,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #daea ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #bf1 #bjbe,ms4 ,bonamici 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,balint1 ,mr4 ,frost1 ,mr4 ,quigley1 ,mr4 ,moskowitz1 ,ms4 ,lee of ,pennsylvania1 ,mr4 ,huffman1 ,mr4 ,panetta1 ,ms4 ,scanlon1 ,mr4 ,krishnamoorthi1 ,ms4 ,titus1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,mr4 ,case1 ,ms4 ,davids of ,kansas1 ,ms4 ,salinas1 ,mr4 ,de,saulnier1 ,mr4 ,lynch1 ,mr4 ,casten1 ,mr4 ,pocan1 ,mr4 ,magaziner1 ,mr4 ,carson1 ,ms4 ,scholten1 ,mr4 ,tonko1 ,mr4 ,gottheimer1 ,ms4 ,lois ,frankel of ,florida1 ,ms4 ,barragn1 ,mr4 ,johnson of ,georgia1 ,mrs4 ,hayes1 and ,ms4 ,simon7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife to provide equal treatment of ,,lgbtqi older individuals1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,ruthie and ,connie ,,lgbtqi ,elder ,americans ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,definitions 7a7 ,in general ,section #ajb of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjjb7 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#bd7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking and at the end2 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,c77ii71 by striking the period and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,d7 status as an ,,lgbtqi individual and status as an ,,hiv individual4 2 7#b7 by redesignating-- 7,a7 paragraphs 7#cf7 through 7#ef7 as paragraphs 7#ch7 through 7#ei71 respectively2 and 7,b7 paragraphs 7#cd7 and 7#ce7 as paragraphs 7#cf7 and 7#cg71 respectively2 7#c7 by inserting after paragraph 7#cc7 the following3 7#cd7 ,the term ,,hiv1 used with respect to an individual1 means living with human immunodeficiency virus2 7#ce7 ,the term ,,lgbtqi1 used with respect to an individual1 means a lesbian1 gay1 bisexual1 transgender1 queer1 or intersex individual4 2 and 7#d7 by inserting after paragraph 7#cg71 as so redesignated1 the following3 7#ch7 ,the term minority1 used with respect to an individual1 includes a lesbian1 gay1 bisexual1 transgender1 queer1 or intersex individual4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendment ,section #bae7;e77#a77;,j7 of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjbj;e-#a7;e77#a77;,j77 is amended by striking minorities and inserting minority individuals4 #c4 ,administration on aging 7a7 ,establishment of administration2 ,office of the ,,lgbtqi ,inclusion ,section #bja of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjaa7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7d77#c77;,j71 by inserting before the semicolon the following3 1 including the effectiveness of such services in meeting the needs of ,,lgbtqi older individuals2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7h7 ,the ,assistant ,secretary is authorized to designate within the ,administration a person to have responsibility for addressing issues affecting ,,lgbtqi older individuals4 7i7 7#a7 ,there is established in the ,administration an ,office of ,,lgbtqi ,inclusion 7referred to in this subsection as the ,office74 7#b7 7,a7 ,the ,office shall be headed by a ,director of ,,lgbtqi ,inclusion 7referred to in this subsection as the ,director7 who shall be appointed by the ,secretary4 7,b7 ,the ,office shall include an ,assistant ,director of ,,lgbtqi ,policy 7referred to in this subsection as the ,assistant ,director7 who shall be appointed by the ,director to assist the ,director in carrying out this subsection1 including by carrying out the activities under paragraph 7#d74 7#c7 ,the ,director shall-- 7,a7 coordinate activities within the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 and between other ,federal departments and agencies1 to assure a continuum of improved services for ,,lgbtqi older individuals2 7,b7 promote access to aging services and supports for ,,lgbtqi older individuals2 7,c7 collect and disseminate information related to the challenges experienced by ,,lgbtqi older individuals2 and 7,d7 administer and evaluate grants that will expand access to aging services and supports for ,,lgbtqi older individuals4 7#d7 ,the ,assistant ,director shall-- 7,a7 serve as the effective and visible advocate on behalf of ,,lgbtqi older individuals-- 7i7 within the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services and with other departments and agencies of the ,federal ,government regarding all ,federal policies affecting such individuals2 and 7ii7 in the ,states to promote the enhanced delivery of services and implementation of programs1 under this ,act and other ,federal ,acts1 for the benefit of such individuals2 7,b7 support1 conduct1 and arrange for research in the field of ,,lgbtqi aging with a special emphasis on gathering statistics on ,,lgbtqi older individuals2 7,c7 collect and disseminate information related to challenges experienced by ,,lgbtqi older individuals2 and 7,d7 recommend policies and priorities beneficial to ,,lgbtqi older individuals and promote the implementation and adoption of culturally competent care and services for such individuals4 7#e7 ,not later than #e years after the date of enactment of this ,act and every #e years thereafter1 the ,director shall submit to ,congress a report describing the activities carried out under this subsection during the preceding #e years4 4 7b7 ,functions of ,assistant ,secretary ,section #bjb of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjab7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#af77;,a77ii71 by inserting 1 and separately specifying the number of such individuals who are ,,lgbtqi individuals before the semicolon2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#cc71 by striking 2 and and inserting a semicolon2 7,c7 in paragraph 7#cd71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,d7 by adding at the end the following3 7#ce7 conduct studies and collect data to determine the services that are needed by ,,lgbtqi older individuals4 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7j7 7#a7 ,the ,assistant ,secretary shall1 directly or by grant or contract1 establish and operate the ,national ,resource ,center on ,lesbian1 ,gay1 ,bisexual1 ,transgender1 ,queer1 and ,intersex ,aging 7in this subsection referred to as the ,center74 7#b7 ,to address the unique challenges faced by ,,lgbtqi older individuals1 the ,center shall provide national1 ,state1 and local organizations1 including those with a primary mission of serving ,,lgbtqi individuals and those with a primary mission of serving older individuals1 with the information and technical assistance the organizations need to effectively serve ,,lgbtqi older individuals4 7#c7 ,the ,center shall have #c primary objectives1 consisting of-- 7,a7 educating aging services organizations about the existence and special needs of ,,lgbtqi older individuals2 7,b7 sensitizing ,,lgbtqi organizations about the existence and special needs of older individuals2 and 7,c7 providing educational resources to ,,lgbtqi older individuals and their caregivers4 7#d7 7,a7 ,to be eligible to receive funds under this subsection1 an entity-- 7i7 shall have demonstrated expertise in working with organizations or individuals on issues affecting ,,lgbtqi individuals2 7ii7 shall have documented experience in providing training and technical assistance on a national basis or a formal relationship with an organization that has that experience2 and 7iii7 shall meet such other criteria as the ,assistant ,secretary shall issue4 7,b7 ,to be eligible to receive funds under this subsection1 an entity shall submit an application to the ,assistant ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,assistant ,secretary may require4 7#e7 ,the ,assistant ,secretary shall make available to the ,center on an annual basis such resources as are necessary for the ,center to carry out effectively the functions of the ,center under this ,act and not less than the amount of resources made available to the ,national ,resource ,center on ,,lgbtqi ,aging1 existing on the day before the date of enactment of the ,ruthie and ,connie ,,lgbtqi ,elder ,americans ,act of #bjbe1 for fiscal year #bjbf4 7#f7 ,the ,assistant ,secretary shall develop and issue operating standards and reporting requirements for the ,center4 4 #d4 ,grants for ,state and community programs on aging ,section #cja7;a77#b7 of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjba7;a77#b77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,e71 by striking 2 and and inserting a semicolon2 7#b7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,f7 as subparagraph 7,g72 and 7#c7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,e7 the following3 7,f7 organizations that serve ,,lgbtqi individuals2 and 4 #e4 ,activities for health1 independence1 and longevity ,section #daa7;a77#aa7 of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjcb7;a77#aa77 is amended to read as follows3 7#aa7 conducting activities of national significance to promote quality and continuous improvement in the support and services provided to individuals with greatest social need1 through activities that include needs assessment1 program development and evaluation1 training1 technical assistance1 and research1 concerning-- 7,a7 addressing physical and mental health1 disabilities1 and health disparities2 7,b7 providing long-term care1 including in-home and community-based care2 7,c7 providing informal care1 and formal care in a facility setting2 7,d7 providing access to culturally responsive health and human services2 and 7,e7 addressing other gaps in assistance and issues that the ,assistant ,secretary determines are of particular importance to older individuals with greatest social need4 4 #f4 ,data on discrimination ,section #gab of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjeh;g7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a77#c7-- 7,a7 by redesignating subparagraphs 7,f7 through 7,j7 as subparagraphs 7,g7 through 7,k72 and 7,b7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,e7 the following3 7,f7 collect and analyze data1 relating to discrimination against ,,lgbtqi older individuals on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation1 gender identity1 or sex characteristics 7including intersex traits7 in the admission to1 transfer or discharge from1 or lack of adequate care provided in long-term care settings1 and shall include the analyses in the reports described in subsection 7h77#a72 2 and 7#b7 in subsection 7h77#f71 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by striking 7,a7 through 7,g7 and inserting 7,a7 through 7,h74