Timothy Kaine (D-VA)
Supporting Our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers Act
A Democratic bill with 8 Democratic cosponsors · See all 8 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Supporting Our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers Act aims to provide grants to improve the direct care workforce and support family caregivers. It authorizes the creation of a national technical assistance center to help with training, recruitment, and career advancement. The bill provides various grant categories for direct care professionals, managers, self-directed care professionals, and family caregivers. Eligible entities, such as states and community colleges, can apply for these funds to develop specialized projects. The legislation also includes requirements for project plans, data collection, and annual reporting. These efforts are intended to support older individuals and people with disabilities.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +7
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill provides resources to improve the care and independence of older individuals through a better-trained workforce.
- Scored +7
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
The bill funds training and workforce development specifically aimed at improving the independence and community inclusion of people with disabilities.
- Scored +7
Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities?
The bill specifically targets the training and support of professionals providing services to people with disabilities to promote their independence.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Workforce Advancement: The bill requires that at least 30 percent of projects provide career pathways that offer opportunities for professional development and advancement for direct care professionals (Section 4(a)(3)).
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Support for Family Caregivers: Grants are available to provide educational, training, or other resources to support both paid and unpaid family caregivers (Section 4(a)(2)(D)).
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Financial Assistance for Workers: Grant recipients (excluding those focused solely on family caregivers) must use at least 5 percent of funds to provide direct financial benefits or supportive services to help workers with their financial needs (Section 6(a)(3)).
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Training Quality and Safety: Project plans must include training regarding the rights of recipients—such as the right to be free from abuse, neglect, or exploitation—and must ensure a safe work environment (Section 5(b)(6)).
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Creation of a National Resource: The establishment of a national technical assistance center is intended to support the creation, recruitment, training, and retention of the direct care workforce (Section s 3(a)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Funding Limitations on Administration: Eligible entities are restricted from using more than 5 percent of grant funds for administrative costs (Section 6(a)(2)).
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Requirement to Supplement Existing Funds: The bill dictates that grant funds must be used to supplement, not supplant, money that would otherwise be available to address workforce needs (Section 6(b)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill funds training and workforce development specifically aimed at improving the independence and community inclusion of people with disabilities. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill provides resources to improve the care and independence of older individuals through a better-trained workforce. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides financial benefits and supportive services to direct care professionals, who often fall into lower income brackets. Would union members be better off under this? — The bill identifies labor organizations as eligible entities to lead workforce advancement projects.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill funds grants specifically for the creation and recruitment of the direct care workforce. Is this likely to grow the economy? — By investing in workforce training and recruitment, the bill supports economic stability in the healthcare sector. Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — The bill explicitly allows labor organizations to be eligible entities for receiving grants.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill specifically targets the training and support of professionals providing services to people with disabilities to promote their independence. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill requires that grant recipients provide direct financial benefits or supportive services to help workers meet their financial needs.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill aims to improve the availability and quality of care for older individuals and people with disabilities by strengthening the direct care workforce. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The bill requires consultation with State Medicaid agencies to align grant activities with workforce needs.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — The bill supports community colleges and higher education institutions in developing specialized training programs for direct care.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires annual reports to Congress and an independent evaluation of the program's progress.
- 8/4/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/24/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Maggie HassanDemocrat · New Hampshire
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
John ReedDemocrat · Rhode Island
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont