Skip to main content

Agora
Sign in

House bill · H.R. 9641 (119th Congress)

Essential Caregivers Act of 2026

U.S. House of Representatives

Latest action Jul 15, 2026

Sponsor: Claudia Tenney (U.S. Representative, NY-24, Republican)

Follow

Following needs an Agora account. You will sign in first, then come back to this page.

From Congress.gov and official rosters. This record was last updated Sep 8, 2026. About our data

Summary

Essential Caregivers Act of 2026 This bill requires certain nursing and long-term care facilities to ensure residents have access to their designated essential caregivers during periods of restricted visitation. Specifically, the bill requires Medicare skilled nursing facilities, long-term care hospitals, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities, as well as Medicaid nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, to allow residents to designate two essential caregivers and to allow these caregivers in-person access to residents even when visitation is otherwise restricted. Facilities may limit access of essential caregivers only in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as specified. Essential caregivers must agree to follow all safety protocols established by the facility, which may be no more restrictive than the protocols for staff.

Summary from the Congressional Research Service. How we handle summaries

Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted

Committee

House Committee on Energy and Commerce · U.S. House of Representatives

Also referred to House Committee on Ways and Means · U.S. House of Representatives.

Your position on this bill

Choose the position closest to yours. You'll sign in or create an account to save it.

Sign in or create an account to give your position

Cosponsors

6

Cosponsors listed on Congress.gov, shown A to Z.

  • Republican4
  • Democratic2

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

Full history

  1. Jul 15, 2026

    Committee vote

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  2. Jul 15, 2026

    Committee vote

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  3. Jul 15, 2026

    Committee vote

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  4. Jul 15, 2026

    Reported out of committee

    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 38 - 0.

  5. Jul 15, 2026

    Reported out of committee

    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 38 - 0.

Show full history (6 earlier events)
  1. Jul 15, 2026

    Reported out of committee

    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 38 - 0.

  2. Jul 13, 2026

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    U.S. House of Representatives

  3. Jul 13, 2026

    Introduced

    Introduced in U.S. House

    U.S. House

  4. Jul 13, 2026

    Referred to committee

    Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.

  5. Jul 13, 2026

    Referred to committee

    Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.

  6. Jul 13, 2026

    Referred to committee

    Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.

Read the record