I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5417 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services to award grants to faith-or community-based organi-
zations to address persistent health inequities and chronic disease chal-
lenges. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 16, 2025 
Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia (for herself, Ms. CLARKE of New York, and Mr. 
KENNEDY of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services to award 
grants to faith-or community-based organizations to ad-
dress persistent health inequities and chronic disease 
challenges. 
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 ‘‘Health Access Innova-
tion Act of 2025’’. 
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SEC. 2. HEALTH EQUITY INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM. 
Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 399V–8. HEALTH EQUITY INNOVATION GRANT PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may award grants 
to eligible entities to expand access to culturally and lin-
guistically appropriate care, encourage innovation, and ad-
dress persistent health inequities and chronic disease chal-
lenges, including by— 
‘‘(1) paying the costs of necessary medical serv-
ices, health screenings, tests, and other preventive 
services; 
‘‘(2) expanding access to care, such as by— 
‘‘(A) expanding access to health care and 
public health services; 
‘‘(B) expanding the diversity of types of 
health workers; 
‘‘(C) expanding the availability of cul-
turally and linguistically appropriate services; 
and 
‘‘(D) addressing other social determinants 
of health and barriers to receiving timely and 
quality care; 
‘‘(3) supporting— 
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‘‘(A) community health navigators; 
‘‘(B) community health workers (also 
known as ‘promotores de salud’); 
‘‘(C) peer support specialists; 
‘‘(D) community health representatives; 
and 
‘‘(E) other health care professionals, in-
cluding those who work with faith-or commu-
nity-based organizations as trusted messengers 
with lived experiences to support access and 
connection to care; 
‘‘(4) expanding the capacity of the eligible enti-
ty; and 
‘‘(5) carrying out other programs that address 
social determinants of health. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible for a grant 
under this section, an entity shall be a faith-or community- 
based organization that— 
‘‘(1) has demonstrated an ability to address 
chronic health disparities and health conditions in 
communities disproportionately affected by such dis-
parities and conditions; and 
‘‘(2) is located in a medically underserved com-
munity or a designated health professional shortage 
area. 
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‘‘(c) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities 
that established or operated one or more health workforce 
or health care access programs during a public health 
emergency. 
‘‘(d) 
COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATION
DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘community-based orga-
nization’ has the meaning given the term in section 8101 
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section— 
‘‘(A) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; 
‘‘(B) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; 
‘‘(C) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; 
‘‘(D) $65,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; 
and 
‘‘(E) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2029. 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATIVE
COSTS.—Of the funds 
appropriated to carry out this section, not more than 
5 percent may be used by the Secretary for the ad-
ministrative costs of carrying out this section.’’. 
Æ 
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