(6) Loneliness and social isolation increase the 
risk for premature death by 26 percent and 29 per-
cent, respectively. 
(7) The general flourishing, economic health 
and stability of the United States, and the effective 
functioning of government and society require re-
newed attention to social connection at every level of 
society, from individual and family, to local commu-
nity and Nation. 
(8) The causal connections between these 
changes are complex, and thus the various cultural, 
technological, demographic, economic, political and 
institutional drivers of social connection require at-
tention from a dedicated expert body that may de-
velop and share knowledge to incorporate into the 
national decision making process and align relevant 
agency actions. 
(9) Federal funding for research and policy 
around social connection represents an investment in 
the future that is indispensable to sustained national 
progress and human flourishing, and there should be 
continuing national investment in identifying and ex-
panding proven local strategies, assessing how agen-
cies are or are not contributing to social connection, 
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and funding incentives to drive improvement com-
mensurate with addressing contemporary problems. 
SEC. 3. OFFICE OF SOCIAL CONNECTION POLICY; NA-
TIONAL STRATEGY ON SOCIAL CONNECTION. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ADVISORY COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Advisory 
Council’’ means the advisory council established 
under subsection (c)(1). 
(2) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Office. 
(3) INADEQUATE.—The term ‘‘inadequate’’, 
with respect to loneliness, means the discrepancy or 
unmet need between an individual’s or community’s 
preferred and actual experience. 
(4) LONELINESS.—The term ‘‘loneliness’’, with 
respect to an individual, means a subjective dis-
tressing experience of an individual that results from 
perceived isolation or inadequate meaningful connec-
tion. 
(5) OFFICE.—The term ‘‘Office’’ means the Of-
fice of Social Connection Policy. 
(6) SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS.—The term ‘‘so-
cial connectedness’’ means the degree to which an 
individual or community achieves and maintains so-
cial connection needs. 
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(7) SOCIAL
CONNECTION.—The term ‘‘social 
connection’’ means a continuum of the size and di-
versity of an individual’s social network and roles, 
the functions such relationships and roles serve, and 
the positive or negative qualities of such relation-
ships and roles. 
(8) SOCIAL DISCONNECTION.—The term ‘‘social 
disconnection’’ means objective or subjective deficits 
in social connection, including deficits in social rela-
tionships and roles, the functions such relationships 
and roles serve, and the positive or negative qualities 
of such relationships and roles. 
(9) SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE.—The term ‘‘so-
cial infrastructure’’ means the programs (such as 
volunteer organizations, sports groups, religious 
groups, and member associations), policies (such as 
public transportation, housing, and education), and 
physical elements (such as libraries, parks, green 
spaces, and playgrounds) of a community that sup-
port the development of social connection. 
(10) SOCIAL ISOLATION.—The term ‘‘social iso-
lation’’, with respect to an individual, means that 
the individual objectively has few social relation-
ships, social roles, or group memberships and has in-
frequent social interaction. 
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(b) OFFICE OF SOCIAL CONNECTION POLICY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established within 
the Executive Office of the President an office, to be 
known as the ‘‘Office of Social Connection Policy’’. 
(2) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Office 
shall be to provide to the President independent, ex-
pert judgment and assistance on policy matters that 
require accurate assessments of social connection. 
(3) DIRECTOR.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The head of the Office 
shall be the Director, who shall be appointed by 
the President, by and with the advice and con-
sent of the Senate. 
(B) COMPENSATION.—The Director shall 
be compensated at the rate provided for level IV 
of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 
of title 5, United States Code. 
(4) ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The President may ap-
point, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate, not more than 4 Associate Directors of 
the Office. 
(B) COMPENSATION.—An Associate Direc-
tor appointed under subparagraph (A) shall be 
compensated at the rate provided for level V of 
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the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 
title 5, United States Code. 
(5) DUTIES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall— 
(i) advise the President on timely and 
authoritative research regarding public 
health, technological, and social infrastruc-
ture aspects of social connection and loneli-
ness that require attention at the highest 
levels of the Federal Government; 
(ii) advise the President on social con-
nection and loneliness considerations with 
respect to issues of national concern, in-
cluding the economy, public health, na-
tional security, the environment, and civic 
and community engagement; 
(iii) with respect to research and de-
velopment relating to social connection and 
loneliness— 
(I) assist the Director of the Of-
fice of Management and Budget with 
an annual review and analysis of 
funding proposed for such research 
and development for all Federal agen-
cies; and 
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(II) assist the Director of the Of-
fice of Management and Budget and 
the heads of the Federal agencies 
throughout the budget development 
process; 
(iv) assist the President in providing 
general leadership and coordination of 
Federal research and development pro-
grams relating to social connection and 
loneliness; 
(v) provide prompt, effective, reliable, 
and systematic information to the public 
on the impact of policies and programs 
conducted by the Federal Government on 
social connection and maintenance and de-
velopment of social infrastructure; 
(vi) establish, maintain, and update 
the national strategy in accordance with 
subparagraph (B); and 
(vii) carry out such other activities as 
the President may determine. 
(B) NATIONAL STRATEGY.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The Office shall es-
tablish, maintain, and periodically update 
an integrated national strategy to improve 
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social connection, ameliorate loneliness, 
and slow or stop the progression of social 
disconnection. 
(ii) 
REQUIREMENT.—The 
national 
strategy under clause (i) shall be an inclu-
sive, Federal Government-wide approach 
that leverages existing Federal resources 
and authorities to achieve enhanced social 
connection. 
(c) ADVISORY COUNCIL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall 
establish an intergovernmental advisory council the 
purpose of which shall be to address loneliness, so-
cial disconnection, and social connection experienced 
by individuals in the United States. 
(2) ACTIVITIES.—The Advisory Council shall— 
(A) carry out an annual assessment on so-
cial connection in accordance with paragraph 
(5); 
(B) provide information on, and coordi-
nate, social connection research and services 
across all Federal agencies; 
(C) encourage the development of effective 
strategies and approaches to prevent social dis-
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connection and improve social infrastructure, 
quality of life, and community; 
(D) review the impact of social disconnec-
tion and loneliness on physical, mental, and so-
cial health; 
(E) to the maximum extent practicable, co-
ordinate with international bodies to integrate 
and inform the global mission to improve social 
connection; 
(F) advise the Director; 
(G) issue national guidelines on social con-
nection; and 
(H) carry out such other activities as the 
Director determines appropriate. 
(3) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(A) COMPOSITION.—The Advisory Council 
shall be composed of— 
(i) the Director (or the Director’s des-
ignee), who shall serve as the Chair of the 
Advisory Council; 
(ii) the Federal members under sub-
paragraph (B); and 
(iii) the non-Federal members under 
subparagraph (C). 
(B) FEDERAL MEMBERS.— 
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(i) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the 
Director (or the Director’s designee), the 
Federal members of the Advisory Council 
shall consist of 1 representative from each 
of— 
(I) the Department of Commerce; 
(II) the Department of Defense; 
(III) the Department of Edu-
cation; 
(IV) the Department of Health 
and Human Services, including— 
(aa) the Administration on 
Community Living; 
(bb) the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention; and 
(cc) the Office of the Direc-
tor of the National Institutes of 
Health; 
(V) the Department of Homeland 
Security; 
(VI) the Department of Housing 
and Urban Development, including 
the Office of Community Planning 
and Development; 
(VII) the Department of Justice; 
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(VIII) the Department of Labor; 
(IX) the Department of the 
Treasury; 
(X) the Department of Transpor-
tation; 
(XI) the Department of Veterans 
Affairs; 
(XII) the Corporation for Na-
tional and Community Service; and 
(XIII) other relevant Federal 
agencies, as determined by the Direc-
tor. 
(ii) 
APPOINTMENT.—The 
Federal 
members under clause (i) shall be ap-
pointed— 
(I) by the head of the respective 
agency or office; and 
(II) so as to ensure that the 
membership of the Advisory Council is 
diverse and inclusive. 
(C) NON-FEDERAL
MEMBERS.—The non- 
Federal members of the Advisory Council shall 
be appointed by the Director, and shall consist 
of experts in their respective fields, including— 
(i) 1 or more caregivers; 
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(ii) 1 or more health care providers; 
(iii) 1 or more representatives of non-
profit organizations that advocate for poli-
cies that reduce loneliness and social isola-
tion; 
(iv) 1 or more representatives of 
State, territorial, local, and Tribal govern-
ments; 
(v) 1 or more researchers from re-
search institutions; 
(vi) 1 or more representatives of State 
education agencies; 
(vii) 1 or more representatives of Vet-
erans Service Organizations; 
(viii) 1 or more employers; 
(ix) 1 or more workplace representa-
tives; 
(x) 1 or more representatives of volun-
teer organizations; 
(xi) 1 or more representatives of non-
profit organizations that advocate for 
youth and have youth serving on their 
boards or in leadership positions; 
(xii) 1 or more representatives of com-
munity action agencies; 
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(xiii) 1 or more representatives of dis-
ability rights organizations; and 
(xiv) 1 or more representatives of 
LGBTQIA+ advocacy organizations. 
(4) MEETINGS.— 
(A) QUARTERLY
MEETINGS.—The Advi-
sory Council shall meet not less frequently than 
quarterly, and at the call of the Director. 
(B) OPEN
MEETINGS.—The meetings of 
the Advisory Council shall be open to the pub-
lic. 
(5) ANNUAL ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 2 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
annually thereafter, the Advisory Council shall carry 
out an assessment of the progress of the United 
States in improving social connection, including— 
(A) an assessment of steps that have been, 
or should be, taken— 
(i) to increase the use of the national 
strategy described in subsection (b)(5)(B) 
in Federal policy development and imple-
mentation; 
(ii) to establish a framework to im-
prove and connect social services; 
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(iii) to promote continuous commu-
nity-led planning and design to improve so-
cial connection through reimagined com-
munity spaces, transportation, housing, 
and technologies; 
(iv) to establish and scale community 
connection programs; 
(v) to coordinate public health cam-
paigns that raise awareness and reduce the 
stigma surrounding loneliness; 
(vi) to strengthen measurement prac-
tices to increase collection of data meas-
uring loneliness and social connection; 
(vii) to provide assistance to State, 
local, and Tribal governments seeking to 
improve social connection among residents; 
and 
(viii) to support youth participation in 
strategies to improve social connection and 
community connection; and 
(B) an assessment of other issues the Di-
rector determines appropriate. 
(6) ANNUAL
REPORT.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
annually thereafter, the Advisory Council shall sub-
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mit to the Director and Congress a report that de-
scribes— 
(A) an evaluation of all Federal efforts to 
address loneliness and improve social connec-
tion; 
(B) 
recommendations 
for 
legislative 
changes needed to implement goals described in 
clauses (i) through (viii) of paragraph (5)(A); 
and 
(C) an evaluation of the implementation, 
including outcomes, of the national strategy de-
scribed in subsection (b)(5)(B). 
(d) DATA SHARING.—Each Federal agency that has 
data relating to loneliness and social connection shall 
share such data with the Director and make such data 
publicly available, subject to applicable Federal law relat-
ing to disclosure of such data, to enable the Advisory 
Council to complete the reports described in subsection 
(c)(6). 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2024 through 2029 to conduct or support research on 
loneliness and social connection. 
Æ 
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