Multigenerational Caregiving Data Act

This legislation aims to improve federal data collection on multigenerational caregivers , individuals who provide unpaid care to both children and older adults. Congress recognizes that these caregivers face significant economic, health, and workforce challenges, and existing federal surveys inadequately capture their responsibilities, making better data crucial for informing policymaking related to caregiving, labor force participation, and health outcomes. To address this, the bill mandates that, within three years, the Secretary of Commerce ensures at least one major federal population survey includes a question to identify these caregivers. This question must undergo cognitive and field testing , and responses will be voluntary . A subsequent report evaluating data quality and usability, along with recommendations, must be submitted to Congress and published online. A "multigenerational caregiver" is defined as someone providing unpaid care to at least one person from two distinct demographic categories, such as a child under 18 and an adult with a health condition or disability. Major federal population surveys, including the American Community Survey, are designated as appropriate instruments for this data collection.