[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7875 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7875
To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a grant program for
providing services to individuals experiencing gambling addiction.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 9, 2026
Mrs. Houchin (for herself, Ms. Salinas, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, and Mr.
Carter of Louisiana) introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a grant program for
providing services to individuals experiencing gambling addiction.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Providing Opportunities for
Individuals in Need of Treatment and Support Act of 2026'' or the
``POINTS Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR PROVIDING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING
GAMBLING ADDICTION.
Part D of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290dd
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 554. GRANTS FOR PROVIDING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING
GAMBLING ADDICTION.
``(a) In General.--The Assistant Secretary shall make grants to
States, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations (as such terms are
defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) on a competitive basis to establish,
improve, or expand programs providing prevention, screening,
assessment, intervention, and treatment services, including culturally
and linguistically appropriate services, to individuals at risk of or
experiencing clinical gambling addiction.
``(b) Use of Funds.--A State, Indian Tribe, or Tribal organization
that receives a grant under this section shall use funds received
through such grant to, with respect to gambling addiction--
``(1) provide training on screening, brief intervention,
referral for treatment, and treatment to health care providers
and health paraprofessionals who practice in primary care,
behavioral health, or other relevant health care settings;
``(2) implement a prevention strategy, including public
outreach and awareness, in the State or Indian Tribe that
receives such funds;
``(3) provide a specialized treatment service, including--
``(A) in-person or telehealth outpatient treatment;
or
``(B) a peer support group, including a program
operated by Gamblers Anonymous;
``(4) establish or expand help lines or such other real-
time service for prevention or intervention, including
coordinating with the National Problem Gambling Helpline
operated by the National Council on Problem Gambling, for
individuals in the State or Indian Tribe that receives such
funds; or
``(5) implement such other innovative prevention,
intervention, or treatment services determined appropriate by
the Assistant Secretary.
``(c) Priority.--In making grants under this section, the Assistant
Secretary shall give priority to a State, Indian Tribe, or Tribal
organization that--
``(1) proposes to establish, improve, or expand a program
described under subsection (a) that serves individuals who are
disproportionally impacted by gambling addiction, including
men, youth, Native Americans (as defined in section 103 of the
Native American Languages Act (25 U.S.C. 2902)), members of the
Armed Forces, and veterans;
``(2) proposes to establish, improve, or expand a program
described under subsection (a) in a primary care setting;
``(3) partners with, or proposes to partner with, at least
one community-based organization to address gambling addiction;
or
``(4) operates in a health professional shortage area (as
defined in section 332), including a rural target area.
``(d) Application.--
``(1) In general.--A State, Indian Tribe, or Tribal
organization seeking to receive a grant under this section
shall submit an application to the Assistant Secretary at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Assistant Secretary may require.
``(2) Required content.--At a minimum, an application
submitted under this subsection shall explain how the applicant
establishing, improving upon, or expanding a program described
under subsection (a) would increase--
``(A) access to services for gambling addiction in
the communities served by such applicant; and
``(B) the percentage of individuals served by such
program in at least one such community.
``(e) Technical Assistance.--The Assistant Secretary shall provide
technical assistance related to the services described under subsection
(b) to each State, Indian Tribe, or Tribal organization that receives a
grant under this section.
``(f) Report.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than December 29, 2027, and
annually thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a report on the
effectiveness of grants made under this section for
establishing, improving, or expanding programs.
``(2) Appropriate congressional committee defined.--In this
subsection, the term `appropriate congressional committee'
means--
``(A) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives;
``(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives;
``(C) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions of the Senate; and
``(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section for fiscal year 2027 an amount that
is equal to 33 percent of the amounts received by the Secretary
of the Treasury under section 4401(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 4401(a)), with respect to the 2025
calendar year.
``(2) Adjustment for inflation.--For fiscal years 2028
through 2032, the amount authorized by this subsection shall be
adjusted by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer
Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) published by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor for the
most recent 12-month period for which data is available.''.
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