Direct CARE Opportunity Act of 2026

This bill would require the Secretary of Labor, working with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to award grants of at least 5 years to states, tribes, labor groups, nonprofits, and workforce boards to recruit, keep, and advance direct care workers, such as home care aides and people who support individuals with disabilities. Grant funds could pay for training programs, career pathway programs, career planning, wages, and supportive services like child care and transportation. Grantees could not charge workers for training and could spend no more than 7 percent on administration. The bill would provide $300 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2032 for the grants, plus $6 million per year for a national technical assistance center, and would require reports to Congress.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Robert C. "Bobby" Scott Democrat sponsor
• 3 cosponsors