Overview

Title

To establish the Office of Social Connection Policy, to establish a national strategy on social connection, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

H.R. 8490 is a plan to create a special office to help people feel less lonely by making new rules and working with others to bring people closer. It also wants to spend money every year to study loneliness and see how we can help everyone stay connected and happy.

Summary AI

H.R. 8490 proposes the creation of the Office of Social Connection Policy within the Executive Office of the President. The bill mandates the establishment of a national strategy to address issues of loneliness, social isolation, and disconnection across the United States. It aims to improve social infrastructure and foster social connectedness by advising the President on related policy matters. The legislation also discusses the formation of an Advisory Council to coordinate research and efforts across various federal agencies, and it provides for the allocation of funds to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for research on these issues.

Published

2024-05-22
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2024-05-22
Package ID: BILLS-118hr8490ih

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
3
Words:
2,841
Pages:
16
Sentences:
51

Language

Nouns: 788
Verbs: 197
Adjectives: 240
Adverbs: 22
Numbers: 73
Entities: 134

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.52
Average Sentence Length:
55.71
Token Entropy:
5.22
Readability (ARI):
31.05

AnalysisAI

General Summary of the Bill

The proposed legislation, known as the "National Strategy for Social Connection Act," aims to address the pervasive issue of loneliness and social isolation in the United States. Introduced in the House of Representatives, this bill seeks to establish the Office of Social Connection Policy within the Executive Office of the President. The primary objective is to formulate a national strategy to enhance social connectedness across communities and to establish an Advisory Council that focuses on combating loneliness, fostering social infrastructure, and consolidating research and development on these issues across federal agencies.

Summary of Significant Issues

Several key issues emerge from the text of the bill. Firstly, the placement of the Office of Social Connection Policy within the Executive Office of the President might raise concerns about centralizing too much authority within the Executive Branch. Additionally, the bill's language is broad in certain areas, such as permitting extensive interpretation regarding international coordination and activities conducted by the Director. This lack of specificity might lead to varied interpretations that could be problematic.

Furthermore, the bill authorizes $5,000,000 per year to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for relevant research. However, it does not specify exactly how these funds should be allocated, potentially leading to fears of misuse or inefficacy. The selection process for members of the Advisory Council lacks detailed criteria, raising questions about representation and diversity. Finally, the bill specifies compensation levels for the Director and Associate Directors without providing a clear rationale for these salaries, which could also cause concern.

Impact on the Public

The bill could have a broad impact on the general public by potentially mitigating the adverse consequences of social isolation and loneliness, which are linked to significant health risks such as heart disease, stroke, and dementia. By creating a centralized body to tackle these issues, the bill aims to enhance community well-being, improve public health, and ultimately foster a more connected society.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For vulnerable groups like the elderly, veterans, and individuals in marginalized communities, this bill could have a positive impact by focusing research and resources on improving social connections, which may enhance their quality of life. However, the potential centralization of authority in the Executive Office might foster concerns about political influence over these efforts. Agencies involved in social welfare might benefit from the coordinated efforts, but they could also face challenges integrating new strategies imposed by the centralized office. The lack of detailed guidelines on fund allocation might hinder effective resource distribution, adversely affecting services that rely on careful planning and execution.

In summary, while the bill holds promise for positive societal change by addressing key elements of social connection, the concerns over centralization, detailed execution, and funding utilization are crucial components that need careful consideration to ensure its successful implementation.

Financial Assessment

The bill H.R. 8490 discusses financial appropriations specifically related to enhancing research efforts on loneliness and social connection. Here is a detailed analysis of financial references in the bill:

Financial Appropriations

The bill authorizes a specific allocation of $5,000,000 annually to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for each fiscal year from 2024 through 2029. These funds are designated for conducting or supporting research related to loneliness and social connection. This allocation signifies a commitment to understanding and addressing social connection issues, emphasizing that the government sees value in funding research in this area to potentially inform broader policy initiatives.

Relationship to Identified Issues

One of the issues highlighted is the lack of specific guidance on how this $5,000,000 per fiscal year should be allocated. This absence of directives could lead to concerns regarding the potential misallocation or ineffective utilization of resources. Without clear guidelines or accountability measures defined within the bill, there is a risk that the funds may not be used in the most effective way to address the complex issues of loneliness and social connection.

Furthermore, the bill does not delineate how the outcomes of this research will translate into actionable policy changes or improvements in social infrastructure. This could lead to questions about the tangible impact of the authorized appropriations, making stakeholders wonder about the practical benefits that emerge from such an investment.

Considerations

It remains crucial for the stakeholders, including lawmakers and the public, to seek clarity on specific mechanisms that will ensure these funds contribute effectively to solving the underlying problems the bill aims to address. Transparency in fund allocation methodology and tracking of the impact of the research initiatives funded by this allocation would contribute significantly to the credibility and acceptance of this legislative measure.

Summary

The financial appropriations specified in the bill are a step towards addressing social connection issues through research, but they also introduce the necessity for clarity and accountability in fund allocation and utilization. The concerns raised about fund allocation highlight the importance of strategic planning and clear guidelines within such legislative proposals to ensure that financial resources achieve the desired outcomes.

Overall, while the commitment of $5,000,000 annually indicates a positive step toward addressing significant social issues, the success of this investment largely depends on the effective management and application of the funds in accordance with well-defined objectives and measurable impact.

Issues

  • The establishment of an Office within the Executive Office of the President raises concerns about potential centralization of power in the Executive Branch (Section 3(b)).

  • The broad language, such as 'coordinate with international bodies' and 'other activities as the Director determines appropriate,' may allow for extensive interpretation, leading to potential issues if not clearly defined (Section 3(c)(2)).

  • The authorization of $5,000,000 per fiscal year to the CDC for research on loneliness and social connection lacks specific guidance on fund allocation, which could lead to concerns about potential misallocation or ineffective use of resources (Section 3(e)).

  • The bill is comprehensive but may be overly complex for those unfamiliar with legislative documents, hindering understanding and transparency (Section 3).

  • The appointment process for federal and non-federal members of the Advisory Council lacks detailed criteria, which could lead to concerns about diversity and representation (Section 3(c)(3)).

  • The specified compensation rates for the Director and Associate Directors lack clear justification for selecting specific executive levels, which might raise questions regarding salary appropriations (Section 3(b)(3)(B) and 3(b)(4)(B)).

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 Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section provides the short title of the legislation, which is called the “National Strategy for Social Connection Act”.

2. Findings Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

Congress has identified several findings about social issues affecting the United States, including the growing problem of loneliness and social isolation. These issues are linked to health risks such as heart disease and dementia, and they affect all Americans, especially vulnerable groups. The findings emphasize the need for focused research and policy to enhance social connections and overall national well-being.

3. Office of Social Connection Policy; National Strategy on Social Connection Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

In this section of the bill, an Office of Social Connection Policy is established within the Executive Office of the President to address issues of loneliness and social connection. The office, led by a Director, aims to create a national strategy and coordinate with an Advisory Council to promote social connectedness, improve social infrastructure, and support research and development on these topics throughout the federal government.

Money References

  • (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 relating 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.