This bill establishes a new Office of Social Connection Policy within the Executive Office of the President to address what the Surgeon General has declared an epidemic of loneliness and social isolation affecting Americans. The office would be headed by a Director confirmed by the Senate and supported by up to four Associate Directors, tasked with advising the President on research and policy matters related to social connection while developing and maintaining a comprehensive national strategy to improve social bonds and community health. The bill creates an interagency advisory council composed of federal representatives from departments like Health and Human Services, Education, Veterans Affairs, and Housing and Urban Development, along with non-federal experts including caregivers, researchers, nonprofit advocates, and representatives from underserved communities like LGBTQIA+ and disability rights organizations. The advisory council would conduct annual assessments of the nation's progress on social connection and submit yearly reports to Congress with recommendations for legislative changes and evaluations of federal efforts. The bill authorizes $5 million annually from 2024 through 2029 to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fund research on loneliness and social connection.
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