Congress·In Committee·S. 3232

Family Caregiving: Research Funding and New Definitions

Family Caregiving Research and Innovation Act

Legislative Progress

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This bill would set aside $30 million every year from 2026 through 2030 to study family caregivers. The goal is to find better ways to support the millions of people who take care of aging parents or relatives with health issues like Alzheimer’s disease.
The plan changes the legal definition of a "family caregiver" to include "older relative caregivers." This means grandparents or other relatives age 55 and older who are raising children or caring for a family member with a disability would be officially recognized under the law.
By updating these definitions, the bill makes it easier for different types of families to qualify for support services. It ensures that people raising their grandkids or caring for disabled adult children are treated the same as those caring for the elderly when it comes to federal support programs.
The bill clarifies that a "family caregiver" must be an informal provider, like a relative or friend. It specifically excludes people who are paid professionals or have a business contract to provide care, focusing the help on those doing the work for free at home.
The total cost for this research and data collection would be $150 million over five years. This money would go toward finding "evidence-based practices," which are methods proven by science to actually help families manage the stress and physical work of caregiving.

2 milestones3 actions

Mar 19, 2026Senate

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.

Nov 20, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Nov 20, 2025

Introduced in Senate

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Family Caregiving Research and Innovation Act

Bill NumberS 3232

Congress119th Congress

ChamberSenate

Latest ActionCommittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.

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D: 3

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

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