CARES Hotline Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8620 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8620 To amend the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 to establish a hotline for caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 30, 2026 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Ms. Norton, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Correa, and Ms. Lofgren) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 to establish a hotline for caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Caregiver Access to Resources and Emotional Support Hotline Act'' or the ``CARES Hotline Act''. SEC. 2. NATIONAL HOTLINE FOR CAREGIVERS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. (a) In General.--The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``TITLE V--CAREGIVER SUPPORT ``SEC. 501. NATIONAL HOTLINE FOR CAREGIVERS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall maintain, directly or by awarding a grant or entering into a contract with an eligible entity, a national hotline to provide emotional support, information, brief intervention, and mental health and resources to caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities. ``(b) Requirements for Hotline.--The hotline under subsection (a) shall-- ``(1) be toll-free; ``(2) b