[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 127 (Thursday, July 27, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S4532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 551. Mr. HOEVEN (for himself and Mr. Daines) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 267 proposed by Mr. 
McConnell to the bill H.R. 1628, to provide for reconciliation pursuant 
to title II of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 
2017; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       Strike section 202 and insert the following:

     SEC. 202. SUPPORT FOR STATE AND INDIAN HEALTH PROGRAM 
                   RESPONSE TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE PUBLIC HEALTH 
                   CRISIS AND URGENT MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.

       (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated, 
     and are appropriated, out of monies in the Treasury not 
     otherwise obligated, $750,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
     2018 and 2019, to the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') to award 
     grants to States and Indian health programs to address the 
     substance abuse public health crisis or to respond to urgent 
     mental health needs within the State or community served by 
     the Indian health program. In awarding grants under this 
     section, the Secretary may give preference to States, and 
     Indian health programs that serve Indian tribes, with an 
     incidence or prevalence of substance use disorders that is 
     substantial relative to other States or to States and Indian 
     health programs that identify mental health needs within 
     their communities that are urgent relative to such needs of 
     other States. Funds appropriated under this subsection shall 
     remain available until expended.
       (b) Use of Funds.--Grants awarded to a State or Indian 
     health program under subsection (a) shall be used for one or 
     more of the following public health-related activities:
       (1) Improving State prescription drug monitoring programs.
       (2) Implementing prevention activities, and evaluating such 
     activities to identify effective strategies to prevent 
     substance abuse.
       (3) Training for health care practitioners, such as best 
     practices for prescribing opioids, pain management, 
     recognizing potential cases of substance abuse, referral of 
     patients to treatment programs, and overdose prevention.
       (4) Supporting access to health care services provided by 
     Federally certified opioid treatment programs or other 
     appropriate health care providers to treat substance use 
     disorders or mental health needs.
       (5) Other public health-related activities, as the State or 
     Indian health program determines appropriate, related to 
     addressing the substance abuse public health crisis or 
     responding to urgent mental health needs within the State or 
     community served by the Indian health program.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``Indian 
     health program'' and ``Indian tribe'' have the meanings given 
     the terms in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement 
     Act (25 U.S.C. 1603).
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