H.R. 9641: Essential Caregivers Act of 2026

What it does

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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.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Jul 13, 2026).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

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2026-07-15Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 38 - 0.House committee actions
2026-07-15Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session HeldHouse committee actions
2026-07-13Referred 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.House floor actions
2026-07-13Referred 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.House floor actions
2026-07-13Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress
2026-07-13Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

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Cosponsors

Rep. Robert B. Aderholt R-AL-4
Rep. Mark Alford R-MO-4
Rep. Troy Balderson R-OH-12
Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán D-CA-44
Rep. Aaron Bean R-FL-4
Rep. Jack Bergman R-MI-1
Rep. Sheri Biggs R-SC-3
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici D-OR-1
Rep. Janelle S. Bynum D-OR-5
Rep. Mike Carey R-OH-15
Rep. Judy Chu D-CA-28
Rep. Joe Courtney D-CT-2
Rep. Angie Craig D-MN-2
Rep. Donald G. Davis D-NC-1
Rep. Madeleine Dean D-PA-4
Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro D-CT-3
Rep. Christopher R. Deluzio D-PA-17
Rep. Maxine Dexter D-OR-3
Rep. Debbie Dingell D-MI-6
Rep. Sarah Elfreth D-MD-3
Rep. Randy Fine R-FL-6
Rep. Brad Finstad R-MN-1
Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick R-PA-1
Rep. Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann R-TN-3
Rep. Scott Franklin R-FL-18
Rep. Maxwell Frost D-FL-10
Rep. Russ Fulcher R-ID-1
Rep. Clay Fuller R-GA-14
Rep. Laura Gillen D-NY-4
Rep. Josh Gottheimer D-NJ-5
Rep. Adelita S. Grijalva D-AZ-7
Rep. Michael Guest R-MS-3
Rep. Harriet M. Hageman R-WY-At Large
Rep. Pat Harrigan R-NC-10
Rep. Jahana Hayes D-CT-5
Rep. J. French Hill R-AR-2
Rep. James A. Himes D-CT-4
Rep. Erin Houchin R-IN-9
Rep. Val T. Hoyle D-OR-4
Rep. John James R-MI-10
Rep. John Joyce R-PA-13
Rep. David P. Joyce R-OH-14
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove D-CA-37
Rep. Trent Kelly R-MS-1
Rep. Robin L. Kelly D-IL-2
Rep. Mike Kelly R-PA-16
Rep. Timothy M. Kennedy D-NY-26
Rep. Young Kim R-CA-40
Rep. Darin LaHood R-IL-16
Rep. Nicholas A. Langworthy R-NY-23
Rep. John B. Larson D-CT-1
Rep. George Latimer D-NY-16
Rep. Michael Lawler R-NY-17
Rep. Susie Lee D-NV-3
Rep. Mike Levin D-CA-49
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna R-FL-13
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis R-NY-11
Rep. Tracey Mann R-KS-1
Rep. John W. Mannion D-NY-22
Rep. Sarah McBride D-DE-At Large
Rep. Carol D. Miller R-WV-1
Rep. Blake D. Moore R-UT-1
Rep. Joseph D. Morelle D-NY-25
Rep. Ralph Norman R-SC-5
Rep. Johnny Olszewski D-MD-2
Rep. Gary J. Palmer R-AL-6
Rep. Scott H. Peters D-CA-50
Rep. Brittany Pettersen D-CO-7
Rep. Chellie Pingree D-ME-1
Rep. Mark Pocan D-WI-2
Rep. John H. Rutherford R-FL-5
Rep. Andrea Salinas D-OR-6
Rep. Darren Soto D-FL-9
Rep. Melanie A. Stansbury D-NM-1
Rep. W. Gregory Steube R-FL-17
Rep. Haley M. Stevens D-MI-11
Rep. Thomas R. Suozzi D-NY-3
Rep. Glenn Thompson R-PA-15
Rep. Rashida Tlaib D-MI-12
Rep. Paul Tonko D-NY-20
Rep. Gabe Vasquez D-NM-2
Rep. James R. Walkinshaw D-VA-11
Rep. Bruce Westerman R-AR-4
Rep. Frederica S. Wilson D-FL-24
Rep. Robert J. Wittman R-VA-1
Rep. Steve Womack R-AR-3
Rep. Rudy Yakym R-IN-2