March 24, 2026
Mr. Neal (for himself and Ms. Bonamici) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Education and Workforce, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To reauthorize funding for programs to prevent, investigate, and prosecute elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Elder Justice Reauthorization and Modernization Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Reauthorization of funding for programs to prevent and investigate elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation
(a) Nursing home worker training grants
Section 2041 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397m) is amended to read as follows:
2041. Nursing home worker training grants
(a) In general
(1) State entitlement
(A) In general
Each State shall be entitled to receive from the Secretary for each fiscal year specified in subsection (e)(1) a grant in an amount equal to the amount allotted to the State under subparagraph (B).
(B) State allotments
(i) In general
Subject to clauses (ii) and (iii), the amount allotted to a State under this subparagraph for a fiscal year shall be—
(I)
the number of State residents who have attained 65 years of age or have a disability (as defined in section 216(i)(1)), as determined by the Secretary using the most recent version of the American Community Survey published by the Bureau of the Census or a successor data set; divided by
(II)
the total number of such residents of all States.
(ii) Limitation
The amount allotted to a State under this subparagraph for a fiscal year shall be not less than 0.25 percent of the available amount for the fiscal year.
(iii) Adjustment of State allotments
Subject to clause (ii), the Secretary shall proportionately increase or decrease the amounts allotted under this subparagraph for a fiscal year as necessary to ensure that the available amount for the fiscal year is allotted among the States.
(iv) Redeterminations
(I) Frequency
The Secretary shall make the determination referred to in clause (i)(I) every 5 years.
(II) Limitation
Subject to clause (ii), the amount allotted to a State under this subparagraph, on the basis of such a determination, for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2031 shall be—
(aa)
not less than 90 percent of the amount of the grant made to the State under this subparagraph for the then preceding fiscal year; and
(bb)
not more than 110 percent of the amount referred to in item (aa).
(2) Grants to Indian tribes and tribal organizations
(A) In general
The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall make grants in accordance with this section to Indian tribes and tribal organizations who operate at least 1 eligible setting.
(B) Grant formula
The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall devise a formula for distributing among Indian tribes and tribal organizations the amount required to be reserved by subsection (e)(1) for each fiscal year.
(3) Sub-grants
A State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization to which an amount is paid under this section may use the amount to make sub-grants to local organizations, including community organizations, local nonprofits, elder rights and justice groups, labor organizations, joint labor-management organizations, and workforce development boards for any purpose described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b).
(b) Use of funds
(1) Required uses
A State to which an amount is paid under this section shall use the amount to—
(A)
provide wage subsidies to eligible individuals;
(B)
provide tuition assistance to, and directly pay the cost of applicable licensing exam fees for, eligible individuals for a degree or certification in a field relevant to their position referred to in subsection (f)(1)(A);
(C)
provide, subsidize, or facilitate access to child care for eligible individuals, including help with referrals, co-pays, or other direct assistance as needed; and
(D)
provide assistance where necessary with obtaining appropriate transportation, including public transportation if available, or gas money or transit vouchers for ride share, taxis, and similar types of transportation if public transportation is unavailable or impractical based on work hours or location.
(2) Authorized uses
A State to which an amount is paid under this section may use the amount to—
(A)
establish a reserve fund for financial assistance to eligible individuals in emergency situations;
(B)
provide in-kind resource donations, such as interview clothing and conference attendance fees;
(C)
provide assistance with programs and activities, including legal assistance, deemed necessary to address arrest or conviction records that are an employment barrier;
(D)
support employers operating an eligible setting in the State in providing employees with not less than 2 weeks of paid leave per year; or
(E)
provide other support services the Secretary deems necessary to allow for successful recruitment and retention of workers.
(3) Provision of funds only for the benefit of eligible individuals in eligible settings
A State to which an amount is paid under this section may provide the amount to only an eligible individual or a partner organization serving an eligible individual.
(4) Nonsupplantation
A State to which an amount is paid under this section shall not use the amount to supplant the expenditure of any State funds for recruiting, supporting, or retaining employees in an eligible setting.
(5) Obligation deadline
A State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization shall remit to the Secretary for reallotment under this section any amount paid under this section for a fiscal year that is not obligated within 2 years after the end of the fiscal year.
(c) Administration
A State to which a grant is made under this section shall reserve not more than 10 percent of the grant to—
(1)
administer subgrants in accordance with this section;
(2)
provide technical assistance and support for applying for and accessing such a subgrant opportunity;
(3)
publicize the availability of the subgrants;
(4)
carry out activities to increase the supply of eligible individuals; and
(5)
provide technical assistance to help subgrantees find and train individuals to provide the services for which they are contracted.
(d) Reports
(1) State reports
Not less frequently than annually, each State to which a grant has been made under this section shall transmit to the Secretary a written report describing the activities undertaken by the State pursuant to this section during the period covered by the report, which shall include a specification of—
(A)
the total amount expended in the State for each type of use described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b);
(B)
the total number of non-State organizations in the State to which grant funds were provided, and the amount so provided to each such organization;
(C)
the change in the number of individuals working in each job category described in subsection (f)(1)(A) in an eligible setting in the State due to programs or services funded with grants under this section;
(D)
the average duration of employment for each such job category for individuals receiving, or who previously received, services or supports from a grant under this section;
(E)
wages of workers in each job category described in subsection (f)(1)(A) in an eligible setting in the State with support from grants under this section, as compared to all other workers in the same eligible setting in the State;
(F)
the average amount of paid time off to which a worker in each job category described in subsection (f)(1)(A) in an eligible setting in the State is entitled by their contract among workers with support from a grant under this section, as compared to all workers in eligible settings in the State; and
(G)
such other data elements as the Secretary deems relevant.
(2) Report to the Congress
Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this section, and every 4 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a written report outlining how the States have used the grants made under this section during the period covered by the report, which shall include—
(A)
the total amount expended in each State for each type of use described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b);
(B)
the total number of non-State organizations in each State to which grant funds were provided, and the amount so provided to each such organization;
(C)
an analysis of the data provided in the State reports; and
(D)
such other data elements as the Secretary deems relevant.
(e) Appropriation
Out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the Secretary $410,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030 to carry out this section, of which—
(1)
2 percent for each fiscal year shall be reserved for grants to Indian tribes and tribal organizations; and
(2)
2 percent for each fiscal year shall be reserved for administrative costs associated with Federal staffing for grantmaking and independent evaluation activities under this section.
(f) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Available amount
The term available amount means, with respect to a fiscal year, the amount specified in subsection (e) that remains after the reservation required by such subsection for the fiscal year, plus all amounts remitted to the Secretary under subsection (b)(5) that have not been reallotted under subsection (a)(1)(B)(iii).
(2) Eligible individual
The term eligible individual means an individual who—
(A)
(i)
is a qualified home health aide, as defined in section 484.80(a) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations;
(ii)
is a nurse aide approved by the State as meeting the requirements of sections 483.150 through 483.154 of such title, and is listed in good standing on the State nurse aide registry;
(iii)
is a personal care aide approved by the State, and furnishes personal care services, as defined in section 440.167 of such title;
(iv)
is a qualified hospice aide, as defined in section 418.76 of such title;
(v)
is a licensed practical nurse or a licensed or certified social worker; or
(vi)
is receiving training to be certified or licensed as such an aide, nurse, or social worker; and
(B)
provides (or, in the case of a trainee, intends to provide) services as such an aide, nurse, or social worker in an eligible setting.
(3) Eligible setting
The term eligible setting means—
(A)
a skilled nursing facility, as defined in section 1819;
(B)
a nursing facility, as defined in section 1919;
(C)
a home health agency, as defined in section 1891;
(D)
a facility approved to deliver home or community-based services authorized under State options described in subsection (c) or (i) of section 1915 or, as relevant, demonstration projects authorized under section 1115;
(E)
a hospice, as defined in section 1814; or
(F)
a tribal assisted living facility.
(4) Tribal organization
The term tribal organization has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
(b) Adult protective services functions and grant programs
(1) Direct funding; State entitlement
Section 2042 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397m–1) is amended—
(A)
in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
(2) Appropriation
Out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030 to carry out this section.;
(B)
in subsection (b)—
(i)
in paragraph (2), by striking the availability of appropriations and
; and
(ii)
by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:
(5) Appropriation
Out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030 to carry out this section.; and
(C)
in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following:
(6) Appropriation
Out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary $80,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030 to carry out this section.
(2) State entitlement; grants to Indian tribes and tribal organizations
Section 2042 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1397m–1) is amended—
(A)
in subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking State and local
and inserting State, local, and tribal
;
(B)
in subsection (b)(1), by striking the Secretary shall annually award grants to States in the amounts calculated under paragraph (2)
and inserting each State shall be entitled to annually receive from the Secretary in the amounts calculated under paragraph (2), and the Secretary may annually award to each Indian tribe and tribal organization in accordance with paragraph (3), grants
;
(C)
in subsection (b)(2)—
(i)
in the paragraph heading, by inserting for a State
after payment
;
(ii)
by inserting that remains after the reservation under paragraph (3)(B)
before multiplied
; and
(iii)
in subparagraph (B)(i)—
(I)
by inserting that so remains
after such year
; and
(II)
by inserting amount so appropriated
and inserting remaining amount
; and
(D)
in subsection (b), by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as paragraphs (4) through (6), respectively, and inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
(3) Amount of payment to Indian tribe or tribal organization
(A) In general
The Secretary, in consultation with Indian tribes and tribal organizations, shall determine the amount of any grant to be made to each Indian tribe and tribal organization from the amount reserved under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph. Paragraphs (4) and (5) shall apply to grantees under this paragraph in the same manner in which the paragraphs apply to States.
(B) Reservation of funds
The Secretary shall reserve 2 percent of the amount made available by subsection (b)(6) for each fiscal year for grants under this paragraph.;
(3)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in paragraph (1), by striking to States
and inserting to States, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations
;
(B)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting and Indian tribes and tribal organizations
after government
; and
(ii)
in subparagraph (D), by inserting or Indian tribe or tribal organization, as the case may be
after government
;
(C)
in paragraph (4), by inserting or Indian tribe or tribal organization
after a State
the first place it appears; and
(D)
in paragraph (5)—
(i)
by inserting or Indian tribe or tribal organization
after Each State
; and
(ii)
by inserting or Indian tribe or tribal organization, as the case may be
after the State
; and
(4)
by adding at the end the following:
(d) Definitions of Indian tribe and tribal organization
In this section, the terms Indian tribe and tribal organization have the meanings given the terms in section 419.
(c) Long-Term care ombudsman program grants and training
Section 2043 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397m–2) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
(2) Appropriation
Out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection—
(A)
$23,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and
(B)
$30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2028 and 2029.; and
(2)
in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
(2) Appropriation
Out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030 to carry out this subsection.
(d) Incentives for developing and sustaining structural competency in providing health and human services
(1) In general
Part II of subtitle B of title XX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 397m–5) is amended by adding at the end the following:
2047. Incentives for developing and sustaining structural competency in providing health and human services
(a) Grants to States To support linkages to legal services and medical-Legal partnerships
(1) In general
Within 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish and administer a program of grants to States to support the development or adoption of approaches to maintain or improve linkages between health services, human services, and legal services for older adults and adults with disabilities, including through the following:
(A) Medical-legal partnerships
The establishment and support of medical-legal partnerships, the incorporation of the partnerships in the elder justice framework and health and human services safety net, and the implementation and operation of such a partnership by an eligible grantee—
(i)
at the option of a State, in conjunction with an area agency on aging;
(ii)
in a solo provider practice in a health professional shortage area (as defined in section 332(a) of the Public Health Service Act), a medically underserved community (as defined in section 399V of such Act), or a rural area (as defined in section 330J of such Act);
(iii)
in a minority-serving institution of higher learning with health, law, and social services professional programs;
(iv)
in a federally qualified health center, as described in section 330 of the Public Health Service Act, or look-alike, as described in section 1905(l)(2)(B) of this Act; or
(v)
in certain hospitals that are critical access hospitals, Medicare-dependent hospitals, sole community hospitals, rural emergency hospitals, or that serve a high proportion of Medicare or Medicaid patients.
(B) Legal hotlines development or expansion
The provision of incentives to develop, enhance, and integrate platforms, such as legal assistance hotlines, that help to facilitate the identification of older adults and adults with disabilities who could benefit from linkages to available legal services such as those described in subparagraph (A).
(2) State reports
Each State to which a grant is made under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary biannual reports on the activities carried out by the State pursuant to this subsection, which shall include assessments of the effectiveness of the activities with respect to—
(A)
the number of unique individuals identified through the mechanism outlined in paragraph (1)(B) who are referred to services described in paragraph (1)(A), and the average time period associated with resolving issues;
(B)
the success rate for referrals to community-based resources; and
(C)
other factors determined relevant by the Secretary.
(3) Report to the Congress
Every 4 years, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a written report on the activities conducted under this subsection.
(4) Appropriation
Out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary $125,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030 to carry out this subsection.
(5) Supplement not supplant
Support provided to area agencies on aging, State units on aging, eligible entities, or other community-based organizations pursuant to this subsection shall be used to supplement and not supplant any other Federal, State, or local funds expended to provide the same or comparable services described in this subsection.
(b) Grants and training To support area agencies on aging or other community-Based organizations To address social isolation among older adults and adults with disabilities
(1) Grants
The Secretary shall make grants to eligible area agencies on aging or other community-based organizations for the purpose of—
(A)
conducting outreach to individuals at risk for, or already experiencing, social isolation or loneliness, through established screening tools or other methods identified by the Secretary;
(B)
developing community-based interventions for the purposes of mitigating loneliness or social isolation (including independently evaluated evidence-based programs, developed with multi-stakeholder input for the purposes of promoting social connection, mitigating social isolation or loneliness, or preventing social isolation or loneliness) among at-risk individuals;
(C)
connecting at-risk individuals with community social and clinical supports; and
(D)
evaluating the effect of programs developed and implemented under subparagraphs (B) and (C).
(2) Training
(A) In general
The Secretary shall establish programs to provide and improve training for area agencies on aging or community-based organizations with respect to addressing and preventing social isolation and loneliness among older adults and adults with disabilities.
(B) Prioritization authority
For purposes of connecting at-risk individuals with existing community social and clinical supports, the Secretary may, in carrying out subparagraph (A), prioritize models that incorporate training and service delivery in coordination with medical-legal partnerships.
(3) Evaluation
Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this section and every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a written report which provides—
(A)
a discussion of the status of implementing the programs developed under this subsection; and
(B)
an update on the independent research and evaluation being conducted on the effects and outcomes of the programs.
(4) Appropriation
Out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary $63,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030 to carry out this subsection.
(5) Coordination
The Secretary shall coordinate with resource centers, grant programs, or other funding mechanisms established under section 411(a)(18) of the Older Americans Act (42 U.S.C. 3032(a)(18)), section 417(a)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3032F(a)(1)), or other programs as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Area agency on aging
The term area agency on aging means an area agency on aging designated under section 305 of the Older Americans Act of 1965.
(2) Social isolation
The term social isolation means objectively being alone, or having few relationships or infrequent social contact.
(3) Loneliness
The term loneliness means subjectively feeling alone, or the discrepancy between one’s desired level of social connection and one’s actual level of social connection.
(4) Social connection
The term social connection means the variety of ways one can connect to others socially, through physical, behavioral, social-cognitive, and emotional channels.
(5) Community-based organization
The term community-based organization includes, except as otherwise provided by the Secretary, a nonprofit community-based organization, a consortium of nonprofit community-based organizations, a national nonprofit organization acting as an intermediary for a community-based organization, or a community-based organization that has a fiscal sponsor that allows the organization to function as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.
(2) Clarification that medical-legal partnerships are authorized adult protective services activities
Section 2011 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1397j) is amended—
(A)
in paragraph (2)(D), by inserting , including through a medical-legal partnership
before the period; and
(B)
by redesignating paragraphs (16) through (22) as paragraphs (17) through (23), respectively, and inserting after paragraph (15) the following:
(16) Medical-legal partnership
The term medical-legal partnership means an arrangement in a health care or human services setting which integrates lawyers and social workers to address the needs of an individual patient related to social determinants of health, and to help clinicians, case managers, and social workers address structural problems at the root of many health inequities, including a multidisciplinary team integrated into such a setting to address the needs and establish and maintain structural competence within clinicians, case managers, and social workers to best address structural problems at the root of many health inequities.
(e) Technical amendment
Section 2011(12)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397j(12)(A)) is amended by striking 450b
and inserting 5304
.
Sec. 3. Assessment reports
(a) In general
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a report to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate on the programs, coordinating bodies, registries, and activities established or authorized under subtitle B of title XX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397l et seq.) or section 6703(b) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–3a(b)). Each such report shall include—
(1)
an update on any ongoing independently conducted evaluations of the extent to which such programs, coordinating bodies, registries, and activities have improved access to, and the quality of, resources available to older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers to ultimately prevent, detect, and treat abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and
(2)
as appropriate, recommendations to Congress on funding levels and policy changes to help these programs, coordinating bodies, registries, and activities better prevent, detect, and treat abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults and adults with disabilities.
(b) Clarification of the independence of federally funded research and evaluation
Section 2023 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397k–2) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(c) Independence of federally funded research and evaluation
The Secretary shall continue to maintain and support with adequate staffing and resources the Office of Performance and Evaluation at the Administration for Community Living, which shall conduct independent research and evaluation activities associated with the programs and policies provided for in this subtitle. The research and evaluation activities shall reflect the rigor, relevance and utility, independence and objectivity, transparency, and ethical principles specified in the evaluation policy established for the Department of Health and Human Services under section 313 of title 5, United States Code.
(c) Appropriation
Out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030 to carry out this section.