I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 9822 

To amend title V of the Public Health Service Act to extend eligibility 

for grants to elementary and secondary schools, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 

Mr. FEENSTRA (for himself and Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To amend title V of the Public Health Service Act to extend 

eligibility for grants to elementary and secondary schools, 

and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Improving Brain Health in Schools Act’’. 

6 (b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

7 (1) Brain health is defined as the biological, 

8 neurological, and physical characteristics of the 

9 brain affecting a person’s health and demeanor. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 9822 IH

1 (2) Terminology such as ‘‘mental health’’ or 

2 ‘‘mental illness’’ can have negative connotations that 

3 deter children from seeking treatment. Using ‘‘brain 

4 health’’ or ‘‘brain illness’’ instead can help reduce 

5 the stigma and encourage seeking treatment. 

6 (3) Children who have their brain health needs 

7 met tend to have positive outcomes regarding their 

8 social and academic development. Addressing brain 

9 health can enhance their ability to focus, learn, and 

10 interact positively with peers and adults. 

11 (4) Over 1 in 5 children have a brain health 

12 condition, yet the majority do not receive the nec13 essary assistance. 

14 (5) It is critical for Congress to take steps to 

15 reduce the stigma associated with brain health con16 ditions and find ways to encourage children and 

17 their families to seek access to brain health treat18 ments and preventative care. 

19 SEC. 2. EXTENDING GRANT ELIGIBILITY TO ELEMENTARY 

20 AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS. 

21 Section 520E–2 of the Public Health Service Act (42 

22 U.S.C. 290bb–36b) is amended— 

23 (1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘IN

24 HIGHER EDUCATION’’; 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 9822 IH

1 (2) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘elementary 

2 schools, secondary schools, and’’ after ‘‘competitive 

3 basis to’’; 

4 (3) in subsection (b)— 

5 (A) in the matter preceding paragraph 

6 (1)— 

7 (i) by inserting ‘‘an elementary school, 

8 secondary school, or’’ after ‘‘grant to’’; and 

9 (ii) by inserting ‘‘the school or’’ after 

10 ‘‘unless’’; and 

11 (B) by adding at the end the following: 

12 ‘‘(13) Establishing brain health retreat 

13 rooms.’’; 

14 (4) in subsection (c)— 

15 (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 

16 by inserting ‘‘elementary school, secondary 

17 school, or’’ after ‘‘Any’’; 

18 (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘or’’ at 

19 the end; 

20 (C) in paragraph (5), by striking the pe21 riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 

22 (D) by adding at the end the following: 

23 ‘‘(6) elementary schools and secondary 

24 schools.’’; 

25 (5) in subsection (d)— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 9822 IH

1 (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 

2 by inserting ‘‘an elementary school or secondary 

3 school or’’ after ‘‘under this section,’’; 

4 (B) in each of paragraphs (1), (2), and 

5 (3), by striking ‘‘the institution of higher edu6 cation’’ and inserting ‘‘the elementary school, 

7 the secondary school, or the institution of high8 er education’’; 

9 (C) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘the in10 stitution’’ and inserting ‘‘the school or institu11 tion’’; and 

12 (D) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘For an 

13 institution of higher education proposing’’ and 

14 inserting ‘‘For an elementary school, secondary 

15 school, or institution of higher education pro16 posing’’; 

17 (6) in subsection (e)(1), by inserting ‘‘elemen18 tary school, secondary school, or’’ after ‘‘grant under 

19 this section to an’’; and 

20 (7) in subsection (g)— 

21 (A) in the subsection heading, by striking 

22 ‘‘DEFINITION’’ and inserting ‘‘DEFINITIONS’’; 

23 (B) by striking ‘‘section, the term’’ and in24 serting the following: ‘‘section— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 9822 IH

1 ‘‘(1) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 

2 The term’’; and 

3 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

4 ‘‘(2) ELEMENTARY SCHOOL; SECONDARY

5 SCHOOL.—The terms ‘elementary school’ and ‘sec6 ondary school’ have the meanings given such terms 

7 in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 

8 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 

9 ‘‘(3) BRAIN HEALTH RETREAT ROOM.—The 

10 term ‘brain health retreat room’ means a room in 

11 which students— 

12 ‘‘(A) can learn coping strategies to help 

13 them navigate the stresses of school; and 

14 ‘‘(B) can connect with the resources they 

15 need to help better manage their mental 

16 health.’’. 

Æ 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS