I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9842 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to maintain the Rural Communities 
Opioid Response Program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 
Mrs. MILLER of West Virginia (for herself, Mr. CARTER of Georgia, Ms. SE-
WELL, and Ms. KUSTER) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to maintain the 
Rural Communities Opioid Response Program, 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 ‘‘RCORP Authorization 
Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. RURAL COMMUNITIES OPIOID RESPONSE PRO-
GRAM. 
The Public Health Service Act is amended by insert-
ing after section 330A–2 (42 U.S.C. 254c–1b) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 330A–3. RURAL COMMUNITIES OPIOID RESPONSE 
PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) 
ESTABLISHMENT.—The 
Secretary, 
acting 
through the Administrator of the Health Resources and 
Services Administration (in this section referred to as the 
‘Administrator’), shall maintain a program to be known 
as the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program to 
establish and expand prevention, treatment, and recovery 
services in rural areas (as defined by the Secretary) for 
substance use disorders (including opioid use disorder), re-
lated behavioral health conditions, and other related public 
health issues. 
‘‘(b) GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the pro-
gram under this section, the Administrator may 
award grants or cooperative agreements to eligible 
entities. 
‘‘(2) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity that 
receives a grant or cooperative agreement under this 
section may use funds received through such grant 
or cooperative agreement to— 
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‘‘(A) 
conduct 
planning 
activities 
to 
strengthen the capacity of cross-sector networks 
and improve coordination of resources and care 
involving substance use disorder; 
‘‘(B) identify and implement evidence- 
based and sustainable delivery models to pro-
vide direct prevention, treatment, and recovery 
services; 
‘‘(C) respond to new and emerging public 
health issues involving substance use disorder; 
‘‘(D) provide targeted technical assistance 
or evaluation activities with respect to grants or 
cooperative agreements awarded under this sec-
tion; or 
‘‘(E) engage in such other activities as the 
Secretary may determine appropriate to carry 
out the program under this section. 
‘‘(3) PROHIBITED USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible 
entity that is awarded a grant or cooperative agree-
ment under this section may not use funds provided 
through such grant or cooperative agreement for the 
acquisition or improvement of real property. 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant or cooperative agreement under this section, 
an entity shall be— 
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‘‘(A) a State; 
‘‘(B) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organiza-
tion (as such terms are defined in section 4 of 
the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
Assistance Act); 
‘‘(C) a State office of rural health; or 
‘‘(D) any other domestic entity. 
‘‘(5) APPLICATION.—To seek a grant or cooper-
ative agreement under this section, an eligible entity 
shall submit to the Administrator an application at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such in-
formation as the Administrator may require, includ-
ing a description of how the rural population in the 
local community or region to be served will be in-
volved in the development and ongoing operations of 
such activities, as applicable. 
‘‘(6) GRANT PERIOD.—The Administrator may 
not award a grant or cooperative agreement under 
this section for a period of more than 5 years. 
‘‘(7) FUNDING.—The Administrator may fully 
fund a grant or cooperative agreement made under 
this section at the time of the award. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
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$165,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 
2028.’’. 
Æ 
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