[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7787 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7787
To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the
mental health workforce, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 4, 2026
Mr. Carter of Louisiana (for himself, Mr. Turner of Ohio, Mr.
McCormick, and Ms. Clarke of New York) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the
mental health workforce, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. STRENGTHENING THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE.
(a) In General.--Part B of title VII of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 293 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 742. STRENGTHENING THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and carry out a
mental health provider loan deferment and forgiveness program under
which an eligible individual agrees to be employed full-time as a
qualified mental health provider for a period of at least 5 years
(beginning on the date on which the individual is first licensed to
practice as a qualified mental health provider)--
``(1) as a solo provider within an area that has been
designated as having a shortage of mental health professionals
under section 332; or
``(2) at an institution that serves patients who are
located in an area that has been designated as having a
shortage of mental health professionals under section 332.
``(b) Program Administration.--Through the program established
under this section, the Secretary shall enter into contracts with
eligible individuals under which--
``(1) such eligible individuals will agree to provide
mental and behavioral health care services as described in
subsection (a);
``(2) the Secretary agrees that periodic installments of
the principal of an eligible loan need not be paid, but
interest shall accrue and be paid, during any period during
which the borrower is employed as described in subsection (a);
and
``(3) the Secretary, through the holder of the loan, will
assume the obligation to repay the lesser of 100 percent or
$200,000 of the total amount of principal and interest of an
eligible loan, that are outstanding as of the day immediately
preceding the first day of the first year of service (as
described in subsection (a)), for an eligible individual, who--
``(A) has been employed as described in subsection
(a) for 5 consecutive years; and
``(B) is not in default on a loan for which the
individual seeks forgiveness.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `eligible individual' means an individual
who--
``(A)(i) has been accepted for enrollment, or is
enrolled, as a student in a minority-serving
institution eligible to receive funding under section
371 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 in a course of
study or program leading to a mental or behavioral
health professions degree or certificate; or
``(ii) is completing training hours under clinical
supervision for purposes of obtaining such a degree or
certificate; and
``(B) has accepted employment as a qualified mental
health provider as described in subsection (a), to
commence upon graduation.
``(2) The term `eligible loan' means--
``(A) any loan for education or training for mental
and behavioral health care employment, including
education or training relating to substance use
prevention and treatment;
``(B) any Federal Direct Stafford Loan, Federal
Direct PLUS Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford
Loan, or Federal Direct Consolidation Loan (as such
terms are used in section 455 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965);
``(C) any Federal Perkins Loan under part E of
title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965; and
``(D) any other Federal loan as determined
appropriate by the Secretary.
``(3) The term `qualified mental health provider' means a
provider of mental and behavioral health care services,
including substance use prevention and treatment services, that
is one of the following:
``(A) A physician (as defined in section 1861(r) of
the Social Security Act) whose specialty is psychiatry.
``(B) A health service psychologist.
``(C) A psychiatric nurse specialist (as defined in
appendix C to part 5 of subchapter A of chapter 1 of
title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor
regulations)).
``(D) A marriage and family therapist (as defined
in section 1861(lll)(2) of the Social Security Act).
``(E) A physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or
clinical nurse specialist (as defined in section
1861(aa)(5) of the Social Security Act) whose specialty
is mental health or psychiatry.
``(F) A clinical social worker (as defined in
section 1861(hh)(1) of the Social Security Act).
``(G) A clinical psychologist (as defined by the
Secretary for purposes of section 1861(ii) of the
Social Security Act).
``(H) A mental health counselor (as defined in
section 1861(lll)(4) of the Social Security Act).''.
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