I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7255 

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

to health care providers to establish or expand programs dedicated to 

promoting mental wellness among their health care workers, including 

contractors, on the front lines of the SARS–CoV–2 pandemic, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 18, 2020 

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI (for himself, Mr. KATKO, and Ms. WILSON of Florida) 

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

A BILL 

To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services 

to award grants to health care providers to establish 

or expand programs dedicated to promoting mental 

wellness among their health care workers, including contractors, on the front lines of the SARS–CoV–2 pandemic, 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 ‘‘Coronavirus Health 

5 Care Worker Wellness Act of 2020’’. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 7255 IH

1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

2 The Congress finds as follows: 

3 (1) Health care workers on the front lines of 

4 the SARS–CoV–2 pandemic experience extraor5 dinary levels of stress that may impact their imme6 diate and long-term wellbeing. 

7 (2) Health care workers experienced high rates 

8 of burnout and mental health disorders before the 

9 SARS–CoV–2 pandemic. 

10 SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

11 It is the sense of the Congress that— 

12 (1) health care workers on the front lines of the 

13 SARS–CoV–2 pandemic deserve access to resources 

14 that promote mental wellness during the pandemic 

15 and in its aftermath; and 

16 (2) the Federal Government has an interest in 

17 improving the overall mental health and professional 

18 satisfaction of the Nation’s health care workforce. 

19 SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO PRO20 MOTE MENTAL WELLNESS AMONG THEIR 

21 WORKERS. 

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

23 Human Services (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Sec24 retary’’), acting through the Director of the Agency for 

25 Healthcare Research and Quality, in collaboration with 

26 one or more national medical professional organizations, 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 7255 IH

1 shall award grants to health care providers to establish 

2 or expand programs dedicated to promoting mental 

3 wellness among their health care workers, including con4 tractors, on the front lines of the SARS–CoV–2 pandemic. 

5 (b) PROCESS.— 

6 (1) APPLICATION AVAILABILITY.—Not later 

7 than 30 days after the date of enactment of this 

8 Act, the Secretary shall make available the applica9 tion form and announce the process for applying for 

10 a grant under this section. 

11 (2) APPLICATION SUBMISSION.—To seek a 

12 grant under this section, an applicant shall submit 

13 an application to the Secretary at such time, in such 

14 manner, and containing such information and assur15 ances as the Secretary may require. 

16 (3) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Not later than 

17 30 days after approving an application for a grant 

18 under this section, the Secretary shall make the 

19 grant funds available to the grantee. 

20 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 

21 out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated 

22 such sums as may be necessary for the period of fiscal 

23 years 2021 and 2022. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 7255 IH

1 SEC. 5. COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON HEALTH CARE WORK2 ER MENTAL HEALTH AND BURNOUT. 

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

4 Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Qual5 ity, in collaboration with one or more national medical pro6 fessional organizations, shall commission a comprehensive 

7 study on health care worker mental health and burnout. 

8 (b) FOCUS AREAS.—The study under subsection (a) 

9 shall focus on identifying— 

10 (1) the factors that contribute to poor mental 

11 health and burnout among health care workers; 

12 (2) the barriers to health care workers seeking 

13 and accessing mental health treatment; 

14 (3) the implications of poor mental health and 

15 burnout among health care workers for the health 

16 care system and patient outcomes; 

17 (4) the best ways to prevent and address the 

18 problems described in paragraphs (1) through (3); 

19 (5) the impact of the SARS–CoV–2 pandemic 

20 on the mental health of health care workers and re21 lated preparedness strategies for future health emer22 gencies; and 

23 (6) the efficacy of programs funded pursuant to 

24 section 4. 

25 (c) COMPLETION; REPORT.—The Secretary shall— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 7255 IH

1 (1) ensure that the study commissioned under 

2 subsection (a) is completed not later than the day 

3 that is 1 year after the date of on which the Sec4 retary makes the final expenditure of funds for such 

5 study; and 

6 (2) submit a report to the Congress not later 

7 than such day on the findings and conclusions of 

8 such study, including recommendations for address9 ing health care worker mental health and burnout. 

10 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 

11 out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated 

12 such sums as may be necessary for the period of fiscal 

13 years 2021 through 2025. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS