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119-hr-3000119th CongressWALLET

Caring for Seniors Act

Sponsored By: Representative Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would expand the direct care workforce and subsidize assisted living costs for low-income seniors****. It pairs new training and certification grants with a Senior Care Cost Reduction Program and a funding plan tied to recoveries from specified coronavirus response programs.

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  • Workers: Would expand training and core certification for the direct care workforce through the Department of Labor and the Health Resources and Services Administration. It creates grant programs to grow staff who provide home- and community-based services.
  • Seniors: Would create a Senior Care Cost Reduction Program under the Older Americans Act (section 317) to provide monthly subsidies that lower assisted living fees for eligible low-income residents. Resources are capped at $19,000 for single individuals and $25,000 for married couples and subsidies would adjust annually with the Consumer Price Index.
  • States and administration: Would let states administer the program with oversight and regulations from the Assistant Secretary and authorize use of recoveries, refunds, and gains from specified coronavirus response programs to fund the Act.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Monthly help for low-income seniors in assisted living

This bill would create a state-run program to cut assisted living costs for low-income seniors. You would need to be at least 70, live in or be accepted by a state-approved assisted living facility, and be chronically ill or eligible for Medicaid long-term care. The monthly payment would start at $1,000 and would rise each year with inflation (CPI-U). You would also need to meet money limits: monthly income below the facility’s approved fees, annual income at or below 60% of your state’s median, and resources at or below $19,000 (single) or $25,000 (married). Facilities would have to be licensed or state-regulated and provide ongoing supportive services; if owned by an individual, residents must be unrelated to the owner.

Training grants to grow senior care workforce

The bill would create and expand federal grants for training and certification of direct care workers. Labor and HHS would run these programs, including through Job Corps and HRSA. Workers who help older adults and people with disabilities in assisted living and in home- and community-based settings would be eligible under a clear definition of “direct care workforce.” This could help more people train for these jobs and fill critical care roles.

Recovered COVID funds could fund programs

The bill would allow money that HRSA or Treasury recovers from certain COVID-era provider payments to be used for this Act. This could fund the senior cost-reduction program and workforce grants. The amount would depend on how much is recovered and future Congressional action.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

PA • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 4/24/2025

  • Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 6/23/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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