Lawmakers in Washington are turning their attention to a growing economic and social squeeze: the millions of Americans stuck between raising children and caring for aging parents.
On Wednesday, May 13, Chairman Rick Scott and Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand will lead a hearing titled “Caught in the Middle: Supporting Families in the Sandwich Generation” to address the unique pressures facing these dual-role caregivers.
Current data shows that roughly 11 million people in the U.S. fall into this category. The financial impact is massive, with unpaid family caregivers contributing an estimated $600 billion in labor annually—a workload the formal healthcare system is currently unequipped to absorb.
Chairman Scott enters the hearing having previously backed several initiatives aimed at these families, including the SENIOR Act and the Multigenerational Home Caregiver Credit Act, which proposes a $2,000 tax credit for those providing hands-on care to elderly relatives in their homes.
READ: Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley Moves To Kill Federal Gas Tax Following Trump’s Lead
He has also voiced support for the Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act and the 2025 reauthorization of the Older Americans Act.
Ranking Member Gillibrand has focused her efforts on long-term financial security for caregivers. Her proposed Social Security Caregiver Credit Act seeks to grant retirement credits to those spending at least 80 hours a month on family care.
Additionally, her FAMILY Act aims to provide 12 weeks of partial income for workers needing leave for medical or family emergencies.
The committee is set to hear testimony from a diverse panel of experts and those living the experience. Witnesses include Karla Radka of the Senior Resource Alliance, Jason Resendez of the National Alliance for Caregiving, and Josh Protas from Meals on Wheels America.
They will be joined by Rebecca Preve of the Association on Aging in New York and Meghan Maher, a public health professional who identifies as a “sandwich generation” caregiver herself.
The hearing is expected to focus on “commonsense, targeted reforms” designed to remove the daily obstacles that currently hinder these multi-generational households.
This story will be updated.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
