FCA: Legislation Introduced or Enacted in 109th Congress

Legislation Introduced or Enacted in 109th Congress

Public Policy & Research

	National Center on Caregiving
	NEW! Innovations Clearinghouse on Family Caregiving
	Family Care Navigator: State-by-State Guide
	Caregiving Across the States - 2012
	Policy Briefs & Research Reports
	Federal and State Caregiving Legislation
	Caregiving PolicyDigest
	Caregiving Legacy Award General Information
	Caregiving Legacy Awards Application

Make a Donation to FCA

> > > Legislation Introduced or Enacted in 109th Congress

E-mail to a Friend

Printable Version

While much of the legislative action to assist family and informal caregivers takes place on the state level, the federal government also plays a key role in developing policies to support families and friends in their caregiving roles. The 109th Congress convened January 2004 and adjourned December 2006. For more information, use Thomas, the federal government’s website to research congressional activities: http://thomas.loc.gov/.

Federal Legislation Enacted 2005-2006

Federal Legislation Introduced 2005-2006

Archived Federal Legislation

Federal Legislation Enacted 2005-2006
Bill Number	Date Introduced	Date Enacted	Sponsor	Description
P.L. 109-149	6/21/05	12/30/05	Rep. Ralph Regula (R-OH)	This Appropriations bill provided funding for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education for Fiscal Year 2006. This included $1,376,624,000 for the Administration on Aging, of which $156,167,000 was alloted for the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP).
P.L. 109-442	7/12/05	12/21/06	Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-NJ), Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)	Lifespan Respite Care Act creates grants for state agencies and organizations to: (1) develop lifespan respite care at the state and local level; (2) provide respite care services for family caregivers caring for children or adults; (3) train and recruit respite care workers and volunteers; (4) provide information to caregivers about available respite or support services; and (5) assist caregivers in gaining access to such services.
P.L. 109-171	1/31/06	2/8/06	Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH)	Deficit Reduction Act decreases spending on Medicaid and Medicare programs. Law allows states the option to impose premiums and cost-sharing on certain groups of Medicaid recipients. Law tightens rules for transfers of assets by individuals to obtain Medicaid coverage.
P.L 109-364	4/6/06	10/17/06	Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA)	Defense Authorization for Fiscal Year 2007 includes a provision to develop training curricula for those who provide care to a family member who served in the Armed Forces and suffered a traumatic brain injury. The Defense Department must establish a panel to develop curricula on techniques, strategies, and skills for care and assistance of the family member and determine how to disseminate the curricula to relevant health care professionals, families, and others.
P.L. 109-365	9/27/06	10/17/06	Rep. Patrick Tiberi (R-OH)	Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006 reauthorized the Older Americans Act, which includes the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP). Law includes provisions to expand the universe of family caregivers eligible for support services by: 1) decreasing the age of a qualified grandparent or relative caregiver caring for a child from 60 years to 55 years old; and 2) including adopted children in the list of individuals to whom a grandparent may provide care.The legislation also gives priority for NFCSP services to family caregivers who provide care for older individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders and to grandparents or older relative caregivers who provide care for children with severe disabilities. Law also encourages the use of volunteers to deliver services under the NFCSP and promotes consumer choice in the decision between home- and community-based care and institutionalized care.

Federal Legislation Introduced 2005-2006 (Not Enacted)
Bill Number	Date Introduced	Sponsor	Description
H.B. 175	1/04/05	Rep. Juanita Millender- McDonald (D-CA)	Family Caregiver Security Act would have permitted qualified family caregivers - those who demonstrate proficiency in the provision of the home health aide services or personal care assistant services - to be paid for their services at market-rate by Medicare. Family caregivers would also be entitled to education and training, including information about resources related to caregiver health and well-being.
H.B. 1262, S.B. 602	3/10/05	Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)	Ronald Reagan Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act would double National Institutes of Health funding for Alzheimer's disease research. Bill would also undertake an Alzheimer's Disease Prevention Initiative to research the disease and its effects, as well as caregiver support interventions. Bill would also expand and enhance respite care services to family caregivers.
S.B. 835	4/18/05	Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID)	Senior Elder Care Relief and Empowerment (SECURE) Act would allow a nonrefundable federal tax credit of 50 percent of qualified elder care expenses.
H.B. 1902, S.B. 1085, S.B. 932	4/27/05	Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA)	Healthy Families Act would require employers to provide a minimum of 7 days of paid sick leave, which can be used to care for family members.
H.B. 1981	4/28/05	Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)	Medicare Adult Day Care Services Act would provide coverage for substitute adult day care services under the Medicare Program.
H.B. 2682, S.B. 1244	5/26/05	Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)	Long-Term Care and Retirement Security Act would allow individuals a federal tax deduction for qualified long-term care insurance premiums. Bill would also provide a $1,000-3,000 tax credit to individuals with long-term care needs.
S.B. 1225	6/13/05	Sen Susan Collins (R-ME)	Access to Affordable Health Care Act would amend the federal tax code to allow individuals a deduction for qualified long-term care insurance premiums. Bill would also provide a $1,000-3,000 tax credit to individuals with long-term care needs.
H.B. 2935	6/16/05	Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA)	Long-Term Care Support and Incentive Act would allow individuals a federal tax deduction for qualified long-term care insurance premiums. Bill would also provide a tax credit to individuals with long-term care needs. The tax credit would equal $4,000 for individuals whose income is $75,000 or less, and would decrease (but not to below zero) by $100 for each $1,000 worth of income above $75,000.
H.B. 3254, S.B. 2244	7/12/05	Rep. Rober t Menendez (D-NJ), Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)	CARE Act would provide a $2,500-3,000 tax credit for individuals 18 years or older with long-term care needs or dependent children 18 years or younger with long-term care needs.
H.B. 3642	7/29/05	Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)	Alzheimer's Treatment and Caregiver Support Act would authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants for treatment and support services for Alzheimer's disease patients and their families.
S.B. 1602	7/29/05	Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)	Improving Long-Term Care Choices Act would require states to disregard benefits paid under long-term care insurance for purposes of determining Medicaid eligibility. Bill would also provide a $1,000-3,000 tax credit to individuals with long-term care needs. Bill would also allow state plan amendments to create enhanced home and community-based services, including self-directed care.
H.B. 3777	9/14/05	Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN)	Disabled Veterans' Caregiver Compensation Act would authorize additional compensation to be paid to certain veterans who receive compensation for a service-connected disability and who receive care from a family member.
S.B. 1826	10/6/05	Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI)	Older Worker Opportunity Act would expand the tax credit for dependent care expenses to include coverage of eldercare expenses and services. Qualifying individuals must be of retirement age and chronically ill.
S.B. 1951	11/2/05	Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA)	CLASS Act would establish a national voluntary insurance program for purchasing community living assistance services and supports, including respite care, personal assistance services and home modifications.
H.B. 4202	11/2/05	Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)	Re-Entry Enhancement Act includes a provision to eliminate the age requirement of 60 years or older for relative caregivers under the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP).
H.B. 4249	11/8/05	Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN)	Living Well with Fatal Chronic Illness Act would fund research, demonstration and education programs within the Depts. of Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs for patients with fatal chronic illnesses, defined as diseases, conditions or disorders that worsen, cause loss of functional capacity and cause death. Bill would also request that the Institute of Medicine conduct a study on the level of care family caregivers provide to the elderly and how they coordinate their care with formal health care providers.
S.B. 2281	2/14/06	Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)	Aging with Respect and Dignity Act would create tax incentives for individuals to save for long-term care expenses. Individuals would be able to place up to $5,000 in "long-term care accounts" and use the funds without tax penalty for long-term care expenses in facilities or in the home.
H.B. 4993, S.B. 2010	3/16/06	Rep. Peter King (R-NY), Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)	Elder Justice Act would create programs designed to meet the needs of adults 60 years or older and their family and informal caregivers living in rural locations. Bill would also create education and training programs for employers to create a workplace culture that respects and values caregivers’ needs.
S.B. 2620	4/7/06	Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)	Community-Based Choices for Older Americans Act would provide funding for states to help adults over 60 years old who are not eligible for Medicaid with financial assistance for a flexible range of home and community-based long-term care services or supplies, including respite, care-related equipment, and homemaker and personal care services.
H.B. 5647, S.B. 3708	6/20/06	Rep. Ralph Regula (R-OH); Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA)	This Appropriations bill would provide funding for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education for Fiscal Year 2007. Both the House and Senate versions of the bill would provide $156,167,000 for the National Family Caregiver Support Program, the same level of funding provide for FY 2006.
H.B. 5936	7/27/06	Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY)	Social Security Caregiver Credit Act would allow unpaid family caregivers to claim Social Security benefits as if they had worked for a wage (according to a specified formula) during each month they were engaged for at least 80 hours in providing care to a dependent relative, for up to five years of such service.
H.B. 6211	9/27/06	Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-SD)	Comprehensive Long-Term Care Support Act would allow a tax credit for qualified caregivers, which starts at $1,000 in 2007 and increases to $3,000 in 2011. The amount of the credit is reduced for individuals with an adjusted gross income over $75,000 and for couples making over $150,000. The bill would also increase funding for the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP).

Archived Federal Legislation</?G</p

E-mail to a Friend

Printable Version

Federal Legislation Enacted 2005-2006

Federal Legislation Introduced 2005-2006 (Not Enacted)