Advocacy in Action: The Federal CARE Act - A Lifeline Born from Personal Truth

Investing in caregivers isn't a cost; it's cultivating our future. The Federal CARE Act projects a 6:1 return, proving that support for families grows our economy. #FederalCAREAct #CaregiverAdvocacy #EconomicGrowth

By Mark Fukae - Director of Advocacy - Professionals Who Care | Founder - CASI

Every day, when I wake up, the first thought is of my mother. Her dementia has advanced to a point where each week brings a noticeable decline. She is now singularly focused on me, her only lifeline to a past she desperately tries to keep intact, her memory fleeting, counted in seconds. Soon, she will not know who I am. When that day comes, I will continue to care for her the best way I possibly can. This deeply personal journey has amplified my understanding of a stark reality: the time for change is now. We cannot wait to change this conversation, not just for my family, but for all caregivers. Because the truth is, whether for our children or our parents, everyone will be a caregiver at some point in your life.

My ongoing work on the Colorado CARE Act is born from this personal truth, and its foundations are now directly informing our efforts to pass the Federal CARE Act. What we’re proving in Colorado - that investing in people is not a cost, but a powerful return - is the exact same principle that drives the federal legislation.

The Federal Imperative: Deficit-Neutral Caregiver Rights

Across America, 53.4 million individuals provide unpaid family care, a contribution valued at an astounding $470-600 billion annually¹. Yet, these caregivers frequently face workplace discrimination and lack explicit accommodation rights². This gap in support costs taxpayers billions each year through preventable SSDI claims ³, lost tax revenue from workforce exits ⁴, emergency Medicaid costs due to delayed family care ⁵, and increased federal unemployment insurance claims⁶.

The Federal CARE Act (Family Caregiver Accommodations and Rights Enhancement Act) directly addresses these challenges⁷⁷⁷⁷. It's a deficit-neutral solution designed to create explicit workplace accommodation rights for family caregivers while simultaneously generating net federal savings through reduced program utilization and increased workforce retention⁸.

Key Protections & Business Benefits: A Win-Win

The Federal CARE Act proposes critical protections for caregivers, ensuring they can balance their vital caregiving roles with their careers⁹:

• Presumptive Telework Rights - Remote work as default reasonable accommodation¹⁰.

  
  

• Enhanced ADA Integration - Explicit associational disability protections¹¹.

  
  

• FMLA Coordination - Seamless integration with existing leave laws¹².

  
  

• Flexible Scheduling - Medical appointments and care coordination support¹³.

  
  

Beyond protecting caregivers, the Act offers significant benefits for businesses¹⁴:

• Federal Contract Preferences - 5% scoring advantage for participating employers¹⁵.

  
  

• Regulatory Streamlining - Consolidated compliance and reduced inspections¹⁶.

  
  

• Technical Assistance - Free support through existing SBA infrastructure¹⁷.

  
  

• Voluntary Participation - Incentives during pilot phase, not mandates¹⁸.

  
  

The Fiscal Power: A 6:1 Return on Investment

The economic argument for the Federal CARE Act is as compelling as it is humane. This legislation is projected to deliver a substantial

6:1 return on investment over four years (2026-2029)¹⁹.

Here's a breakdown of the projected impact:

• Investment: Approximately $600 million over four years, allocated across federal-state partnerships, technical assistance, agency integration, research, and business incentives^20202020.

  
  

• Federal Savings: A projected $4.2 billion over the same four-year period^21212121. These savings come from:

  
  

  • Medicaid - $1.5 billion from prevented nursing home placements²².

    
    

  • Social Security Disability - $750 million from reduced SSDI applications and appeals²³.

    
    

  • Unemployment Insurance - $450 million from caregiver workforce retention²⁴.

    
    

  • Supplemental Programs - $300 million from reduced SSI and other federal assistance²⁵.

    
    

• Revenue Gains: An additional $1.2 billion ²⁶from sustained workforce participation, including $500 million from income tax ²⁷, $400 million from payroll tax ²⁸, $200 million from corporate tax ²⁹, and $100 million from reduced caregiving tax credit claims³⁰.

  
  

• Net Benefit & ROI: With total federal benefits of $4.2 billion against a net investment of $600 million ³¹, the Act yields a strong 6.0:1 ROI³². Even in a conservative scenario, the ROI is 2.5:1, well exceeding the 1.25:1 requirement³³.

  
  

Built-in Controls and a Clear Timeline

To ensure financial responsibility, the Federal CARE Act includes robust risk controls³⁴:

• Quarterly CBO Verification - Independent savings validation³⁵.

  
  

• Automatic Spending Caps - Suspension if savings don't materialize³⁶.

  
  

• Pilot-First Implementation - Limited risk, proven concept³⁷.

  
  

• Clawback Provisions - Program scope reduction if benefits lag³⁸.

  
  

The implementation follows a strategic timeline ³⁹, starting with foundational work in 2026 ⁴⁰, a pilot launch in 2027-2028 targeting larger employers in 10 states ⁴¹, and then national expansion from 2029 onward, contingent on verified federal savings⁴².

Why Now? The Urgency is Clear

The post-COVID workforce has normalized remote work, making accommodations more feasible than ever⁴³. With current federal deficit concerns, legislation that generates revenue and includes built-in savings is crucial⁴⁴. The CARE Act offers bipartisan appeal, blending business benefits with essential social support⁴⁵. Furthermore, successful state models like Colorado, New York, and Washington demonstrate the viability and positive impact of such initiatives⁴⁶.

The Federal CARE Act transforms a $470 billion unpaid caregiving economy into a powerful driver of federal savings, workforce stability, and family support - all while maintaining strict budget neutrality and business-friendly implementation⁴⁷. For my mother, and for every family like mine, this isn't just policy; it's a lifeline.

Your Voice Matters. Take Action!

The widespread discrimination faced by caregivers, especially those in disadvantaged groups, creates a huge challenge for building truly inclusive and productive workplaces. Your involvement is essential to bridging this understanding gap and advocating for policies that support our diverse workforce. Every share, every comment, every moment of engagement helps us build a future where workplaces genuinely work for everyone.

• Share Your Story: Have you experienced the fallout of caregiver discrimination or distant policy? Share your story with us at https://casiadvocacy.org/your-story/. We're amplifying voices that can truly close the gap.

• Learn more about Professionals Who Care (PWC) and our mission: https://www.professionalswhocare.org/

• Discover the Caregiver Advocacy and Support Initiative (CASI): https://casiadvocacy.org/

• Please note: The appendices referenced in this article, and the previous one on the Colorado CARE Act, will be posted to the CASI website shortly for your review.

• Explore the details of the Colorado CARE Act: https://casiadvocacy.org/our-legislative-solutions/

• Understand the impact of the Federal CARE Act: https://casiadvocacy.org/our-legislative-solutions/

• Join our growing movement and sign our petition: https://chng.it/zHbMzKnBwJ

• Let's keep the conversation going: Share your thoughts in the comments on how policies have impacted your life or the lives of those you care for.

Sources and Citations for "Advocacy in Action: The Federal CARE Act"

• 53.4 million unpaid family caregivers and $470-600 billion annual contribution: These figures are widely cited estimates for the value of informal caregiving. They are consistent with data from organizations like AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving. For the purpose of this article, this data is reflected in the Federal CARE Act One Sheet (August 3, 2025).

• Projected 6:1 Return on Investment (ROI) and $131 million net benefit for the Colorado CARE Act: These specific projections are derived from the fiscal analysis and modeling conducted for the Colorado CARE Act, as detailed in the appendices to be published on the CASI website. They also form the basis for the logic applied to the federal projections.

• Federal CARE Act projected investment of $600 million (2026-2029) and breakdown of yearly investments: These figures are internal projections for the Federal CARE Act, as outlined in the Federal CARE Act One Sheet (August 3, 2025).

• Federal CARE Act projected savings of $4.2 billion (2026-2029) from Medicaid, SSDI, Unemployment Insurance, and Supplemental Programs: These savings estimates are derived from the fiscal modeling for the Federal CARE Act, as presented in the Federal CARE Act One Sheet (August 3, 2025).

• Federal CARE Act projected revenue gains of $1.2 billion from sustained workforce participation (income tax, payroll tax, corporate tax, reduced caregiving tax credits): These revenue projections are part of the fiscal analysis for the Federal CARE Act, detailed in the Federal CARE Act One Sheet (August 3, 2025).

• Conservative ROI of 2.5:1 and requirement of 1.25:1: These are parameters and projections from the fiscal analysis of the Federal CARE Act, as noted in the Federal CARE Act One Sheet (August 3, 2025).

• Workplace discrimination data for caregivers: This is a widely recognized issue in labor and social studies. The Federal CARE Act One Sheet (August 3, 2025) highlights this as a key problem the legislation addresses.