H.R. 1305: Improving Measurements for Loneliness and Isolation Act of 2025

The Improving Measurements for Loneliness and Isolation Act of 2025 aims to address the issues of loneliness and isolation by establishing a structured process to improve how these phenomena are measured in the United States. The bill mandates the creation of a national working group by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, referred to as the Working Group on Unifying Loneliness Research.

Key Components of the Bill

• Definitions:
  • Isolation: Defined as the objective lack of social relationships or limited social contact.
  • Loneliness: Described as a subjective feeling of being isolated.
• Working Group Establishment: The Secretary of Health and Human Services will form a national working group to develop recommendations for standardizing loneliness and isolation measurements.
• Goals of the Working Group: The recommendations will focus on:
  • Promoting collaboration among federal departments and agencies to create standardized measurements for public and private research, which will guide decision-making and strategies to tackle loneliness and isolation.
  • Developing consistent definitions and measurements of loneliness and isolation to enhance public understanding.
  • Assessing the effectiveness of existing measurement methods used in public and private sectors.
• Composition of the Working Group: The group will include:
  • Senior representatives from key federal health agencies, such as:
    • The Department of Health and Human Services
    • The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
    • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    • The Administration for Community Living
    • The National Institutes of Health
    • The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
    • The Health Resources and Services Administration
    • The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
  • Representatives from the three states with the highest mental health care practitioner needs, designated by their governors.
  • Representatives from the three states with the lowest needs, also designated by their governors.
• Reporting Requirements: The Working Group must submit a report to designated Congressional committees within one year of the bill's enactment, detailing their findings and recommendations. The report will also be made publicly available online.
• Meeting Requirements: The Working Group is required to hold meetings at least three times during the process of developing the report.
• Sunset Clause: The provisions of this section will automatically cease to be effective by the end of the calendar year 2027.

Relevant Companies

• None found