[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S62]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INOUYE:
  S. 57. A bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to 
establish a psychology post-doctoral fellowship program, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today, I am reintroducing legislation to 
amend Title VII of the Public Health Service Act to establish a 
psychology post-doctoral program. Psychologists have made a unique 
contribution in reaching out to the Nation's medically underserved 
populations. Expertise in behavioral science is useful in addressing 
grave concerns such as violence, addiction, mental illness, adolescent 
and child behavioral disorders, and family disruption. Establishment of 
a psychology post-doctoral program could be an effective way to find 
solutions to these issues.
  Similar programs supporting additional, specialized training in 
traditionally underserved settings have been successful in retaining 
participants to serve the same populations. For example, mental health 
professionals who have participated in these specialized federally 
funded programs have tended not only to meet their repayment 
obligations, but have continued to work in the public sector or with 
the underserved.
  While a doctorate in psychology provides broad-based knowledge and 
mastery in a wide variety of clinical skills, specialized post-doctoral 
fellowship programs help to develop particular diagnostic and treatment 
skills required to respond effectively to underserved populations. For 
example, what appears to be poor academic motivation in a child 
recently relocated from Southeast Asia might actually reflect a 
cultural value of reserve rather than a disinterest in academic 
learning. Specialized assessment skills enable the clinician to 
initiate effective treatment.
  Domestic violence poses a significant public health problem and is 
not just a problem for the criminal justice system. Violence against 
women results in thousands of hospitalizations a year. Rates of child 
and spouse abuse in rural areas are particularly high, as are the rates 
of alcohol abuse and depression in adolescents. A post-doctoral 
fellowship program in the psychology of the rural populations could be 
of special benefit in addressing these problems.
  Given the demonstrated success and effectiveness of specialized 
training programs, it is incumbent upon us to encourage participation 
in post-doctoral fellowships that respond to the needs of the Nation's 
underserved.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 57

       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 ``Psychologists in the Service 
     of the Public Act of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR FELLOWSHIPS IN PSYCHOLOGY.

       Part C of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 293k et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 749. GRANTS FOR FELLOWSHIPS IN PSYCHOLOGY.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a 
     psychology post-doctoral fellowship program to make grants to 
     and enter into contracts with eligible entities to encourage 
     the provision of psychological training and services in 
     underserved treatment areas.
       ``(b) Eligible Entities.--
       ``(1) Individuals.--In order to receive a grant under this 
     section an individual shall submit an application to the 
     Secretary at such time, in such form, and containing such 
     information as the Secretary shall require, including a 
     certification that such individual--
       ``(A) has received a doctoral degree through a graduate 
     program in psychology provided by an accredited institution 
     at the time such grant is awarded;
       ``(B) will provide services to a medically underserved 
     population during the period of such grant;
       ``(C) will comply with the provisions of subsection (c); 
     and
       ``(D) will provide any other information or assurances as 
     the Secretary determines appropriate.
       ``(2) Institutions.--In order to receive a grant or 
     contract under this section, an institution shall submit an 
     application to the Secretary at such time, in such form, and 
     containing such information as the Secretary shall require, 
     including a certification that such institution--
       ``(A) is an entity, approved by the State, that provides 
     psychological services in medically underserved areas or to 
     medically underserved populations (including entities that 
     care for the mentally retarded, mental health institutions, 
     and prisons);
       ``(B) will use amounts provided to such institution under 
     this section to provide financial assistance in the form of 
     fellowships to qualified individuals who meet the 
     requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph 
     (1);
       ``(C) will not use more than 10 percent of amounts provided 
     under this section to pay for the administrative costs of any 
     fellowship programs established with such funds; and
       ``(D) will provide any other information or assurances as 
     the Secretary determines appropriate.
       ``(c) Continued Provision of Services.--Any individual who 
     receives a grant or fellowship under this section shall 
     certify to the Secretary that such individual will continue 
     to provide the type of services for which such grant or 
     fellowship is awarded for not less than 1 year after the term 
     of the grant or fellowship has expired.
       ``(d) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall promulgate 
     regulations necessary to carry out this section, including 
     regulations that define the terms `medically underserved 
     areas' and `medically underserved populations'.
       ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
     $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2012.''.
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