I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1716 

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through 

the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, to conduct 

or support research on the mental health consequences of SARS–CoV– 

2 or COVID–19, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 9, 2021 

Mr. TONKO (for himself, Mr. KATKO, Mr. CA ́RDENAS, Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of 

Illinois, Ms. DEAN, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mrs. HAYES, Mr. LOWENTHAL, 

Mr. LEVIN of California, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. MENG, Mr. NADLER, Mrs. 

NAPOLITANO, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. SUOZZI, Ms. STRICKLAND, and Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 

acting through the Director of the National Institute 

of Mental Health, to conduct or support research on 

the mental health consequences of SARS–CoV–2 or 

COVID–19, 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. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘COVID–19 Mental 

5 Health Research Act’’. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 1716 IH

1 SEC. 2. RESEARCH ON THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT OF 

2 COVID–19. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 

4 Human Services (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Sec5 retary’’), acting through the Director of the National In6 stitute of Mental Health, shall conduct or support re7 search on the mental health consequences of SARS–CoV– 

8 2 or COVID–19. 

9 (b) USE OF FUNDS.—Research under subsection (a) 

10 may include— 

11 (1) research on the mental health impact of 

12 SARS–CoV–2 or COVID–19 on health care pro13 viders, including— 

14 (A) traumatic stress; 

15 (B) psychological distress; and 

16 (C) psychiatric disorders; and 

17 (2) research on the impact of SARS–CoV–2 or 

18 COVID–19 stressors on mental health over time; 

19 (3) research to strengthen the mental health re20 sponse to SARS–CoV–2 or COVID–19, including 

21 adapting to and maintaining or providing additional 

22 services for new or increasing mental health needs; 

23 (4) research on the reach, efficiency, effective24 ness, and quality of digital mental health interven25 tions; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 1716 IH

1 (5) research on the effectiveness of strategies 

2 for implementation and delivery of evidence-based 

3 mental health interventions and services for under4 served populations; 

5 (6) research on suicide prevention; and 

6 (7) research on the impact of SARS–CoV–2 or 

7 COVID–19 on the mental health of children and 

8 adolescents. 

9 (c) RESEARCH COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall 

10 coordinate activities under this section with similar activi11 ties conducted by national research institutes and centers 

12 of the National Institutes of Health to the extent that 

13 such institutes and centers have responsibilities that are 

14 related to the mental health consequences of SARS–CoV– 

15 2 or COVID–19. 

16 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 

17 out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated 

18 $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, 

19 to remain available until expended. 

Æ 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS