This bill establishes an Office of Social Connection Policy and a national strategy to address the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation across the United States.
Christopher Murphy
Senator
CT
This Act establishes the Office of Social Connection Policy within the Executive Office of the President to address the national epidemic of loneliness and social isolation. The Office will create and maintain a government-wide National Strategy on Social Connection to strengthen community bonds. It also creates an intergovernmental Advisory Council to assess progress, coordinate federal efforts, and issue national guidelines on improving social connection.
New National Strategy for Social Connection Act Targets Loneliness Epidemic with $30 Million Research Push
Congress is moving to treat loneliness like the public health crisis it is. This bill establishes the Office of Social Connection Policy right inside the White House to tackle what the Surgeon General calls an epidemic of isolation. Starting in 2026, the bill authorizes $5 million annually through 2031 specifically for the CDC to study why we’re feeling more disconnected and how to fix it. It’s not just about feelings; the bill cites hard data showing that social isolation carries a 29% higher risk of heart disease and a 50% higher risk of dementia for older adults.
A New Desk in the West Wing
The bill creates a high-level Director of Social Connection who will sit in the Executive Office of the President. Think of this person as the national coordinator for community. Their job isn’t to tell you who to hang out with, but to make sure every federal agency—from Transportation to Housing—is actually thinking about how their policies affect our ability to connect. For example, when the Department of Transportation plans a new highway, this office would look at whether that road cuts a neighborhood in half or makes it easier for people to gather at a local park (Section 3).
The Advisory Council Brain Trust
Within a year, the government will pull together an Intergovernmental Advisory Council on Social Connection. This isn't just a group of bureaucrats; the bill requires a mix of real-world experts, including caregivers, healthcare providers, employers, and representatives from youth and LGBTQIA advocacy groups. They are tasked with issuing national guidelines and an annual report on whether we’re actually getting better at building "social infrastructure"—the physical spaces and programs that help us meet and mingle. If you’re a veteran struggling to find a local community or a parent looking for safe, connected spaces for your kids, this council is supposed to be looking for the gaps in your specific area.
Data Sharing and Real-World Impact
One of the most practical parts of the bill is the data-sharing mandate. Every federal agency that has stats on loneliness or social connection must hand that data over to the Director and make it public. This means we’ll get a clearer picture of which communities are hurting the most—whether it’s rural towns losing their meeting spots or urban centers where people feel isolated despite the crowds. While the bill doesn’t hand out direct checks to individuals, it aims to shift how your tax dollars are spent so that future housing projects, transit lines, and public health campaigns are designed to bring people together rather than keeping them apart.