I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7080 

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants 

to States, political subdivisions of States, Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, community-based entities, and primary care and behavioral 

health organizations to address behavioral health needs caused by the 

public health emergency declared with respect to COVID–19. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 1, 2020 

Ms. PORTER (for herself, Mr. VAN DREW, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mrs. 

MCBATH, Mr. PANETTA, Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. 

LYNCH, Mr. TRONE, Mrs. BEATTY, Ms. CRAIG, Mr. RYAN, Mr. 

LOWENTHAL, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, Mr. PERLMUTTER, Mr. SOTO, 

Ms. KAPTUR, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mr. CROW, Mr. SEAN PATRICK

MALONEY of New York, Ms. UNDERWOOD, and Mr. YOUNG) 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 to 

award grants to States, political subdivisions of States, 

Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, community-based 

entities, and primary care and behavioral health organizations to address behavioral health needs caused by 

the public health emergency declared with respect to 

COVID–19. 

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


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Stopping the Mental 

3 Health Pandemic Act’’. 

4 SECTION 1. GRANTS TO SUPPORT INCREASED BEHAVIORAL 

5 HEALTH NEEDS DUE TO COVID–19. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the 

7 Assistant Secretary of Mental Health and Substance Use, 

8 shall award grants to States, political subdivisions of 

9 States, Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, commu10 nity-based entities, and primary care and behavioral 

11 health organizations to address behavioral health needs 

12 caused by the public health emergency declared pursuant 

13 to section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 

14 247d) with respect to COVID–19. 

15 (b) USE OF FUNDS.—An entity that receives a grant 

16 under subsection (a) may use funds received through such 

17 grant to— 

18 (1) increase behavioral health treatment and 

19 prevention capacity, including to— 

20 (A) promote coordination among local enti21 ties; 

22 (B) train the behavioral health workforce, 

23 relevant stakeholders, and community members; 

24 (C) upgrade technology to support effective 

25 delivery of health care services through tele26 health modalities; 


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•HR 7080 IH

1 (D) purchase medical supplies and equip2 ment for behavioral health treatment entities 

3 and providers; 

4 (E) address surge capacity for behavioral 

5 health needs such as through mobile units; and 

6 (F) promote collaboration between primary 

7 care and mental health providers; and 

8 (2) support or enhance behavioral health serv9 ices, including— 

10 (A) emergency crisis intervention, includ11 ing mobile crisis units, 24/7 crisis call centers, 

12 and medically staffed crisis stabilization pro13 grams; 

14 (B) screening, assessment, diagnosis, and 

15 treatment; 

16 (C) mental health awareness trainings; 

17 (D) evidence-based suicide prevention; 

18 (E) evidence-based integrated care models; 

19 (F) community recovery and peer supports; 

20 (G) outreach to underserved and minority 

21 communities; and 

22 (H) for front line health care workers. 

23 (c) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall give priority to 

24 applicants proposing to serve areas with a high number 

25 of COVID–19 cases. 


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1 (d) EVALUATION.—An entity that receives a grant 

2 under this section shall prepare and submit an evaluation 

3 to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and con4 taining such information as the Secretary may reasonably 

5 require, including— 

6 (1) an evaluation of activities carried out with 

7 funds received through the grant; and 

8 (2) a process and outcome evaluation. 

9 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 

10 out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated 

11 $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 and 2021, to 

12 remain available until expended. 

Æ 


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