jurisdiction over the Older Ameri-
cans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.), and the 
Special Committee on Aging of the Senate, on the 
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status of the evaluation underway to develop the 
final report required under this section. 
(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 5 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit a final report that meets the re-
quirements of this section to the committees of the 
Senate and of the House of Representatives with ju-
risdiction over the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 
U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) and the Special Committee on 
Aging of the Senate. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section, the 
terms ‘‘greatest social need’’, ‘‘older individual’’, and 
‘‘Secretary’’ have the meanings given such terms in sec-
tion 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
3002). 
Æ 
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