I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 907 
To address the psychological, social, and emotional needs of racial and ethnic 
minorities who experience trauma associated with law enforcement vio-
lence, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 8, 2021 
Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER (for herself, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. JACKSON 
LEE, Mr. CA´RDENAS, and Ms. PRESSLEY) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To address the psychological, social, and emotional needs 
of racial and ethnic minorities who experience trauma 
associated with law enforcement violence, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Investing in Commu-
nity Healing Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) According to the Bureau of Justice Statis-
tics, African Americans are more likely to have face- 
to-face contact with law enforcement and are 2.5 
times more likely to experience a threat or use of 
nonfatal force by police. 
(2) Research shows that young men who have 
experienced these law enforcement practices display 
higher levels of stress, anxiety, and trauma associ-
ated with the interaction. 
(3) Witnessing or experiencing invasive encoun-
ters with law enforcement can also be an everyday 
stressor for racial and ethnic minorities, leading to 
physiological and psychological strain. 
(4) Racial and ethnic minorities face inequities 
in accessing mental health services. 
(5) Addressing the stigma in some communities 
of color associated with receiving mental health serv-
ices and informing individuals about available treat-
ment can encourage better utilization of these serv-
ices. 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of the Congress that it is imperative 
that a comprehensive public health approach to addressing 
trauma and mental health care be focused on care delivery 
that is culturally sensitive and competent. 
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SEC. 4. RESEARCH ON ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS ASSOCI-
ATED WITH INTERACTIONS WITH LAW EN-
FORCEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’), acting through the Director of the Office of Mi-
nority Health of the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
vention (established pursuant to section 1707A of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u–6a)), shall 
conduct research on the adverse health effects associated 
with interactions with law enforcement. 
(b) EFFECTS AMONG RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORI-
TIES.—The research under subsection (a) shall include re-
search on— 
(1) the health consequences, both individual 
and community-wide, of trauma related to violence 
committed by law enforcement among racial and 
ethnic minorities; and 
(2) the disproportionate burden of morbidity 
and mortality associated with such trauma. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— 
(1) complete the research under this section; 
and 
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(2) submit to the Congress a report on the find-
ings, conclusions, and recommendations resulting 
from such research. 
SEC. 5. GRANTS FOR INCREASING RACIAL AND ETHNIC MI-
NORITY ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY TRAUMA 
SUPPORT SERVICES AND MENTAL HEALTH 
CARE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the 
Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, 
shall award grants to eligible entities to establish or ex-
pand programs for the purpose of increasing racial and 
ethnic minority access to high-quality trauma support 
services and mental health care. 
(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To seek a grant under this 
section, an entity shall be a community-based program or 
organization that— 
(1) provides culturally competent programs and 
resources that are aligned with evidence-based prac-
tices for trauma-informed care; and 
(2) has demonstrated expertise in serving com-
munities of color or can partner with a program that 
has such demonstrated expertise. 
(c) USE OF FUNDS.—As a condition on receipt of a 
grant under this section, a grantee shall agree to use the 
grant to increase racial and ethnic minority access to high- 
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quality trauma support services and mental health care, 
such as by— 
(1) establishing and maintaining community- 
based programs providing evidence-based services in 
trauma-informed care and culturally specific services 
and other resources; 
(2) developing innovative culturally specific 
strategies and projects to enhance access to trauma- 
informed care and resources for racial and ethnic 
minorities who face obstacles to using more tradi-
tional services and resources (such as obstacles in 
geographic access to providers, insurance coverage, 
and access to audio and video technologies); 
(3) working with State and local governments 
and social service agencies to develop and enhance 
effective strategies to provide culturally specific serv-
ices to racial and ethnic minorities; 
(4) increasing communities’ capacity to provide 
culturally specific resources and support for commu-
nities of color; 
(5) working in cooperation with the community 
to develop education and prevention strategies high-
lighting culturally specific issues and resources re-
garding racial and ethnic minorities; 
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(6) providing culturally specific programs for 
racial and ethnic minorities exposed to law enforce-
ment violence; and 
(7) examining the dynamics of culture and its 
impact on victimization and healing. 
(d) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities 
proposing to serve communities that have faced high rates 
of community trauma, including from exposure to law en-
forcement violence, intergenerational poverty, civil unrest, 
discrimination, or oppression. 
(e) GRANT PERIOD.—The period of a grant under 
this section shall be 4 years. 
(f) EVALUATION.—Not later than 6 months after the 
end of the period of all grants under this section, the Sec-
retary shall— 
(1) conduct an evaluation of the programs 
funded by a grant under this section; 
(2) include in such evaluation an assessment of 
the outcomes of each such program; and 
(3) submit a report on the results of such eval-
uation to the Congress. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 
out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated 
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 
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SEC. 6. BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH 
EDUCATION STRATEGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, in coordina-
tion with advocacy and behavioral and mental health orga-
nizations serving racial and ethnic minority groups, de-
velop and implement an outreach and education strategy 
to promote behavioral and mental health, and reduce stig-
ma associated with mental health conditions, among racial 
and ethnic minorities. 
(b) DESIGN.—The strategy under this section shall 
be designed to— 
(1) meet the diverse cultural and language 
needs of racial and ethnic minority groups; 
(2) provide information on evidence-based, cul-
turally and linguistically appropriate and adapted 
interventions and treatments; 
(3) increase awareness of symptoms of mental 
illness among racial and ethnic minority groups; and 
(4) ensure full participation of, and engage, 
both consumers and community members in the de-
velopment and implementation of materials. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
the Congress, and make publicly available, a report detail-
ing the outreach and education strategy that is developed 
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and implemented under this section and the results of 
such implementation. 
Æ 
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