I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8140 
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 
SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 
Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER 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 2020’’. 
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SEC. 2. RESEARCH, GRANTS, AND EDUCATION STRATEGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title V of the Public Health Serv-
ice Act is amended by inserting after section 565 of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 290ff–4) the following: 
‘‘PART F—INVESTING IN COMMUNITY HEALING 
‘‘SEC. 571. RESEARCH ON ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS ASSO-
CIATED WITH INTERACTIONS WITH LAW EN-
FORCEMENT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct re-
search on the adverse health effects with respect to mental 
health conditions and substance use disorders associated 
with violent 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; 
‘‘(2) the rates of mental health conditions and 
substance use disorders related to direct or indirect 
exposure to violence committed by law enforcement 
among racial and ethnic minorities; and 
‘‘(3) the disproportionate burden of morbidity 
and mortality associated with such violence. 
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‘‘(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this part, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) complete the research under this section; 
and 
‘‘(2) submit to the Congress a report on the 
findings, conclusions, and recommendations resulting 
from such research. 
‘‘SEC. 572. GRANTS FOR INCREASING RACIAL AND ETHNIC 
MINORITY ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY TRAU-
MA 
SUPPORT 
SERVICES 
AND 
MENTAL 
HEALTH CARE. 
‘‘(a) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 
grants to eligible entities to establish or expand programs 
for the purpose of increasing racial and ethnic minority 
access to high-quality trauma support services, mental 
health care, and substance use disorder treatment. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To seek a grant under 
this section, an entity shall be a community-based pro-
gram or organization that— 
‘‘(1) provides culturally competent programs 
and resources that are aligned with evidence-based 
practices 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. 
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‘‘(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-quality trauma support services, mental health care, 
and substance use disorder treatment, 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, lack of insurance 
coverage, and access to audio and video tech-
nologies); 
‘‘(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 pro-
vide culturally specific resources and support for 
communities of color; 
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‘‘(5) working in cooperation with the commu-
nity to develop education and prevention strategies 
highlighting culturally specific issues and resources 
regarding racial and ethnic minorities; 
‘‘(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 
Secretary 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 
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‘‘(3) submit a report on the results of such 
evaluation to the Congress. 
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—To 
carry out this section, there is authorized to be appro-
priated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 
2025. 
‘‘SEC. 573. BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH 
EDUCATION STRATEGY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, in consulta-
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 awareness of behavioral and mental health, 
and reduce stigma associated with behavioral and 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 
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‘‘(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 part, the Secretary shall submit to 
the Congress, and make publicly available, a report detail-
ing the outreach and education strategy that is developed 
and implemented under this section and the results of 
such implementation.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Title V of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290aa et seq.) is amended 
by striking the designation and heading of part F relating 
to a model comprehensive program for treatment of sub-
stance abuse. 
Æ 
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