Overview
Title
To combat loneliness and increase social connection, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The Combating Loneliness Act is like a plan to help people feel less lonely by making fun places and programs where they can make friends, like parks and community centers, while also helping schools and health workers support people's feelings. It's like setting up more play dates and making sure everyone has a buddy!
Summary AI
H. R. 10448, titled the “Combating Loneliness Act”, aims to address loneliness and social isolation in the United States through various community and public health initiatives. It proposes creating programs and grants for building social infrastructure, enhancing social connections through community spaces like parks and libraries, and supporting organizations that offer social and mental health services. It also seeks to reauthorize funding for mental health programs and establish working groups to study and mitigate the impacts of loneliness, including offering loan forgiveness for mental health professionals working in underserved areas. Additionally, the bill emphasizes the importance of education and support for mental health programs in schools.
Published
Keywords AI
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Bill Statistics
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AnalysisAI
Summary of the Bill
The "Combating Loneliness Act" is a proposed piece of legislation aimed at addressing loneliness and enhancing social connectivity across the United States. The bill outlines a comprehensive approach involving community-based programs, public health initiatives, measurement and analysis of loneliness, and education enhancements. Among its key provisions are grants for community spaces, support for social infrastructure, and outreach programs targeting at-risk individuals. It also includes measures to support healthcare workers, promote mental health, and incorporate loneliness metrics into existing policies. Additionally, the bill proposes education reforms and financial support for community health workers, significantly emphasizing the issue of mental health and the role of social connections in public well-being.
Significant Issues
One of the primary concerns with the bill is the lack of specific definitions and clarity in its provisions. Terms such as "third-spaces," "social infrastructure," and "community health worker" are defined broadly, leading to potential ambiguity and challenges in implementation. This could make it difficult for the relevant authorities to ensure funds are used effectively and for their intended purposes.
Another issue is the substantial increase in funding for certain programs, such as the "Building communities of recovery program," which jumps from $5 million to $16 million annually without a clear rationale. Such large increases in funding without detailed plans for utilization can raise concerns about efficient use of taxpayer money.
The bill’s repeated funding structures across various sections appear to lack specificity and tailored planning. This boilerplate approach might lead to inefficient resource allocation and redundant spending. Moreover, the task force to prevent healthcare worker burnout is criticized for lacking a clear budget and potentially biased composition, focusing heavily on HRSA priorities.
Public Impact
Broadly, the bill aims to tackle an essential aspect of public health and well-being by addressing loneliness and promoting social connection. It seeks to empower local communities through grants and programs that foster inclusivity and participation, potentially improving the quality of life for many individuals across the country.
However, the effectiveness of the bill might be limited by the issues noted. Without clear definitions and implementation guidelines, there is a risk of misallocation of resources. Additionally, the potential for overlapping responsibilities and undefined funding sources could hinder the bill's impact.
Impact on Stakeholders
Positive Impact:
Community Organizations: Nonprofits, libraries, senior centers, and similar entities stand to benefit from grants aimed at fostering community connections and supporting underserved populations. The bill provides them with resources to address loneliness locally.
Healthcare Workers and Mental Health Professionals: By including provisions for loan forgiveness and support programs, the bill could attract more professionals into high-need areas, addressing the shortage in mental health services and assisting with workforce resiliency.
Negative Impact:
Government Authorities: The broad terms and lack of specifics might create administrative challenges for federal and state authorities in implementing and overseeing the programs effectively.
Taxpayers: Without clear accountability measures, there is a risk that taxpayer money might not be utilized efficiently, leading to concerns about potential wasteful spending.
Overall, while the "Combating Loneliness Act" carries positive intentions and could lead to significant societal benefits, its success largely hinges on addressing the outlined issues, particularly in terms of funding clarity, program specificity, and accountability measures. The bill's broad strokes offer a framework, but detailed execution plans are critical to achieving its intended outcomes.
Financial Assessment
The bill H. R. 10448, known as the “Combating Loneliness Act,” allocates significant financial resources to combat loneliness and foster social connections across the United States. This commentary examines the financial references and appropriations within the bill, highlighting key areas and linking them to potential issues identified in the bill's structures and definitions.
Overview of Financial Allocations
- Grants for Third-Spaces (Section 101):
The bill authorizes $200,000,000 per fiscal year from 2025 to 2029 for grants to support community connection programs and local institutions. However, the lack of clear definitions for "third-spaces" and program specifics may lead to ambiguity in how these funds are utilized. This could result in inefficient allocation due to the broad and undefined scope of these projects.
Grants for Social Infrastructure (Section 102):
Similar to the aforementioned grants, this section authorizes $170,000,000 annually from 2025 to 2029 to build infrastructure encouraging social connection. The broad and vague language, such as "encourages social connection," creates potential for misinterpretation and inefficient use of funds, as noted in the issues regarding ambiguous project eligibility.
Building Communities of Recovery Program Reauthorization (Section 202):
The bill significantly increases funding for this program from $5,000,000 to $16,000,000 per fiscal year from 2025 to 2029. Despite this dramatic rise, the bill lacks a detailed rationale or breakdown of how these additional funds will be used, raising concerns about efficient usage and oversight of taxpayer money.
Mental Health Provider Student Loan Forgiveness (Section 203):
Eligible individuals can receive up to $75,000 in loan forgiveness, aimed at attracting mental health professionals to underserved areas. However, given the rising costs of education, this cap may not suffice to make the program attractive, thus limiting its effectiveness.
Health Workforce Resiliency Program (Section 204):
The bill designates $100,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2025 to 2029 towards mental health and substance use disorder training, encouraging healthy work conditions, and grants promoting mental health among healthcare providers. Multiple funding structures without detailed accountability potentially signal inefficiency or wasteful spending, as they repeat allocations without specific outcome reporting.
Support for Project AWARE (Section 502):
Appropriations for this education and mental health initiative are set at $130,000,000 per fiscal year from 2026 to 2030. While the initiative aims to support essential mental health programs in schools, the lack of detailed accountability measures raises concerns about resource efficacy.
Support for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program and the Full-Service Community Schools Program (Section 503):
- Cumulative allocations for these programs increase annually, beginning at $1,329,673,000 in fiscal year 2025 and reaching $1,729,673,000 by fiscal year 2029. Similarly, the Full-Service Community Schools Program appropriations range from $500,000,000 in 2025 to $1,000,000,000 in 2029. The expansive and repeated resource allocation structures, without distinct planning, hint at a boilerplate approach which may not effectively address unique program needs.
Conclusion
The Combating Loneliness Act proposes substantial financial allocations toward programs intended to alleviate loneliness and bolster community connections. Despite commendable intentions, the broad and sometimes vague definitions throughout the bill pose potential risks for inefficiencies and misallocation of funds. Transparency in fund utilization and a more precise definition of program terms would greatly enhance the bill's efficacy and ensure the appropriated funds effectively address the specified objectives.
Issues
Certain programs like grants for 'third-spaces' and 'social infrastructure' lack specific definitions within the text, making it unclear what these terms encompass, leading to potential ambiguity in implementation. (Sections 1, 101, 102)
The section 'Grants for Outreach and Intervention to address loneliness' uses broad definitions for 'at-risk individual' and 'covered entity', granting significant discretion to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, which could lead to favoritism or unequal distribution of funds. (Section 103)
The 'Sense of Congress' provides broad initiatives without specific implementation details or funding sources, creating ambiguity in terms of budgetary impact and potential overlap in responsibilities across different government levels. (Section 3)
The significant jump in funding for the 'Building communities of recovery program reauthorization' from $5,000,000 to $16,000,000 per year is not supported by a clear rationale or details on fund utilization, raising concerns over efficient use of taxpayer money. (Section 202)
The term 'community health worker' in 'Coverage of Community Health Worker services under Medicare and Increased FMAP for Community Health Worker services' is defined broadly, which could complicate implementation and reimbursements due to varying interpretations. (Section 401)
The 'Grants for social infrastructure' section lacks clear definitions for terms like 'encourages social connection,' leading to ambiguity in project eligibility, which could result in inefficient allocation of funds. (Section 102)
The 'Mental health provider student loan forgiveness' program proposes a maximum repayment amount that may not be sufficient to attract high-quality candidates due to large student loan balances, potentially limiting its effectiveness. (Section 203)
The authorization of appropriations for 'Health workforce resiliency program' repeats significant funding allocations without detailed accountability or reporting measures, which may lead to inefficient or wasteful spending. (Section 204)
The 'Task force to prevent health care worker burnout' lacks clear budget allocation, and the composition of the task force could lead to biased outcomes favoring HRSA priorities without a balanced perspective. (Section 205)
The presence of repeated funding structures across multiple sections without tailored planning for each focus area might indicate a boilerplate approach lacking specificity, which can result in ineffective resource utilization. (Sections 204, 502, 503)
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title; table of contents Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The "Combating Loneliness Act" includes various sections such as grants for community programs, mental health support, and educational services to address loneliness. It covers initiatives like support group programs, the inclusion of loneliness in health policy, loan forgiveness for mental health providers, and efforts to prevent health care worker burnout.
2. Findings Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The findings from Congress reveal several groups in the United States who experience significant feelings of loneliness, including young adults, mothers with young children, disabled individuals, and LGBTQI+ youth. Additionally, factors like climate-related disasters, excessive social media use, and healthcare worker burnout contribute to social isolation and mental health challenges, while positive relationships and well-designed housing can mitigate loneliness.
3. Sense of Congress Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines Congress's belief that the Federal Government should create programs and policies focused on health care, family leave, arts, education, housing, child care, climate action, gun safety, tax fairness, and social connectivity to build healthier and more vibrant communities across the United States.
101. Grants for third-spaces Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines a grant program led by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to support projects that foster community connections. It specifies that grants should go to governmental or nonprofit entities like libraries and senior centers, with priority given to underserved and elder or child-heavy communities, and clarifies that the funds cannot be used for construction.
Money References
- (f) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
102. Grants for social infrastructure Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will create a grant program for state and local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and groups of these entities to develop infrastructure that promotes social connection, such as parks and playgrounds. Priority for grants will go to projects that are environmentally friendly, accessible for people with disabilities, or located in underserved areas, with funding of $170 million annually from 2025 to 2029.
Money References
- (e) Authorization of appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $170,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
103. Grants for Outreach and Intervention to address loneliness Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill section establishes a program for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to various community organizations. These grants aim to address loneliness and social isolation, especially for at-risk individuals such as young adults, seniors, and people with disabilities or health issues.
201. Support group demonstration program Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Secretary of Health and Human Services is tasked with creating a demonstration program that gives grants to support eligible organizations in providing group therapy for mental health and substance use, covering related costs, and performing community outreach. Priority will be given to areas in rural communities, and technical help will be available for those applying for or receiving grants. An "eligible organization" is a partnership that includes a healthcare provider and a community group, such as schools or community centers.
202. Building communities of recovery program reauthorization Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section of the bill amends the Public Health Service Act to change the funding for the Building Communities of Recovery program, increasing it from $5 million to $16 million per year for the fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
Money References
- Section 547(f) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290ee–2(f)) is amended by striking “$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023” and inserting “$16,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029”.
203. Mental health provider student loan forgiveness Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a loan repayment program for mental health professionals who agree to work in areas with a shortage of mental health providers. Eligible participants can receive up to $75,000 in loan forgiveness by committing to full-time mental health service for up to six years, in identified shortage areas within the United States.
Money References
- “(2) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The total amount of payments under this section to any individual shall not exceed $75,000.
782. Loan repayment program for mental health workforce Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section describes a loan repayment program run by the Secretary of Health Resources and Services Administration to support people working in mental health services. Participants in the program agree to work in designated shortage areas, receiving payments toward eligible student loans for each year of service, with a cap of $75,000, while ensuring they do not receive similar benefits from other federal programs for the same service.
Money References
- (2) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The total amount of payments under this section to any individual shall not exceed $75,000.
204. Health workforce resiliency program Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Health Workforce Resiliency Program section amends the American Rescue Plan Act to allocate $100 million for fiscal years 2025 to 2029 towards mental health and substance use disorder training for health care professionals, educational campaigns encouraging healthy work conditions, and grants to improve mental health within the health care workforce.
Money References
- (a) Funding for mental health and substance use disorder training for health care professionals, paraprofessionals, and public safety officers.—Section 2703 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117–2; 135 Stat. 46) is amended— (1) in subsection (b), by striking “appropriated by subsection (a)” and inserting “appropriated by subsection (a) or pursuant to subsection (c)”; and (2) by adding at the end the following: “(c) Authorization for FY 2025 to 2029.—There is authorized to be appropriated for the purpose described in subsection (b) $100,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.”. (b) Funding for education and awareness campaign encouraging healthy work conditions and use of mental health and substance use disorder services by health care professionals.—Section 2704 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117–2; 135 Stat. 46) is amended— (1) in subsection (b), by striking “appropriated by subsection (a)” and inserting “appropriated by subsection (a) or pursuant to subsection (c)”; and (2) by adding at the end the following: “(c) Authorization for FY 2025 to 2029.—There is authorized to be appropriated for the purpose described in subsection (b) $100,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.”. (c) Funding for grants for health care providers To promote mental health among their health professional workforce.—Section 2705 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117–2; 135 Stat. 46) is amended— (1) in subsection (b), by striking “appropriated by subsection (a)” and inserting “appropriated by subsection (a) or pursuant to subsection (c)”; and (2) by adding at the end the following: “(c) Authorization for FY 2025 to 2029.—There is authorized to be appropriated for the purpose described in subsection (b) $100,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.”.
205. Task force to prevent health care worker burnout Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill proposes the creation of a Task Force led by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to tackle health care worker burnout. The Task Force, composed of diverse representatives, is tasked with compiling data on employee turnover and job satisfaction, developing solutions to alleviate worker burnout, evaluating relevant workforce programs, and examining the administrative demands of health insurance systems, with its findings to be reported to Congress within two years.
301. Addition of loneliness to the Older Americans Act of 1965 Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The proposed amendment to the Older Americans Act of 1965 adds "loneliness" to the term "social isolation" in section 102(14)(N) of the act. This means that any place where "social isolation" is mentioned will now also recognize "loneliness."
302. HHS working group on measurements of loneliness and isolation Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to create a working group in the Department of Health and Human Services to develop recommendations on how to standardize the measurement of loneliness and isolation across its agencies and components.
303. GAO study and report on impact of social isolation Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section mandates that the Comptroller General of the United States carry out a study on social isolation and how various levels of government are addressing it. Within five years of the law's passage, a report with the study's findings must be presented to Congress.
401. Coverage of Community Health Worker services under Medicare and Increased FMAP for Community Health Worker services Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The proposed changes to the Social Security Act would allow Medicare and Medicaid to cover services provided by community health workers and certified community behavioral health clinics starting October 1, 2026. It also suggests a 6 percentage point increase in federal funding for states offering these services through Medicaid.
402. Community Health Workers in NHSC loan repayment program Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to include community health workers in the National Health Service Corps loan repayment program. It defines a community health worker as someone who helps people stay healthy, supports those with limited access to health and social services, and works closely with other health and social service providers.
501. School-based services under Medicaid and CHIP Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act has been amended to allocate an additional $50 million for school-based services under Medicaid and CHIP for the fiscal year 2026.
Money References
- Section 11003(b) of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a note) is amended by inserting “, and $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2026,” after “fiscal year 2022”.
502. Support for Project AWARE Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines the establishment of Project AWARE, which aims to support school-based mental health programs by awarding grants to develop a sustainable infrastructure. The funds can be used to train teachers, school personnel, students, and parents in recognizing mental health symptoms and providing first aid, as well as informing them about community resources, with a budget of $130 million annually from 2026 to 2030.
Money References
- “(c) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $130,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.”.
554. Project AWARE grants Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Project AWARE grants aim to improve school-based mental health services by providing funds for training teachers, school staff, students, and parents to recognize mental health issues and access appropriate resources. The project is funded with $130 million authorized annually from 2026 to 2030.
Money References
- (c) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $130,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
503. Support for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program and the Full-Service Community Schools Program Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill proposes amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to support mental health services and community activities in community learning centers, authorizes specific amounts of funding for both the 21st Century Community Learning Centers and Full-Service Community Schools programs from 2025 to 2029, and makes changes to existing provisions related to Promise Neighborhoods and full-service community schools.
Money References
- “There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part— “(1) $1,329,673,000 for fiscal year 2025; “(2) $1,429,673,000 for fiscal year 2026; “(3) $1,529,673,000 for fiscal year 2027; “(4) $1,629,673,000 for fiscal year 2028; and “(5) $1,729,673,000 for fiscal year 2029.”. (c) Authorization of appropriations for full-Service community schools program.—Section 4601 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7251(a)) is amended— (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) of subsection (a), by inserting “(except for section 4625)” after “part”; (2) in the matter preceding clause (i) of subsection (b)(2)(B), by inserting “(except for section 4625)” after “subpart 2”; and (3) by adding at the end the following: “(c) Authorization of appropriations for full-Service community schools.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 4625— “(1) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; “(2) $600,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; “(3) $700,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; “(4) $850,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and “(5) $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2029.”. (d) Conforming amendments.—Section 4623(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7273(a)) is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and (2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: “(1) PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS.—The
4206. Authorization of appropriations Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
In this section, Congress authorizes specific amounts of money to be allocated each year from 2025 to 2029 to fund the activities outlined in this part of the bill, with each fiscal year receiving an increase of $100 million compared to the previous year, starting from $1,329,673,000 in 2025 up to $1,729,673,000 in 2029.
Money References
- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part— (1) $1,329,673,000 for fiscal year 2025; (2) $1,429,673,000 for fiscal year 2026; (3) $1,529,673,000 for fiscal year 2027; (4) $1,629,673,000 for fiscal year 2028; and (5) $1,729,673,000 for fiscal year 2029.
601. Definitions Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section defines key terms used in the bill, including "burnout" as work-related exhaustion, "loneliness" as a lack of social connections, "social connection" as ways people connect with others, "social isolation" as being alone, and "underserved communities" as groups facing various forms of disadvantage, such as economic struggles or language barriers.