Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Support Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that would provide funding to states and other eligible entities that supports direct care workers and family caregivers who provide essential daily care and support for many older adults and people with disabilities.

"One of the top concerns I hear consistently from Oregonians is access to healthcare and support services, especially for older folks in rural areas," Wyden said. "With workforce shortages worsening in recent years, the people who need the most care often must rely on family members already stretched thin to fill in those gaps. This legislation takes a significant step in the right direction to help give the direct care workforce and family caregivers the support they need and ensure loved ones receive the help they deserve."

As of 2024, the United States was home to 60 million seniors and more than 45 million people living with disabilities-but at the same time, the direct care workforce (e.g., home health aides and other professionals who assist with the activities of daily living) is suffering from a growing labor shortage. This, in turn, often puts pressure on family caregivers; as of 2025, 59 million Americans cared for an adult family member in the home, up from 48 million in 2020.

Specifically, the Supporting Our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers Act would:

1. Direct the Department of Health and Human Services, through the Administration for Community Living (ACL), to award grants to states or other eligible entities for initiatives to build, retain, train, and promote the direct care workforce and to provide grants for states or other entities for educational and training support for both paid and unpaid family caregivers.
2. Codify ACL's technical assistance center to support direct care workforce-development and family caregivers. ACL established this center in 2022 through agency authority. This provision codifies the center and expands its work to include supporting family caregivers. The assistance at the center includes:
3. 1. Work with states, key stakeholders, and other entities to establish career development and advancement strategies for direct care professionals, including national standards, recruitment campaigns, on-the-job training opportunities, apprenticeship programs, and certifications.
   1. Analysis of national data gaps, workforce shortage areas, and data collection strategies for direct care professionals.
   1. Development of recommendations and disseminating best practices for the direct care workforce and family caregivers.

The bill was led by U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, D-Va. Along with Wyden, the bill was also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Jack Reed, D-R.I.

The text of the bill is here.