# 119-hr-8620: CARES Hotline Act

119-hr-8620, CARES Hotline Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8] (D-NJ); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8620
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-8620
- Congress: 119
- Title: CARES Hotline Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-04-30
- Sponsor: Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8] (D-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**A national hotline for caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities** would provide 24/7 toll-free voice and text support staffed by trained professionals and peer counselors, plus referrals and a national resource database. - Families and caregivers would get real-time emotional support, brief interventions, and referrals to crisis services, adult services, transition programs, and in-home supports. - Nonprofit service providers would be eligible for grants or contracts to run the hotline if they demonstrate national reach and experience navigating State systems, with priority for groups partnered with community organizations. - State and local service networks would gain a regularly updated national database and a referral pathway, supported by national outreach and consultation with the RAISE Family Caregivers Act Advisory Council, and hotline staff must receive standardized training in caregiver support and culturally appropriate services. *Authorizes $10.0 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2032 for the hotline, creating appropriations-level spending if funds are provided.*

## Cosponsors (6)

- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2026-04-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24] (D-FL), 2026-04-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2] (D-MS), 2026-04-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] (D-CA), 2026-04-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] (D-CA), 2026-04-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- National Hotline for Caregivers: benefit, low. If enacted, this bill would create a national, toll-free hotline for caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities. The hotline would operate 24/7 and offer real-time voice and text support, emotional support, brief interventions, and referrals. Staff would receive standardized training…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-8620 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8620)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7481)
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8620 (as of 2026-09-21).