S. 4818

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4818 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4818

To establish the Office of Social Connection Policy, to establish a 
national strategy on social connection, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 17, 2026

Mr. Murphy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To establish the Office of Social Connection Policy, to establish a 
national strategy on social connection, 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 ``National Strategy for Social 
Connection Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) The health of the Nation is rightly measured not only 
by its aggregate wealth or global power, but more centrally by 
its shared vision and the bonds of connection that knit its 
people into a community.
(2) The fraying of the social fabric is directly implicated 
in the growth of loneliness, decline of civic and religious 
participation, the disintegration of communities, rising 
economic inequality and precarity, falling economic mobility, 
rising rates of depression, anxiety and addiction, diminishing 
health and life expectancy and rising levels of polarization 
and radicalization.
(3) These changes affect all people of the United States, 
but fall with particular force on the poor and marginalized, on 
children and adolescents, on individuals residing in 
economically disadvantaged regions, on veterans and on the 
elderly, and individuals without a college degree.
(4) The Surgeon General declared an epidemic of loneliness 
and isolation on May 2, 2023.
(5) According to the Surgeon General, social isolation and 
loneliness pose a significant risk to individual health and 
longevity, including a 29 percent increased risk of heart 
disease, a 32 percent increased risk of stroke, and for older 
adults, a 50 percent increased risk of developing dementia.
(6) Loneliness and social isolation increase the risk for 
premature death by 26 percent and 29 percent, respectively.
(7) The general flourishing, economic health and stability 
of the United States, and the effective functioning of 
government and society require renewed attention to social 
connection at every level of society, from individual and 
family, to local community and Nation.
(8) The causal connections between these changes are 
complex, and thus the various cultural, technological, 
demographic, economic, political and institutional drivers of 
social connection require attention from a dedicated expert 
body that may develop and share knowledge to incorporate into 
the national decision-making process and align relevant agency 
actions.
(9) Federal funding for research and policy around social 
connection represents an investment in the future that is 
indispensable to sustained national progress and human 
flourishing, and there should be continuing national investment 
in identifying and expanding proven local strategies, assessing 
how agencies are or are not contributing to social connection, 
and funding incentives to drive improvement commensurate with 
addressing contemporary problems.

SEC. 3. OFFICE OF SOCIAL CONNECTION POLICY; NATIONAL STRATEGY ON SOCIAL 
CONNECTION.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Advisory council.--The term ``Advisory Council'' means 
the advisory council established under subsection (c)(1).
(2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
the Office.
(3) Inadequate.--The term ``inadequate'', with respect to 
loneliness, means the discrepancy or unmet need between an 
individual's or community's preferred and actual experience.
(4) Loneliness.--The term ``loneliness'', with respect to 
an individual, means a subjective distressing experience of an 
individual that results from perceived isolation or inadequate 
meaningful connection.
(5) Office.--The term ``Office'' means the Office of Social 
Connection Policy.
(6) Social connectedness.--The term ``social 
connectedness'' means the degree to which an individual or 
community achieves and maintains social connection needs.
(7) Social connection.--The term ``social connection'' 
means a continuum of the size and diversity of an individual's 
social network and roles, the functions such relationships and 
roles serve, and the positive or negative qualities of such 
relationships and roles.
(8) Social disconnection.--The term ``social 
disconnection'' means objective or subjective deficits in 
social connection, including deficits in social relationships 
and roles, the functions such relationships and roles serve, 
and the positive or negative qualities of such relationships 
and roles.
(9) Social infrastructure.--The term ``social 
infrastructure'' means the programs (such as volunteer 
organizations, sports groups, religious groups, and member 
associations), policies (such as public transportation, 
housing, and education), and physical elements (such as 
libraries, parks, green spaces, and playgrounds) of a community 
that support the development of social connection.
(10) Social isolation.--The term ``social isolation'', with 
respect to an individual, means that the individual objectively 
has few social relationships, social roles, or group 
memberships and has infrequent social interaction.
(b) Office of Social Connection Policy.--
(1) In general.--There is established within the Executive 
Office of the President an office, to be known as the ``Office 
of Social Connection Policy''.
(2) Purposes.--The purposes of the Office shall be to 
provide to the President independent, expert judgment and 
assistance on policy matters that require accurate assessments 
of social connection.
(3) Director.--
(A) In general.--The head of the Office shall be 
the Director, who shall be appointed by the President, 
by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(B) Compensation.--The Director shall be 
compensated at the rate provided for level IV of the 
Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, 
United States Code.
(4) Associate directors.--
(A) In general.--The President may appoint, by and 
with the advice and consent of the Senate, not more 
than 4 Associate Directors of the Office.
(B) Compensation.--An Associate Director appointed 
under subparagraph (A) shall be compensated at the rate 
provided for level V of the Executive Schedule under 
section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
(5) Duties.--
(A) In general.--The Director shall--
(i) advise the President on timely and 
authoritative research regarding public health, 
technological, and social infrastructure 
aspects of social connection and loneliness 
that require attention at the highest levels of 
the Federal Government;
(ii) advise the President on social 
connection and loneliness considerations with 
respect to issues of national concern, 
including the economy, public health, national 
security, the environment, and civic and 
community engagement;
(iii) with respect to research and 
development relating to social connection and 
loneliness--
(I) assist the Director of the 
Office of Management and Budget with an 
annual review and analysis of funding 
proposed for such research and 
development for all Federal agencies; 
and
(II) assist the Director of the 
Office of Management and Budget and the 
heads of the Federal agencies 
throughout the budget development 
process;
(iv) assist the President in providing 
general leadership and coordination of Federal 
research and development programs relating to 
social connection and loneliness;
(v) provide prompt, effective, reliable, 
and systematic information to the public on the 
impact of policies and programs conducted by 
the Federal Government on social connection and 
maintenance and development of social 
infrastructure;
(vi) establish, maintain, and update the 
national strategy in accordance with 
subparagraph (B); and
(vii) carry out such other activities as 
the President may determine.
(B) National strategy.--
(i) In general.--The Office shall 
establish, maintain, and periodically update an 
integrated national strategy to improve social 
connection, ameliorate loneliness, and slow or 
stop the progression of social disconnection.
(ii) Requirement.--The national strategy 
under clause (i) shall be an inclusive, Federal 
Government-wide approach that leverages 
existing Federal resources and authorities to 
achieve enhanced social connection.
(c) Advisory Council.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish an 
intergovernmental advisory council the purpose of which shall 
be to address loneliness, social disconnection, and social 
connection experienced by individuals in the United States.
(2) Activities.--The Advisory Council shall--
(A) carry out an annual assessment on social 
connection in accordance with paragraph (5);
(B) provide information on, and coordinate, social 
connection research and services across all Federal 
agencies;
(C) encourage the development of effective 
strategies and approaches to prevent social 
disconnection and improve social infrastructure, 
quality of life, and community;
(D) review the impact of social disconnection and 
loneliness on physical, mental, and social health;
(E) to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate 
with international bodies to integrate and inform the 
global mission to improve social connection;
(F) advise the Director;
(G) issue national guidelines on social connection; 
and
(H) carry out such other activities as the Director 
determines appropriate.
(3) Membership.--
(A) Composition.--The Advisory Council shall be 
composed of--
(i) the Director (or the Director's 
designee), who shall serve as the Chair of the 
Advisory Council;
(ii) the Federal members under subparagraph 
(B); and
(iii) the non-Federal members under 
subparagraph (C).
(B) Federal members.--
(i) In general.--In addition to the 
Director (or the Director's designee), the 
Federal members of the Advisory Council shall 
consist of 1 representative from each of--
(I) the Department of Commerce;
(II) the Department of Defense;
(III) the Department of Education;
(IV) the Department of Health and 
Human Services, including--
(aa) the Administration on 
Community Living;
(bb) the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention; 
and
(cc) the Office of the 
Director of the National 
Institutes of Health;
(V) the Department of Homeland 
Security;
(VI) the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, including the Office 
of Community Planning and Development;
(VII) the Department of Justice;
(VIII) the Department of Labor;
(IX) the Department of the 
Treasury;
(X) the Department of 
Transportation;
(XI) the Department of Veterans 
Affairs;
(XII) the Corporation for National 
and Community Service; and
(XIII) other relevant Federal 
agencies, as determined by the 
Director.
(ii) Appointment.--The Federal members 
under clause (i) shall be appointed--
(I) by the head of the respective 
agency or office; and
(II) so as to ensure that the 
membership of the Advisory Council is 
diverse and inclusive.
(C) Non-federal members.--The non-Federal members 
of the Advisory Council shall be appointed by the 
Director, and shall consist of experts in their 
respective fields, including--
(i) 1 or more caregivers;
(ii) 1 or more health care providers;
(iii) 1 or more representatives of 
nonprofit organizations that advocate for 
policies that reduce loneliness and social 
isolation;
(iv) 1 or more representatives of State, 
territorial, local, and Tribal governments;
(v) 1 or more researchers from research 
institutions;
(vi) 1 or more representatives of State 
education agencies;
(vii) 1 or more representatives of Veterans 
Service Organizations;
(viii) 1 or more employers;
(ix) 1 or more workplace representatives;
(x) 1 or more representatives of volunteer 
organizations;
(xi) 1 or more representatives of nonprofit 
organizations that advocate for youth and have 
youth serving on their boards or in leadership 
positions;
(xii) 1 or more representatives of 
community action agencies;
(xiii) 1 or more representatives of 
disability rights organizations; and
(xiv) 1 or more representatives of LGBTQIA+ 
advocacy organizations.
(4) Meetings.--
(A) Quarterly meetings.--The Advisory Council shall 
meet not less frequently than quarterly, and at the 
call of the Director.
(B) Open meetings.--The meetings of the Advisory 
Council shall be open to the public.
(5) Annual assessment.--Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
Advisory Council shall carry out an assessment of the progress 
of the United States in improving social connection, 
including--
(A) an assessment of steps that have been, or 
should be, taken--
(i) to increase the use of the national 
strategy described in subsection (b)(5)(B) in 
Federal policy development and implementation;
(ii) to establish a framework to improve 
and connect social services;
(iii) to promote continuous community-led 
planning and design to improve social 
connection through reimagined community spaces, 
transportation, housing, and technologies;
(iv) to establish and scale community 
connection programs;
(v) to coordinate public health campaigns 
that raise awareness and reduce the stigma 
surrounding loneliness;
(vi) to strengthen measurement practices to 
increase collection of data measuring 
loneliness and social connection;
(vii) to provide assistance to State, 
local, and Tribal governments seeking to 
improve social connection among residents; and
(viii) to support youth participation in 
strategies to improve social connection and 
community connection; and
(B) an assessment of other issues the Director 
determines appropriate.
(6) Annual report.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Advisory 
Council shall submit to the Director and Congress a report that 
describes--
(A) an evaluation of all Federal efforts to address 
loneliness and improve social connection;
(B) recommendations for legislative changes needed 
to implement goals described in clauses (i) through 
(viii) of paragraph (5)(A); and
(C) an evaluation of the implementation, including 
outcomes, of the national strategy described in 
subsection (b)(5)(B).
(d) Data Sharing.--Each Federal agency that has data relating to 
loneliness and social connection shall share such data with the 
Director and make such data publicly available, subject to applicable 
Federal law relating to disclosure of such data, to enable the Advisory 
Council to complete the reports described in subsection (c)(6).
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to conduct or 
support research on loneliness and social connection.
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