Strengthening Social Connections Act of 2021
Bill: S.410 | Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina (D-MN)
Policy area: Social Welfare

Summary:
Strengthening Social Connections Act of 2021
This bill provides FY2021 supplemental appropriations to the Administration for Community Living for various activities to address the health effects of extended social isolation and loneliness among older individuals due to factors such as the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.

Making emergency supplemental appropriations for social isolation 
            services under the Older Americans Act of 1965.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Social Connections Act 
of 2021''.

SEC. 2. SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS.

    The following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money in the 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2021, and for other purposes, namely:

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                  Administration for Community Living

                 aging and disability services programs

    For an additional amount for ``Aging and Disability Services 
Programs'', for carrying out the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
3001 et seq.) (``OAA''), $104,000,000, to remain available through 
September 30, 2022, of which--
            (1) $80,000,000 shall be made available for supportive 
        services under part B of title III of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3030d 
        et seq.), provided that such amount made available under this 
        paragraph shall be made available for prevention and mitigation 
        activities focused on addressing extended social isolation 
        among older individuals, which may include activities for 
        investments in technological equipment and solutions or other 
        strategies aimed at alleviating the negative health effects of 
        social isolation due to long-term stay-at-home recommendations 
        for older individuals for the duration of the coronavirus 
        pandemic;
            (2) $18,000,000 shall be made available for activities 
        authorized under sections 202(a)(33), 202(b)(11), and 
        411(a)(18) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3012(a)(33), 3012(b)(11), and 
        3032(a)(18)), provided that such amount made available under 
        this paragraph shall be made available for--
                    (A) technical assistance to State agencies, area 
                agencies on aging, aging services and nutrition 
                providers, and other community groups, to reduce the 
                negative health effects of social isolation and 
                loneliness among older individuals by promoting social 
                engagement; and
                    (B) coordinated efforts to prioritize activities 
                that prevent and address social isolation and 
                loneliness among a wide range of older individuals, 
                including activities for strategies that identify best 
                practices, support demonstration of innovative 
                approaches in the aging services network, conduct 
                public education, develop partnerships and 
                collaborations to advance program objectives, or 
                enhance the capacity of the aging network, and other 
                activities as appropriate to mitigate social isolation 
                and loneliness among older individuals; and
            (3) $6,000,000 shall be made available for aging network 
        support activities, provided that such amount made available 
        under this paragraph shall be used to develop targeted outreach 
        strategies to reach particularly at-risk populations, 
        including--
                    (A) populations targeted under section 
                306(a)(4)(A)(i)(I) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
                3026(a)(4)(A)(i)(I)); and
                    (B) older individuals whose needs were the focus of 
                centers funded under title IV of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
                3031 et seq.) for fiscal year 2019:
  Provided, That, notwithstanding section 304(d)(1)(D) of the OAA (42 
U.S.C. 3024(d)(1)(D)) or any other provision in such Act, the 
requirement for a non-Federal share under such section shall not apply 
for fiscal year 2021 with respect to services under part B of title III 
of such Act:  Provided further, That the amount appropriated under this 
heading is designated by Congress as being for an emergency requirement 
pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and 
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(A)(i)).
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