# 119-hr-9641: Essential Caregivers Act of 2026

119-hr-9641, Essential Caregivers Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24] (R-NY); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-03).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9641
- As of: 2026-11-03
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-9641
- Congress: 119
- Title: Essential Caregivers Act of 2026
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2026-07-13
- Sponsor: Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24] (R-NY)
- Cosponsors: 90
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-11-03

## Summary

**Guarantees in-person access for designated essential caregivers during any suspension of regular visitation.** The Essential Caregivers Act of 2026 would require facilities paid under Medicare and Medicaid to create an essential caregivers program so residents can elect up to two caregivers who may visit in person, subject to safety protocols and narrowly defined exceptions. - Residents and families: Residents could elect up to two essential caregivers and may change that choice at any time. A resident representative may choose if the resident cannot decide and end-of-life access cannot be denied when an election exists. - Caregivers: Designated caregivers must agree in writing to follow facility safety and infection-control rules that cannot be more restrictive than staff rules. Facilities may temporarily delay in-person access for the first 7 days but must offer audio-visual contact and may deny access for infection symptoms or failure to follow protocols; some limits may allow only one caregiver at a time. - Facilities and oversight: Nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, long-term care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities would implement the program. 1135 waiver authority would not apply to these requirements. State survey agencies must prioritize related complaints and notify complainants within 3 days. The Secretary would issue regulations within 18 months and the rules would take effect 1 year after enactment.

## Cosponsors (90)

- Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13] (R-FL), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6] (R-AL), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3] (R-TN), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2] (R-AR), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49] (D-CA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6] (D-MI), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16] (D-NY), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Joyce, John [R-PA-13] (R-PA), 2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24] (D-FL), 2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4] (D-NY), 2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] (D-IL), 2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9] (D-FL), 2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26] (D-NY), 2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14] (R-OH), 2026-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6] (D-OR), 2026-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4] (D-OR), 2026-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9] (R-IN), 2026-10-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50] (D-CA), 2026-10-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7] (D-CO), 2026-10-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME), 2026-10-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11] (D-MI), 2026-10-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5] (R-MI), 2026-11-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6] (R-AZ), 2026-11-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large] (R-WY), 2026-10-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2026-10-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3] (D-MD), 2026-10-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9] (R-AZ), 2026-10-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] (D-NY), 2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5] (R-FL), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11] (R-NY), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] (D-CT), 2026-07-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15] (R-OH), 2026-07-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1] (R-MI), 2026-07-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2] (D-MN), 2026-07-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15] (R-PA), 2026-07-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2026-07-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large] (D-DE), 2026-08-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18] (R-FL), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17] (D-PA), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2] (D-MD), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4] (R-AR), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37] (D-CA), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (D-CA), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10] (D-FL), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4] (R-FL), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17] (R-FL), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fuller, Clay [R-GA-14] (R-GA), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1] (R-ID), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2] (D-NM), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23] (R-NY), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3] (D-NY), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10] (R-NC), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12] (R-OH), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4] (D-PA), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1] (R-UT), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11] (D-VA), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1] (R-VA), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3] (R-SC), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1] (R-KS), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4] (R-MO), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1] (D-NC), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. James, John [R-MI-10] (R-MI), 2026-08-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25] (D-NY), 2026-08-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22] (D-NY), 2026-08-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] (D-CT), 2026-08-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2] (R-IN), 2026-08-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1] (R-MN), 2026-08-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), 2026-09-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1] (D-NM), 2026-09-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16] (R-IL), 2026-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3] (R-MS), 2026-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40] (R-CA), 2026-09-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1] (R-WV), 2026-09-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI), 2026-09-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kelly, Trent [R-MS-1] (R-MS), 2026-09-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6] (R-FL), 2026-09-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4] (D-CT), 2026-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3] (D-NV), 2026-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16] (R-PA), 2026-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3] (R-AR), 2026-09-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5] (D-OR), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2] (D-CT), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4] (R-AL), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5] (R-SC), 2026-09-21T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Caregiver rules exempt from waivers: benefit, medium. If enacted, certain essential caregiver access requirements would not be able to be suspended by federal 1135 emergency waivers. That means caregiver access protections would remain in place even when many other facility rules are waived during an emergency. Residents would keep those in-person acc…
- Essential caregiver visits for residents: mixed, medium. If enacted, residents in the listed facilities would be able to choose up to two essential caregivers for in-person visits. Caregivers would have to sign and follow the facility's written safety and infection-control rules, which could not be stricter than staff rules. Facilities could temporarily…
- Timeline to start caregiver rules: mixed, low. If enacted, the new caregiver access rules would begin one year after this section is enacted. The Department of Health and Human Services would also have to write regulations to implement the rules within 18 months of enactment. That schedule would delay when residents and caregivers can use the n…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
- 119-hr-909: Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025
- 119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-4382: America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-9641 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9641)

## Related
- [119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage A…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-842)
- [119-hr-909: Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-909)
- [119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3514)
- [119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2102)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-4382: America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4382)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9641 (as of 2026-11-03).