I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4244 
To make amendments to the names of certain agencies to help end the 
stigmatization of substance use disorder, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 29, 2021 
Mr. TRONE (for himself and Mrs. MCCLAIN) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To make amendments to the names of certain agencies to 
help end the stigmatization of substance use disorder, 
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; FINDINGS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Stopping Titles that Overtly Perpetuate Stigma Act’’ or 
the ‘‘STOP Stigma Act’’. 
(b) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:00 Jul 14, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4244.IH
H4244
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with BILLS
(1) Stigma surrounding substance use disorder 
negatively affects access to care and has a detri-
mental effect on treatment outcomes. 
(2) The language used to discuss substance use 
disorder can contribute to this stigma. 
(3) Several agencies and a grant within the De-
partment of Health and Human Services use stigma-
tizing language in their titles. 
SEC. 2. ENDING STIGMATIZATION OF SUBSTANCE USE DIS-
ORDER. 
(a) GUIDANCE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services (referred to in 
this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall issue guidance 
proposing new names for covered agencies and pro-
grams. 
(2) EXCLUDED TERMS.—The guidance issued 
under paragraph (1) shall not propose a name for a 
covered agency or program that contains a term 
identified by the National Institute on Drug Abuse 
as stigmatizing, including the following: 
(A) Abuse (including substance abuse, sub-
stance abuser, drug abuse, and drug abuser). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:00 Jul 14, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4244.IH
H4244
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with BILLS
(B) Addict (including former addict and 
reformed addict). 
(C) Alcoholic. 
(D) Other stigmatizing terms with respect 
to substance use, such as ‘‘clean’’, ‘‘dirty’’, and 
‘‘habit’’. 
(b) STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK.—In developing the 
guidance under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide 
for opportunities for input on such guidance from relevant 
stakeholder groups. 
(c) TRANSMISSION TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary 
shall transmit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor and Pensions and the Committee on Appropriations 
of the Senate— 
(1) the guidance issued under subsection (a); 
(2) an assessment of the cost of changing the 
names of covered agencies and programs as pro-
posed in such guidance; and 
(3) 
the 
Secretary’s 
recommendations 
for 
changes to Federal law to change the names of cov-
ered agencies and programs as proposed in such 
guidance. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:00 Jul 14, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4244.IH
H4244
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with BILLS
(d) COVERED AGENCY OR PROGRAM DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘covered agency or program’’ means 
each of the following agencies of the Department of 
Health and Human Services and programs administered 
by the Secretary of Health and Human Services: 
(1) Within the National Institutes of Health, 
the following: 
(A) The National Institute on Alcohol 
Abuse and Alcoholism designated under para-
graph (12) of section 401(b) of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281). 
(B) The National Institute on Drug Abuse 
designated under paragraph (13) of such sec-
tion. 
(C) The National Drug Abuse Research 
Centers designated under section 464 of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285o–2). 
(D) The National Drug Abuse Training 
Center established under section 412 of the 
Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972 
(21 U.S.C. 1179). 
(2) The Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration and each of the following 
agencies of, and program carried out by, such Ad-
ministration: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:00 Jul 14, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4244.IH
H4244
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with BILLS
(A) The National Center on Substance 
Abuse and Child Welfare. 
(B) The Center for Substance Abuse Pre-
vention established under section 515 of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb– 
21). 
(C) The Center for Substance Abuse 
Treatment established under section 507 of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb). 
(D) The program providing for block 
grants for the prevention and treatment of sub-
stance abuse established under subpart II of 
part B of title XIX of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 300x–21 et seq.) 
(3) Such other agency, service, office, or pro-
gram of the Department as the Secretary may speci-
fy. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:00 Jul 14, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4244.IH
H4244
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with BILLS