[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 212 (Wednesday, December 8, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H7522-H7525]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          DR. LORNA BREEN HEALTH CARE PROVIDER PROTECTION ACT

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1667) to address behavioral health and well-being among 
health care professionals, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1667

       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 ``Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care 
     Provider Protection Act''.

     SEC. 2. DISSEMINATION OF BEST PRACTICES.

       Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     (referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall identify 
     and disseminate evidence-based or evidence-informed best 
     practices for preventing suicide and improving mental health 
     and resiliency among health care professionals, and for 
     training health care professionals in appropriate strategies 
     to promote their mental health. Such best practices shall 
     include recommendations related to preventing suicide and 
     improving mental health and resiliency among health care 
     professionals.

     SEC. 3. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS INITIATIVE ENCOURAGING USE OF 
                   MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER 
                   SERVICES BY HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with 
     relevant stakeholders, including medical professional 
     associations, shall establish a national evidence-based or 
     evidence-informed education and awareness initiative--
       (1) to encourage health care professionals to seek support 
     and care for their mental health or substance use concerns, 
     to help such professionals identify risk factors associated 
     with suicide and mental health conditions, and to help such 
     professionals learn how best to respond to such risks, with 
     the goal of preventing suicide, mental health conditions, and 
     substance use disorders; and
       (2) to address stigma associated with seeking mental health 
     and substance use disorder services.
       (b) Reporting.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 
     of Representatives an update on the activities and outcomes 
     of the initiative under subsection (a), including a 
     description of quantitative and qualitative metrics used to 
     evaluate such activities and outcomes.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this 
     section, there are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 
     for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2024.

     SEC. 4. PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AMONG THE HEALTH 
                   PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE.

       Subpart I of part E of title VII of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C.. 294n et seq.) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:

     ``SEC. 764. PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AMONG THE 
                   HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE.

       ``(a) Programs to Promote Mental Health Among Health Care 
     Professionals.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants or 
     contracts to health care entities, including entities that 
     provide health care services, such as hospitals, community 
     health centers, and rural health clinics, or to medical 
     professional associations, to establish or enhance evidence-
     based or evidence-informed programs dedicated to improving 
     mental health and resiliency for health care professionals.
       ``(2) Use of funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant 
     or contract under this subsection shall use funds received 
     through the grant or contract to implement a new program or 
     enhance an existing program to promote mental health among 
     health care professionals, which may include--
       ``(A) improving awareness among health care professionals 
     about risk factors for, and signs of, suicide and mental 
     health or substance use

[[Page H7523]]

     disorders, in accordance with evidence-based or evidence-
     informed practices;
       ``(B) establishing new, or enhancing existing, evidence-
     based or evidence-informed programs for preventing suicide 
     and improving mental health and resiliency among health care 
     professionals;
       ``(C) establishing new, or enhancing existing, peer-support 
     programs among health care professionals; or
       ``(D) providing mental health care, follow-up services and 
     care, or referral for such services and care, as appropriate.
       ``(3) Priority.--In awarding grants and contracts under 
     this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to 
     eligible entities in health professional shortage areas or 
     rural areas.
       ``(b) Training Grants.--The Secretary may establish a 
     program to award grants to health professions schools, 
     academic health centers, State or local governments, Indian 
     Tribes or Tribal organizations, or other appropriate public 
     or private nonprofit entities (or consortia of entities, 
     including entities promoting multidisciplinary approaches) to 
     support the training of health care students, residents, or 
     health care professionals in evidence-based or evidence-
     informed strategies to address mental and substance use 
     disorders and improve mental health and resiliency among 
     health care professionals.
       ``(c) Grant Terms.--A grant or contract awarded under 
     subsection (a) or (b) shall be for a period of 3 years.
       ``(d) Application Submission.--An entity seeking a grant or 
     contract under subsection (a) or (b) shall submit an 
     application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
     and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may 
     require.
       ``(e) Reporting.--An entity awarded a grant or contract 
     under subsection (a) or (b) shall periodically submit to the 
     Secretary a report evaluating the activities supported by the 
     grant or contract.
       ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this 
     section and section 5 of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care 
     Provider Protection Act, there are authorized to be 
     appropriated $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 
     through 2024.''.

     SEC. 5. REVIEW WITH RESPECT TO HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL 
                   MENTAL HEALTH AND RESILIENCY.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with 
     relevant stakeholders, shall--
       (1) conduct a review on improving health care professional 
     mental health and the outcomes of programs authorized under 
     this Act; and
       (2) submit a report to the Congress on the results of such 
     review.
       (b) Considerations.--The review under subsection (a) shall 
     take into account--
       (1) the prevalence and severity of mental health conditions 
     among health professionals, and factors that contribute to 
     those mental health conditions;
       (2) barriers to seeking and accessing mental health care 
     for health care professionals, which may include 
     consideration of stigma and licensing concerns, and actions 
     taken by State licensing boards, schools for health 
     professionals, health care professional training 
     associations, hospital associations, or other organizations, 
     as appropriate, to address such barriers;
       (3) the impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency on 
     the mental health of health care professionals and lessons 
     learned for future public health emergencies;
       (4) factors that promote mental health and resiliency among 
     health care professionals, including programs or strategies 
     to strengthen mental health and resiliency among health care 
     professionals; and
       (5) the efficacy of health professional training programs 
     that promote resiliency and improve mental health.
       (c) Recommendations.--The review under subsection (a), as 
     appropriate, shall identify best practices related to, and 
     make recommendations to address--
       (1) improving mental health and resiliency among health 
     care professionals;
       (2) removing barriers to mental health care for health care 
     professionals; and
       (3) strategies to promote resiliency among health care 
     professionals in health care settings.

     SEC. 6. GAO REPORT.

       Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
     submit to the Congress a report on the extent to which 
     Federal substance use disorder and mental health grant 
     programs address the prevalence and severity of mental health 
     conditions and substance use disorders among health 
     professionals. Such report shall--
       (1) include an analysis of available evidence and data 
     related to such conditions and programs; and
       (2) assess whether there are duplicative goals and 
     objectives among such grant programs.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 1667.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed an extraordinary 
amount of stress on physicians and other health professionals. 
According to a recent survey by the Physician Foundation, nationwide, 
half of physicians report feeling anxious due to COVID-19-related 
concerns, and nearly 60 percent report experiencing burnout. That is a 
significant increase from just two years ago.
  Yet, many are not getting the help they need. Only 13 percent of 
providers have sought treatment to address pandemic-related mental 
health concerns. Nearly half of emergency physicians report not feeling 
comfortable seeking mental health treatment for fear of professional or 
personal repercussions, even though 87 percent say they have been 
experiencing increased stress.
  Now, earlier this year, Congress took action in the American Rescue 
Plan to address these concerns. We invested in training for healthcare 
professionals on strategies to reduce burnout and stigma associated 
with seeking mental healthcare; and we provided support to the 
employers of frontline providers so they can better care for the mental 
health needs of their workforce.
  These were important investments for a workforce stretched to the 
limit, but there is still more to be done. And that is why Congress 
must pass H.R. 1667, the Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Protection 
Act.
  This legislation is named in honor of Dr. Lorna Breen, a sister, 
friend, daughter, and emergency department physician, who tragically 
died by suicide after the physical and mental toll of the pandemic 
became too unbearable. Dr. Breen was fearful of seeking assistance for 
her debilitating mental burden, which left her despondent and 
physically unable to move from her office chair.
  Earlier this year, her family testified before the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce about how the workload and stress of her position 
during the beginning of the pandemic broke an otherwise indomitable 
spirit of a compassionate woman with a strong love of her job and her 
coworkers and her patients.
  The Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Protection Act will make 
significant strides in improving access to mental and behavioral health 
services. First, the bill authorizes grants for training health 
profession students, residents, or healthcare professionals in 
evidence-informed strategies to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, 
mental health conditions, and substance use disorders.
  It will also identify and disseminate evidence-informed best 
practices for reducing and preventing suicide and burnout among 
healthcare professionals. The legislation also establishes a national 
evidence-based education and awareness campaign targeting healthcare 
professionals to encourage them to seek support and treatment for 
mental and behavioral health concerns. And finally, it calls for a 
comprehensive study to be conducted on healthcare professional mental 
and behavioral health and burnout.
  This bill received unanimous support in the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce and is part of a series of bipartisan bills the committee has 
worked on to bolster and support our healthcare workforce.
  I thank the sponsors of this bill, most importantly, Representative 
Wild, who was the lead sponsor, and my colleagues on the committee for 
their steadfast work in honoring Dr. Breen, her family, and the 
countless healthcare providers who will now have additional support and 
resources available to them. It is my hope that this bill will lead to 
more healthcare providers seeking help when they need it without fear 
of repercussions or stigma.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Upton) will control the time for the minority.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon).
  Miss GONZALEZ-COLON. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Upton for yielding.

[[Page H7524]]

  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1667, the Dr. Lorna 
Breen Healthcare Provider Act. This bill strikes close to home for me. 
I know a gentleman who served in our Armed Forces as an enlisted 
hospital corpsman and advocated for this bill.
  He responded after the 2011 earthquake in Haiti, working in an 
intensive care unit and caring for local residents, even as an 
estimated 200,000 lives were lost. He and many of his fellow corpsmen 
were teenagers at the time.
  Upon returning home, he thought, as this bill calls it, that he was 
simply burned out. Many of those he served with would abruptly leave 
the service or transition to administrative duties.
  After suffering from flashbacks during emergency and medical 
situations, though, this gentleman would quietly leave the service as 
well, recognizing that he could no longer render the care that he had 
been trained to give. It would take nearly a decade for him to begin 
accessing mental health resources that he needed.
  Madam Speaker, I tell this story, with his permission, of course, to 
make two points.
  First, that widespread provider burnout can lead to staffing 
shortages.
  Second, that many times we use the phrase ``burnout'' to hide deeper 
wounds. Burnout implies a short-term change, one that seemingly heals 
with a break or a vacation. But as our hospitals have overflowed in 
places with COVID patients, burnout can be something more serious.

  That is why this bill is important. It establishes a communication 
campaign to educate and encourage providers to seek care. It will 
decrease costs by establishing grant programs for providers who use 
that care, and it will produce cutting-edge science on the problem of 
burnout among physicians.
  Madam Speaker, let me close by saying that all healthcare providers 
should know that accessing the resources this act will provide is a 
good thing. It means they are still human enough to appreciate the 
tragedies they experience.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild), the lead sponsor of the bill.
  Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Dr. 
Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Protection Act, which will finally 
provide resources and support to our healthcare heroes who face burnout 
and mental health crisis as a result of their experiences with COVID-
19.
  America owes an incredible debt of gratitude to these professionals 
who work to keep us safe and healthy. Doctors die by suicide at twice 
the rate of the general population. The trauma of their experience 
during COVID--and before--while treating patients is something we must 
address head on.
  Dr. Lorna Breen was the emergency room director at New York 
Presbyterian Hospital and was a hero who embodied the spirit of service 
in our time of national crisis. She died by suicide in April 2020 at 
the peak of the COVID crisis in New York after contracting COVID 
herself, quarantining, and then returning to work.
  Her father said, ``She was truly in the trenches of the frontline. 
She tried to do her job and it killed her. Make sure she is praised as 
a hero. She was a casualty of this pandemic as much as anyone else who 
died.''
  I am honored in her memory to lead this bill to prevent burnout among 
the health professionals answering the call of duty. I thank my seven 
co-leads, Raja Krishnamoorthi,   David McKinley, Judy Chu, Fred Upton, 
Haley Stevens, Morgan Griffith, and   John Katko, and to note that the 
strong bipartisan support that this bill enjoys is confirmation that 
Congress can still come together to tackle big problems.
  I thank Jennifer and Corey Feist, Dr. Breen's sister and brother-in-
law, who have championed this bill from the beginning to ensure that 
Lorna's legacy is codified here in the halls of Congress. But most of 
all, I thank every last doctor, nurse, EMT, custodial staffer, food 
service worker, and especially our emergency room doctors who put 
themselves into harm's way to keep the rest of us safe. Our work to 
secure for you the support you need is far from over.
  Mr. UPTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, first of all, I thank the leadership on our committee. 
I thank Mr. Pallone, Ms. McMorris Rodgers, Mr. Guthrie, and obviously, 
Chair Anna Eshoo, and our staffs for moving this legislation forward.
  Madam Speaker, this is a very important bill. All of our healthcare 
workers, particularly in this COVID pandemic, are really heroes. They 
are, without exception. All of us know many of these workers because 
they are our neighbors and friends. And each of us have heard those 
cries of woe as they have done their job every day, every day, day 
after day for 24/7.
  I can't imagine how they do it; watching so many folks suffer as they 
try to help them from their hospital beds. Passing on the sad words 
that they passed away to family members, maybe not even in person 
because of this terrible pandemic. And thinking of the hundreds of 
thousands of Americans that have died because of this awful disease, 
let alone so many more across the globe.
  Well, one of those healthcare workers who was well-publicized at the 
time was Lorna Breen, a physician from Charlottesville, working on the 
front lines of the pandemic in New York, moving up there to try and 
help the need. And, yes, as it was mentioned, took her own life.
  This was a national story. It gripped the Nation. I can remember 
watching the news show that week as this tragic story was portrayed. It 
outlined the severe stress that this pandemic has put on our healthcare 
workers and the need for the resources that they need to help them 
cope. The demands that our healthcare heroes are facing, they have not 
changed. They haven't changed yet. For months, for a year-and-a-half, 
they have been asked to care for communities in my district in 
Southwest Michigan and across the country 24/7 as the pandemic 
continues. This bill helps us have their backs.
  Madam Speaker, I talk to major hospitals in my district every week. 
And the common refrain that we have been hearing throughout the State 
of Michigan is that our hospitals are still strained to the breaking 
point. Staff shortages are severe. I saw a story a few hours ago but I 
think the State of Maine is now taking up their National Guard. We have 
asked for national help from President Biden as well in Michigan. There 
have been too many examples of healthcare workers that are suffering 
from this enormous pressure as they fight the worst public health 
crisis in a century.
  This legislation is going to help promote mental and behavioral 
health for those healthcare professionals, improving their overall 
well-being and maybe even saving their own lives. This bill helps 
promote mental and behavioral health among those working on the front 
lines of the pandemic. It supports training for health professionals to 
prevent suicide and burnout, and it increases awareness about suicide 
and mental health concerns among their peers.
  I am glad that we are considering this important bill and that we 
will vote on it yet tonight. I look forward to having it being signed 
into law.
  Again, I thank the bipartisan cooperation on both sides of the aisle. 
Hopefully, we can get our Senate colleagues--and I know that they are 
with us on this--to work together to get this bill to the President as 
soon as we can. We can't wait another day.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1645

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Chu).
  Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Dr. 
Lorna Breen Act.
  The past 2 years have stretched our Nation to the brink. No one has 
shouldered this burden more than our healthcare workers. The doctors, 
nurses, and all healthcare workers who have worked day in and day out 
through surge after surge have put their lives on hold to care for us 
and our loved ones as the pandemic spread around the country.
  In many instances, they have done this while understaffed, without 
sufficient PPE, and knowing that they are putting their own lives at 
risk before a vaccine was available to them. This can have a profound 
impact on a provider's mental health. Today, we are

[[Page H7525]]

taking an important step to ensure that they get the help they need.
  The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act establishes 
grants for training healthcare workers and strategies to reduce and 
prevent suicide burnout, mental health conditions, and substance use 
disorders. It also establishes a national awareness campaign to 
encourage healthcare professionals to seek support and treatment for 
mental health issues.
  As one of the two psychologists in Congress, I know how much mental 
healthcare matters and how much stigma can prevent someone from getting 
the help they need. By passing this bill today, we can say to 
healthcare workers: You are not alone.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical 
legislation.
  Mr. UPTON. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am ready 
to close. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Krishnamoorthi).
  Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of 
the Dr. Lorna Breen Act.
  My wife, Priya, is a physician. Like her colleagues, she has worked 
tirelessly during the pandemic. During the pandemic, people have 
referred to these healthcare workers as heroes, but as you know, our 
heroes are human. They struggle with the trauma of losing colleagues 
and patients, and they expose themselves to the daily risks of COVID. 
They suffer from burnout, depression, and suicide.
  In fact, before the pandemic, one physician every day committed 
suicide. That rate has gone up significantly during the pandemic.
  I am reminded of the situation of Dr. Scott Jolley in Utah. He would 
sometimes work until 3 a.m. as the only physician on duty at his 
hospital in Utah. By November 2020, he was diagnosed with PTSD, and by 
February 2021, he had committed suicide.
  These tragic losses and stories from medical professionals are 
unending. Today, in honor of one of these heroes, Dr. Lorna Breen, the 
Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act was created and 
will expand access to mental and behavioral health resources to help 
our heroes, to help them cope with the stresses and anxieties that they 
face every single day.
  Unfortunately, some of those stresses and anxieties will continue 
after this pandemic. That is why this act is so important. I look 
forward to passing this necessary piece of legislation today.
  Mr. UPTON. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).
  Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, for too long, healthcare providers 
struggling with mental illness have suffered in silence, intimidated by 
stigma and afraid of being penalized for seeking treatment.
  Even before the pandemic, 42 percent of the physicians reported 
experiencing burnout, and 40 percent reported a reluctance to seek 
treatment for a medical health condition. This is far too many people 
suffering in silence.
  How can we expect our doctors to take care of us when they feel they 
can't take care of themselves?
  The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, named for a 
doctor who lost her life to suicide after fighting on the front lines 
of the pandemic, will help reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and 
mental health conditions of healthcare professionals. It does so by 
supporting training to prevent suicide and burnout; creating a national 
awareness campaign encouraging healthcare professionals to seek support 
for mental health concerns; and establishing a comprehensive study on 
healthcare professional mental health and burnout, including the impact 
of the pandemic.
  Our healthcare professionals have been serving on the front lines, 
taking care of us amid an unprecedented global pandemic. It is time we 
take care of them.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical 
legislation.
  Mr. UPTON. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Ms. Stevens).
  Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to voice support for my 
friend Representative Susan Wild's bipartisan Dr. Lorna Breen Health 
Care Provider Protection Act, a bill that establishes training programs 
for healthcare workers to prevent suicide and burnout.
  As I am here in Congress today, I think of my constituents back home 
in Michigan who are in the midst of another COVID-19 spike, who are in 
our hospitals telling us they are full, who cannot provide care in 
the way they have been trained and taught and in the way they would 
like to. These spikes leave us exhausted. They leave our healthcare 
workers all the more stressed.

  People are being pushed to the limit. Since the start of this 
pandemic, Michigan's healthcare workforce has become fragile. We have 
lost workers due to the stress of this pandemic, yet this bipartisan 
legislation that brings us together here today will provide support to 
the workforce.
  Michigan healthcare workers deserve this. They are working and are 
continuing to work on the front lines of this pandemic. It is time to 
change how our healthcare industry approaches mental health. We must 
step up to provide a more reliable culture and supportive 
infrastructure for healthcare professionals to count on for years to 
come.
  It took a pandemic for us to get this Dr. Lorna Breen bill, and we 
will not forget our healthcare workers. We will continue to stand up 
for them.
  Mr. UPTON. Madam Speaker, this is a great bill. We need to vote for 
it without delay, and I thank my chairman. I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I urge support for this bill, which is 
bipartisan, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1667, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________