Direct CARE Opportunity Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 10704 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 10704 To direct the Secretary of Labor to award grants for the recruitment, retention, and advancement of direct care workers. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 1, 2026 Mr. Scott of Virginia (for himself, Mrs. Grijalva, and Ms. Lee of Nevada) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To direct the Secretary of Labor to award grants for the recruitment, retention, and advancement of direct care workers. 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 ``Direct Creation, Advancement, and Retention of Employment Opportunity Act of 2026'' or the ``Direct CARE Opportunity Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Apprenticeship program.--The term ``apprenticeship program'' means an apprenticeship program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the ``National Apprenticeship Act''; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.). (2) Direct care worker.--The term ``direct care worker'' means-- (A) a direct support professional; (B) a worker providing direct care services, which may include palliative care, in a home or community- based setting; (C) a respite care provider who provides short-term support and care to an individual in order to provide relief to a family caregiver; (D) a direct care worker, as defined in section 799B of the Public