S. 4625

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4625 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4625

To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish the Office of 
LGBTQI Inclusion and a rural outreach grant program, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 21, 2026

Mr. Markey (for himself, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Baldwin, and Mr. 
Booker) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish the Office of 
LGBTQI Inclusion and a rural outreach grant program, and for other 
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Elder Pride Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

(a) In General.--Section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 
U.S.C. 3002) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (24)--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the 
end;
(B) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking the period 
and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) status as an LGBTQI individual; and
``(E) status as an individual with HIV.'';
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (26) through (33), 
paragraphs (34) and (35), and paragraphs (36) through (56) as 
paragraphs (27) through (34), paragraphs (36) and (37), and 
paragraphs (39) through (59), respectively;
(3) by inserting after paragraph (25) the following:
``(26) The term `HIV' means human immunodeficiency 
virus.'';
(4) by inserting after paragraph (34) (as so redesignated) 
the following:
``(35) The term `LGBTQI' means lesbian, gay, bisexual, 
transgender, queer, or intersex.''; and
(5) by inserting after paragraph (37) (as so redesignated) 
the following:
``(38) The term `minority', with respect to an individual, 
includes a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or 
intersex individual.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 215(e)(1)(J) of the Older 
Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3020e-1(e)(1)(J)) is amended by 
striking ``minorities'' and inserting ``minority individuals''.

SEC. 3. OFFICE OF LGBTQI INCLUSION.

Section 201 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3011) is 
amended--
(1) in subsection (d)(3)(J), by inserting before the 
semicolon the following: ``, including the effectiveness of 
such services in meeting the needs of LGBTQI older 
individuals''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(h)(1) There is established in the Administration an Office of 
LGBTQI Inclusion (referred to in this subsection as the `Office').
``(2)(A) The Office shall be headed by a Director of LGBTQI 
Inclusion (referred to in this subsection as the `Director'), who shall 
be appointed by the Secretary.
``(B) The Office shall include an Assistant Director of LGBTQI 
Policy (referred to in this subsection as the `Assistant Director') who 
shall be appointed by the Director to assist the Director in carrying 
out this subsection, including by carrying out the activities under 
paragraph (4).
``(3) The Director shall--
``(A) coordinate activities within the Department of Health 
and Human Services, and between other Federal departments and 
agencies, to ensure a continuum of improved services for LGBTQI 
older individuals;
``(B) promote access to aging services and supports for 
LGBTQI older individuals;
``(C) collect and disseminate information related to the 
challenges experienced by LGBTQI older individuals; and
``(D) administer and evaluate grants that will expand 
access to aging services and supports for LGBTQI older 
individuals.
``(4) The Assistant Director shall--
``(A) serve as the effective and visible advocate on behalf 
of LGBTQI older individuals--
``(i) within the Department of Health and Human 
Services and with other departments and agencies of the 
Federal Government regarding all Federal policies 
affecting such individuals; and
``(ii) in the States to promote the enhanced 
delivery of services and implementation of programs, 
under this Act and other Federal Acts, for the benefit 
of such individuals;
``(B) support, conduct, and arrange for research in the 
field of LGBTQI aging with a special emphasis on gathering 
statistics on LGBTQI older individuals;
``(C) collect and disseminate information related to 
challenges experienced by LGBTQI older individuals; and
``(D) recommend policies and priorities beneficial to 
LGBTQI older individuals and promote the implementation and 
adoption of culturally competent care and services for such 
individuals.
``(5) Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of the 
Elder Pride Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the Director shall 
submit to Congress a report describing the activities carried out under 
this subsection during the preceding 5 years.''.

SEC. 4. RURAL OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM.

Part A of title IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
3032 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 423. RURAL OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM.

``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) a State;
``(B) an Indian tribe or tribal organization; or
``(C) an agency, nonprofit organization, or 
institution (including an area agency on aging, or a 
multipurpose senior center, in a rural area) that--
``(i) focuses on serving the needs of older 
individuals, LGBTQI individuals, LGBTQI older 
individuals, or individuals of another 
protected class; or
``(ii) focuses on providing sexual health 
services to all older individuals, including 
services for older individuals with HIV.
``(2) Protected class.--The term `protected class' means a 
group of individuals sharing a common characteristic or 
identity who are legally protected against discrimination.
``(3) Rural area.--The term `rural area' means an area that 
is not designated by the United States Census Bureau as an 
urbanized area or urban cluster.
``(b) Authority for Grants.--The Assistant Secretary, acting 
through the Director of LGBTQI Inclusion, may make grants to eligible 
entities to carry out activities described in subsection (d) that are 
designed--
``(1) to create a cooperative and lasting partnership 
between--
``(A) LGBTQI older individuals, or older 
individuals of a protected class, residing in rural 
areas; and
``(B) the eligible entity receiving the grant;
``(2) to meet the needs of the individuals described in 
paragraph (1)(A); and
``(3) to provide comprehensive sexual health services to 
all older individuals residing in the rural areas served by the 
grant.
``(c) Applications.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under 
this section shall submit an application to the Assistant 
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Assistant Secretary may reasonably require, 
including the contents described in paragraph (2).
``(2) Contents.--An application for a grant under this 
section shall contain--
``(A) a description of the proposed activities to 
be supported by the grant;
``(B) a description of the size and characteristics 
of the population in the rural area to be served by 
such proposed activities;
``(C) a description of the public and private 
resources expected to be made available in connection 
with such activities;
``(D) a demonstrated intent to partner with local 
organizations in rural areas in carrying out such 
activities;
``(E) evidence in a form acceptable to the 
Assistant Secretary that such activities will meet 
urgent needs that are not met by available public and 
private sources; and
``(F) such other information or certifications that 
the Assistant Secretary determines necessary to achieve 
the purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of 
subsection (b).
``(d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity may use funds made 
available by a grant under this section to carry out activities that 
include initiatives that--
``(1) engage in education and training relating to 
community outreach to LGBTQI older individuals, or older 
individuals of a protected class, residing in rural areas;
``(2) reduce isolation and improve access to care for 
LGBTQI older individuals, or older individuals of a protected 
class, residing in rural areas by building relationships 
between such individuals and the local community;
``(3) foster relationships between local service providers 
and LGBTQI older individuals, or older individuals of a 
protected class, residing in rural areas;
``(4) improve cultural competency with respect to LGBTQI 
individuals, and older individuals of a protected class, among 
organizations and personnel providing services to older 
individuals residing in rural areas;
``(5) expand the use of nondiscrimination policies that--
``(A) prohibit discrimination on the basis of 
sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex 
characteristics (including intersex traits); and
``(B) create community spaces that are inclusive to 
LGBTQI older individuals and older individuals of a 
protected class; and
``(6) focus on providing sexual health services to older 
individuals residing in rural areas, including services for 
older individuals with HIV.
``(e) Supplement Not Supplant.--As a condition of receiving funds 
under this section, an eligible entity shall agree to use such funds 
only to supplement the level of State or local funds that would, in the 
absence of the receipt of funds under this section, be made available 
for related LGBTQI services.
``(f) Standards and Guidelines.--The Assistant Secretary shall 
establish standards and guidelines for activities supported by grants 
under this section. Such standards and guidelines shall permit an 
eligible entity receiving such grant to refine or adapt the standards 
and guidelines for an individual project if the refinement or 
adaptation is made necessary by a local circumstance.
``(g) Coordination With Local Entities.--
``(1) Cooperation.--An eligible entity that receives a 
grant under this section shall, in carrying out activities 
supported by the grant, agree to cooperate and coordinate 
with--
``(A) the agencies of the relevant State and local 
governments responsible for providing services to 
LGBTQI older individuals, or older individuals of a 
protected class, in the area served by such activities; 
and
``(B) other public and private organizations and 
agencies providing services to LGBTQI older 
individuals, or older individuals of a protected class, 
in such area.
``(2) Prioritization.--An eligible entity receiving a grant 
under this section shall prioritize cooperating and 
coordinating with public and private organizations and agencies 
that primarily serve populations of older individuals with the 
greatest social need.
``(h) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of the Elder Pride Act, and annually thereafter, the Assistant 
Secretary shall submit to Congress and make available to the public a 
report that describes the activities carried out under this section 
during the preceding 2-year period.
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is to be authorized 
to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2027 through 2031.''.
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