S. 870 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Mar 5, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySupport and services for Native American elders
This bill sets up a tribal advisory committee to help the Administration on Aging better serve Native Americans aged 60 and older. It also directs grants toward programs that help older Native Americans stay in their own homes, including home modifications and in-home services. The bill requires federal agencies to report back to Congress on what Native American elders need, what barriers they face in accessing programs, and how current caregiving support could be improved.
How it affects you
Older American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians may see more services and support tailored to their communities, especially help with staying in their homes as they age. Tribal organizations providing services to elders could receive grants and training to expand their programs. Most other Americans won't experience direct changes from this bill.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Mar 5, 2025)
Enhancing Native Elders' Longevity, Dignity, Empowerment, and Respect Act or the Native ELDER Act
This bill establishes a tribal advisory committee, revises certain grants, and requires reporting related to older (i.e., aged 60 or older) American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.
Specifically, the bill directs the Administration on Aging (AOA) to establish a tribal advisory committee to provide advice and guidance on matters relating to older Native Americans.
Additionally, the bill specifies that the technical assistance and training programs provided to grant recipients (e.g., tribal organizations providing supportive services) may include topics such as program management, data development and use, basic business skills, grant development, program and service innovations, and staff training and certification.
The bill directs the AOA, when making grants to tribal organizations to provide supportive services for older Native Americans, to prioritize organizations that will use these grants for necessary home modifications that will facilitate the ability of older Native Americans to remain at home.
The AOA must also report to Congress on (1) the feasibility of modeling the Native American Caregiver Support Program after the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, (2) the level of need for in-home services that include accessible home modifications for older Native Americans, and (3) the barriers to Indian tribes accessing programs for older Native Americans. This report must be made publicly available.
The Department of Labor must report to Congress on how recipients of funding under the Senior Community Service Employment Program are serving older Native Americans.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 870
A BILL
Native ELDER Act
Sponsor: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) · Introduced Mar 5, 2025 · Native Americans · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 5, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.”