,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dhah ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #ag1 #bjbf,mr4 ,murphy introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to establish the ,office of ,social ,connection ,policy1 to establish a national strategy on social connection1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,national ,strategy for ,social ,connection ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the health of the ,nation is rightly measured not only by its aggregate wealth or global power1 but more centrally by its shared vision and the bonds of connection that knit its people into a community4 7#b7 ,the fraying of the social fabric is directly implicated in the growth of loneliness1 decline of civic and religious participation1 the disintegration of communities1 rising economic inequality and precarity1 falling economic mobility1 rising rates of depression1 anxiety and addiction1 diminishing health and life expectancy and rising levels of polarization and radicalization4 7#c7 ,these changes affect all people of the ,united ,states1 but fall with particular force on the poor and marginalized1 on children and adolescents1 on individuals residing in economically disadvantaged regions1 on veterans and on the elderly1 and individuals without a college degree4 7#d7 ,the ,surgeon ,general declared an epidemic of loneliness and isolation on ,may #b1 #bjbc4 7#e7 ,according to the ,surgeon ,general1 social isolation and loneliness pose a significant risk to individual health and longevity1 including a #bi percent increased risk of heart disease1 a #cb percent increased risk of stroke1 and for older adults1 a #ej percent increased risk of developing dementia4 7#f7 ,loneliness and social isolation increase the risk for premature death by #bf percent and #bi percent1 respectively4 7#g7 ,the general flourishing1 economic health and stability of the ,united ,states1 and the effective functioning of government and society require renewed attention to social connection at every level of society1 from individual and family1 to local community and ,nation4 7#h7 ,the causal connections between these changes are complex1 and thus the various cultural1 technological1 demographic1 economic1 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 actions4 7#i7 ,federal funding for research and policy around social connection represents an investment in the future that is indispensable to sustained national progress and human flourishing1 and there should be continuing national investment in identifying and expanding proven local strategies1 assessing how agencies are or are not contributing to social connection1 and funding incentives to drive improvement commensurate with addressing contemporary problems4 #c4 ,office of ,social ,connection ,policy2 ,national ,strategy on ,social ,connection 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,advisory ,council ,the term ,advisory ,council means the advisory council established under subsection 7c77#a74 7#b7 ,director ,the term ,director means the ,director of the ,office4 7#c7 ,inadequate ,the term inadequate1 with respect to loneliness1 means the discrepancy or unmet need between an individual's or community's preferred and actual experience4 7#d7 ,loneliness ,the term loneliness1 with respect to an individual1 means a subjective distressing experience of an individual that results from perceived isolation or inadequate meaningful connection4 7#e7 ,office ,the term ,office means the ,office of ,social ,connection ,policy4 7#f7 ,social connectedness ,the term social connectedness means the degree to which an individual or community achieves and maintains social connection needs4 7#g7 ,social connection ,the term social connection means a continuum of the size and diversity of an individual's social network and roles1 the functions such relationships and roles serve1 and the positive or negative qualities of such relationships and roles4 7#h7 ,social disconnection ,the term social disconnection means objective or subjective deficits in social connection1 including deficits in social relationships and roles1 the functions such relationships and roles serve1 and the positive or negative qualities of such relationships and roles4 7#i7 ,social infrastructure ,the term social infrastructure means the programs 7such as volunteer organizations1 sports groups1 religious groups1 and member associations71 policies 7such as public transportation1 housing1 and education71 and physical elements 7such as libraries1 parks1 green spaces1 and playgrounds7 of a community that support the development of social connection4 7#aj7 ,social isolation ,the term social isolation1 with respect to an individual1 means that the individual objectively has few social relationships1 social roles1 or group memberships and has infrequent social interaction4 7b7 ,office of ,social ,connection ,policy 7#a7 ,in general ,there is established within the ,executive ,office of the ,president an office1 to be known as the ,office of ,social ,connection ,policy4 7#b7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the ,office shall be to provide to the ,president independent1 expert judgment and assistance on policy matters that require accurate assessments of social connection4 7#c7 ,director 7,a7 ,in general ,the head of the ,office shall be the ,director1 who shall be appointed by the ,president1 by and with the advice and consent of the ,senate4 7,b7 ,compensation ,the ,director shall be compensated at the rate provided for level ,,iv of the ,executive ,schedule under section #ecae of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#d7 ,associate directors 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,president may appoint1 by and with the advice and consent of the ,senate1 not more than #d ,associate ,directors of the ,office4 7,b7 ,compensation ,an ,associate ,director appointed under subparagraph 7,a7 shall be compensated at the rate provided for level ,v of the ,executive ,schedule under section #ecaf of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#e7 ,duties 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,director shall-- 7i7 advise the ,president on timely and authoritative research regarding public health1 technological1 and social infrastructure aspects of social connection and loneliness that require attention at the highest levels of the ,federal ,government2 7ii7 advise the ,president on social connection and loneliness considerations with respect to issues of national concern1 including the economy1 public health1 national security1 the environment1 and civic and community engagement2 7iii7 with respect to research and development relating to social connection and loneliness-- 7,i7 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 agencies2 and 7,,ii7 assist the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget and the heads of the ,federal agencies throughout the budget development process2 7iv7 assist the ,president in providing general leadership and coordination of ,federal research and development programs relating to social connection and loneliness2 7v7 provide prompt1 effective1 reliable1 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 infrastructure2 7vi7 establish1 maintain1 and update the national strategy in accordance with subparagraph 7,b72 and 7vii7 carry out such other activities as the ,president may determine4 7,b7 ,national strategy 7i7 ,in general ,the ,office shall establish1 maintain1 and periodically update an integrated national strategy to improve social connection1 ameliorate loneliness1 and slow or stop the progression of social disconnection4 7ii7 ,requirement ,the national strategy under clause 7i7 shall be an inclusive1 ,federal ,government-wide approach that leverages existing ,federal resources and authorities to achieve enhanced social connection4 7c7 ,advisory ,council 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director shall establish an intergovernmental advisory council the purpose of which shall be to address loneliness1 social disconnection1 and social connection experienced by individuals in the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,activities ,the ,advisory ,council shall-- 7,a7 carry out an annual assessment on social connection in accordance with paragraph 7#e72 7,b7 provide information on1 and coordinate1 social connection research and services across all ,federal agencies2 7,c7 encourage the development of effective strategies and approaches to prevent social disconnection and improve social infrastructure1 quality of life1 and community2 7,d7 review the impact of social disconnection and loneliness on physical1 mental1 and social health2 7,e7 to the maximum extent practicable1 coordinate with international bodies to integrate and inform the global mission to improve social connection2 7,f7 advise the ,director2 7,g7 issue national guidelines on social connection2 and 7,h7 carry out such other activities as the ,director determines appropriate4 7#c7 ,membership 7,a7 ,composition ,the ,advisory ,council shall be composed of-- 7i7 the ,director 7or the ,director's designee71 who shall serve as the ,chair of the ,advisory ,council2 7ii7 the ,federal members under subparagraph 7,b72 and 7iii7 the non-,federal members under subparagraph 7,c74 7,b7 ,federal members 7i7 ,in general ,in addition to the ,director 7or the ,director's designee71 the ,federal members of the ,advisory ,council shall consist of #a representative from each of-- 7,i7 the ,department of ,commerce2 7,,ii7 the ,department of ,defense2 7,,iii7 the ,department of ,education2 7,,iv7 the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 including-- 7aa7 the ,administration on ,community ,living2 7bb7 the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention2 and 7cc7 the ,office of the ,director of the ,national ,institutes of ,health2 7,v7 the ,department of ,homeland ,security2 7,,vi7 the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 including the ,office of ,community ,planning and ,development2 7,,vii7 the ,department of ,justice2 7,,viii7 the ,department of ,labor2 7,,ix7 the ,department of the ,treasury2 7,x7 the ,department of ,transportation2 7,,xi7 the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs2 7,,xii7 the ,corporation for ,national and ,community ,service2 and 7,,xiii7 other relevant ,federal agencies1 as determined by the ,director4 7ii7 ,appointment ,the ,federal members under clause 7i7 shall be appointed-- 7,i7 by the head of the respective agency or office2 and 7,,ii7 so as to ensure that the membership of the ,advisory ,council is diverse and inclusive4 7,c7 ,non-,federal members ,the non-,federal members of the ,advisory ,council shall be appointed by the ,director1 and shall consist of experts in their respective fields1 including-- 7i7 #a or more caregivers2 7ii7 #a or more health care providers2 7iii7 #a or more representatives of nonprofit organizations that advocate for policies that reduce loneliness and social isolation2 7iv7 #a or more representatives of ,state1 territorial1 local1 and ,tribal governments2 7v7 #a or more researchers from research institutions2 7vi7 #a or more representatives of ,state education agencies2 7vii7 #a or more representatives of ,veterans ,service ,organizations2 7viii7 #a or more employers2 7ix7 #a or more workplace representatives2 7x7 #a or more representatives of volunteer organizations2 7xi7 #a or more representatives of nonprofit organizations that advocate for youth and have youth serving on their boards or in leadership positions2 7xii7 #a or more representatives of community action agencies2 7xiii7 #a or more representatives of disability rights organizations2 and 7xiv7 #a or more representatives of ,,lgbtqia advocacy organizations4 7#d7 ,meetings 7,a7 ,quarterly meetings ,the ,advisory ,council shall meet not less frequently than quarterly1 and at the call of the ,director4 7,b7 ,open meetings ,the meetings of the ,advisory ,council shall be open to the public4 7#e7 ,annual assessment ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,advisory ,council shall carry out an assessment of the progress of the ,united ,states in improving social connection1 including-- 7,a7 an assessment of steps that have been1 or should be1 taken-- 7i7 to increase the use of the national strategy described in subsection 7b77#e77;,b7 in ,federal policy development and implementation2 7ii7 to establish a framework to improve and connect social services2 7iii7 to promote continuous community-led planning and design to improve social connection through reimagined community spaces1 transportation1 housing1 and technologies2 7iv7 to establish and scale community connection programs2 7v7 to coordinate public health campaigns that raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding loneliness2 7vi7 to strengthen measurement practices to increase collection of data measuring loneliness and social connection2 7vii7 to provide assistance to ,state1 local1 and ,tribal governments seeking to improve social connection among residents2 and 7viii7 to support youth participation in strategies to improve social connection and community connection2 and 7,b7 an assessment of other issues the ,director determines appropriate4 7#f7 ,annual report ,not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,advisory ,council shall submit to the ,director and ,congress a report that describes-- 7,a7 an evaluation of all ,federal efforts to address loneliness and improve social connection2 7,b7 recommendations for legislative changes needed to implement goals described in clauses 7i7 through 7viii7 of paragraph 7#e77;,a72 and 7,c7 an evaluation of the implementation1 including outcomes1 of the national strategy described in subsection 7b77#e77;,b74 7d7 ,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 available1 subject to applicable ,federal law relating to disclosure of such data1 to enable the ,advisory ,council to complete the reports described in subsection 7c77#f74 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention #e1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjca to conduct or support research on loneliness and social connection4