I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5469 
To address mental health issues for youth, particularly youth of color, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 17, 2019 
Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN (for herself, Mr. HASTINGS, Ms. NORTON, Mr. 
CLEAVER, Ms. OMAR, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. ADAMS, Mrs. 
HAYES, Mr. HORSFORD, and Ms. LEE of California) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce 
A BILL 
To address mental health issues for youth, particularly youth 
of color, 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 ‘‘Pursuing Equity in 
Mental Health Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
TITLE I—MENTAL HEALTH OF STUDENTS 
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Sec. 101. Amendments to the Public Health Service Act. 
TITLE II—HEALTH EQUITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY 
Sec. 201. Integrated Health Care Demonstration Program. 
Sec. 202. Addressing racial and ethnic minority mental health disparities re-
search gaps. 
Sec. 203. Health professions competencies to address racial and ethnic minority 
mental health disparities. 
Sec. 204. Racial and ethnic minority behavioral and mental health outreach and 
education strategy. 
Sec. 205. Additional funds for National Institutes of Health. 
Sec. 206. Additional funds for National Institute on Minority Health and 
Health Disparities. 
TITLE III—OTHER PROVISIONS 
Sec. 301. Reauthorization of Minority Fellowship Program. 
Sec. 302. Commission on the Effects of Smartphone and Social Media Use on 
Adolescents. 
Sec. 303. No Federal funds for conversion therapy. 
TITLE I—MENTAL HEALTH OF 
STUDENTS 
SEC. 101. AMENDMENTS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE 
ACT. 
(a) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—The second part G 
(relating to services provided through religious organiza-
tions) of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 290kk et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating such part as part J; and 
(2) by redesignating sections 581 through 584 
as sections 596 through 596C, respectively. 
(b) SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH AND CHIL-
DREN.—Section 581 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 290hh) (relating to children and violence) is 
amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘SEC. 581. SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH; CHILDREN 
AND ADOLESCENTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in collaboration 
with the Secretary of Education, shall, directly or through 
grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements awarded to 
eligible entities described in subsection (c), assist local 
communities and schools (including schools funded by the 
Bureau of Indian Education) in applying a public health 
approach to mental health services both in schools and in 
the community. Such approach shall provide comprehen-
sive developmentally appropriate services and supports 
that are linguistically and culturally appropriate and trau-
ma-informed, and incorporate developmentally appropriate 
strategies of positive behavioral interventions and sup-
ports. A comprehensive school-based mental health pro-
gram funded under this section shall assist children in 
dealing with traumatic experiences, grief, bereavement, 
risk of suicide, and violence. 
‘‘(b) ACTIVITIES.—Under the program under sub-
section (a), the Secretary may— 
‘‘(1) provide financial support to enable local 
communities to implement a comprehensive cul-
turally and linguistically appropriate, trauma-in-
formed, and developmentally appropriate, school- 
based mental health program that— 
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‘‘(A) builds awareness of individual trauma 
and the intergenerational, continuum of impacts 
of trauma on populations; 
‘‘(B) trains appropriate staff to identify, 
and screen for, signs of trauma exposure, men-
tal health disorders, or risk of suicide; and 
‘‘(C) incorporates positive behavioral inter-
ventions, family engagement, student treatment, 
and multigenerational supports to foster the 
health and development of children, prevent 
mental health disorders, and ameliorate the im-
pact of trauma; 
‘‘(2) provide technical assistance to local com-
munities with respect to the development of pro-
grams described in paragraph (1); 
‘‘(3) provide assistance to local communities in 
the development of policies to address child and ado-
lescent trauma and mental health issues and violence 
when and if it occurs; 
‘‘(4) facilitate community partnerships among 
families, students, law enforcement agencies, edu-
cation agencies, mental health and substance use 
disorder service systems, family-based mental health 
service systems, child welfare agencies, health care 
providers (including primary care physicians, mental 
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health professionals, and other professionals who 
specialize in children’s mental health such as child 
and adolescent psychiatrists), institutions of higher 
education, faith-based programs, trauma networks, 
and other community-based systems; and 
‘‘(5) establish mechanisms for children and ado-
lescents to report incidents of violence or plans by 
other children, adolescents, or adults to commit vio-
lence. 
‘‘(c) REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible for a grant, 
contract, or cooperative agreement under subsection 
(a), an entity shall— 
‘‘(A) be a partnership that includes— 
‘‘(i) a State educational agency, as de-
fined in section 8101 of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965, in 
coordination with one or more local edu-
cational agencies, as defined in section 
8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965, or a consortium of 
any entities described in subparagraph 
(B), (C), (D), or (E) of section 8101(30) 
of such Act; and 
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‘‘(ii) in accordance with paragraph 
(2)(A)(i), appropriate public or private en-
tities that employ interventions that are 
evidence-based, as defined in section 8101 
of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965; and 
‘‘(B) submit an application, that is en-
dorsed by all members of the partnership, 
that— 
‘‘(i) specifies which member will serve 
as the lead partner; and 
‘‘(ii) contains the assurances described 
in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) REQUIRED ASSURANCES.—An application 
under paragraph (1) shall contain assurances as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(A) The eligible entity will ensure that, in 
carrying out activities under this section, the el-
igible entity will enter into a memorandum of 
understanding— 
‘‘(i) with at least 1 community-based 
mental health provider, including a public 
or private mental health entity, health care 
entity, family-based mental health entity, 
trauma network, or other community-based 
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entity, as determined by the Secretary 
(and which may include additional entities 
such as a human services agency, law en-
forcement or juvenile justice entity, child 
welfare agency, agency, an institution of 
higher education, or another entity, as de-
termined by the Secretary); and 
‘‘(ii) that clearly states— 
‘‘(I) the responsibilities of each 
partner with respect to the activities 
to be carried out, including how fam-
ily engagement will be incorporated in 
the activities; 
‘‘(II) how school-employed and 
school-based 
or 
community-based 
mental health professionals will be uti-
lized for carrying out such responsibil-
ities; 
‘‘(III) how each such partner will 
be accountable for carrying out such 
responsibilities; and 
‘‘(IV) the amount of non-Federal 
funding or in-kind contributions that 
each such partner will contribute in 
order to sustain the program. 
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‘‘(B) The comprehensive school-based men-
tal health program carried out under this sec-
tion supports the flexible use of funds to ad-
dress— 
‘‘(i) universal prevention, through the 
promotion of the social, emotional, mental, 
and behavioral health of all students in an 
environment that is conducive to learning; 
‘‘(ii) selective prevention, through the 
reduction in the likelihood of at risk stu-
dents developing social, emotional, mental, 
behavioral health problems, suicide, or sub-
stance use disorders; 
‘‘(iii) the screening for, and early 
identification of, social, emotional, mental, 
behavioral problems, suicide risk, or sub-
stance use disorders and the provision of 
early intervention services; 
‘‘(iv) the treatment or referral for 
treatment of students with existing social, 
emotional, mental, behavioral health prob-
lems, or substance use disorders; 
‘‘(v) the development and implementa-
tion of evidence-based programs to assist 
children who are experiencing or have been 
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exposed to trauma and violence, including 
program curricula, school supports, and 
after-school programs; and 
‘‘(vi) the development and implemen-
tation of evidence-based programs to assist 
children who are grieving, which may in-
clude training for school personnel on the 
impact of trauma and bereavement on chil-
dren, and services to provide support to 
grieving children. 
‘‘(C) The comprehensive school-based men-
tal health program carried out under this sec-
tion will provide for in-service training of all 
school personnel, including ancillary staff and 
volunteers, in— 
‘‘(i) the techniques and supports need-
ed to promote early identification of chil-
dren with trauma histories, children who 
are grieving, and children with a mental 
health disorder or at risk of developing a 
mental health disorder, or who are at risk 
of suicide; 
‘‘(ii) the use of referral mechanisms 
that effectively link such children to appro-
priate prevention, treatment, and interven-
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tion services in the school and in the com-
munity and to follow-up when services are 
not available; 
‘‘(iii) strategies that promote a school- 
wide positive environment, including strat-
egies to prevent bullying, which includes 
cyber-bullying; 
‘‘(iv) strategies for promoting the so-
cial, emotional, mental, and behavioral 
health of all students; and 
‘‘(v) strategies to increase the knowl-
edge and skills of school and community 
leaders about the impact of trauma and vi-
olence and on the application of a public 
health approach to comprehensive school- 
based mental health programs. 
‘‘(D) The comprehensive school-based men-
tal health program carried out under this sec-
tion will include comprehensive training for par-
ents or guardians, siblings, and other family 
members of children with mental health dis-
orders, and for concerned members of the com-
munity in— 
‘‘(i) the techniques and supports need-
ed to promote early identification of chil-
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dren with trauma histories, children who 
are grieving, children with a mental health 
disorder or at risk of developing a mental 
health disorder, and children who are at 
risk of suicide; 
‘‘(ii) the use of referral mechanisms 
that effectively link such children to appro-
priate prevention, treatment, and interven-
tion services in the school and in the com-
munity and follow-up when such services 
are not available; and 
‘‘(iii) strategies that promote a school- 
wide positive environment, including strat-
egies to prevent bullying, including cyber- 
bullying. 
‘‘(E) The comprehensive school-based men-
tal health program carried out under this sec-
tion will demonstrate the measures to be taken 
to sustain the program (which may include 
seeking funding for the program under a State 
Medicaid plan under title XIX of the Social Se-
curity Act or a waiver of such a plan, or under 
a State plan under subpart 1 of part B or part 
E of title IV of the Social Security Act). 
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‘‘(F) The eligible entity is supported by the 
State agency with primary responsibility for be-
havioral health to ensure that the comprehen-
sive school-based mental health program carried 
out under this section will be sustainable after 
funding under this section terminates. 
‘‘(G) The comprehensive school-based men-
tal health program carried out under this sec-
tion will be coordinated with early intervening 
activities carried out under the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act or activities funded 
under part A of title IV of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965. 
‘‘(H) 
The 
comprehensive 
school-based 
mental health program carried out under this 
section will be trauma-informed, evidence-based, 
and developmentally, culturally, and linguis-
tically appropriate. 
‘‘(I) The comprehensive school-based men-
tal health program carried out under this sec-
tion will include a broad needs assessment of 
youth who drop out of school due to policies of 
‘zero tolerance’ with respect to drugs, alcohol, 
or weapons and an inability to obtain appro-
priate services. 
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‘‘(J) The mental health services provided 
through the comprehensive school-based mental 
health program carried out under this section 
will be provided by qualified mental and behav-
ioral health professionals who are certified, 
credentialed, or licensed in compliance with ap-
plicable Federal and State law and regulations 
by the State involved and who are practicing 
within their area of expertise. 
‘‘(K) Students will be permitted to self- 
refer to the mental health program for mental 
health care and self-consent for mental health 
crisis care to the extent permitted by State or 
other applicable law. 
‘‘(3) COORDINATOR.—Any entity that is a 
member of a partnership described in paragraph 
(1)(A) may serve as the coordinator of funding and 
activities under the grant if all members of the part-
nership agree. 
‘‘(4) COMPLIANCE
WITH
HIPAA.—A grantee 
under this section shall be deemed to be a covered 
entity for purposes of compliance with the regula-
tions promulgated under section 264(c) of the 
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 
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of 1996 with respect to any patient records devel-
oped through activities under the grant. 
‘‘(5) COMPLIANCE WITH FERPA.—Section 444 
of the General Education Provisions Act (commonly 
known as the ‘Family Educational Rights and Pri-
vacy Act of 1974’) shall apply to any entity that is 
a member of the partnership in the same manner 
that such section applies to an educational agency or 
institution (as that term is defined in such section). 
‘‘(d) PRIORITY FOR SCHOOLS WITH HIGH POVERTY 
LEVELS.—In awarding grants, contracts, and cooperative 
agreements under this section, the Secretary shall give 
highest priority to eligible entities that are partnerships 
including one or more public elementary or secondary 
schools in which 50.1 percent or more of the students are 
eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard 
B. Russell National School Lunch Act. 
‘‘(e) GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—The Secretary 
shall ensure that grants, contracts, or cooperative agree-
ments under subsection (a) will be distributed equitably 
among the regions of the country and among urban and 
rural areas. 
‘‘(f) DURATION
OF AWARDS.—With respect to a 
grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under sub-
section (a), the period during which payments under such 
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an award will be made to the recipient shall be 5 years, 
with options for renewal. 
‘‘(g) EVALUATION AND MEASURES OF OUTCOMES.— 
‘‘(1) DEVELOPMENT OF PROCESS.—The Assist-
ant Secretary shall develop a fiscally appropriate 
process for evaluating activities carried out under 
this section. Such process shall include— 
‘‘(A) the development of guidelines for the 
submission of program data by grant, contract, 
or cooperative agreement recipients; 
‘‘(B) the development of measures of out-
comes (in accordance with paragraph (2)) to be 
applied by such recipients in evaluating pro-
grams carried out under this section; and 
‘‘(C) the submission of annual reports by 
such recipients concerning the effectiveness of 
programs carried out under this section. 
‘‘(2) MEASURES OF OUTCOMES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Assistant Sec-
retary shall develop measures of outcomes to be 
applied by recipients of assistance under this 
section, and the Assistant Secretary, in evalu-
ating the effectiveness of programs carried out 
under this section. Such measures shall include 
student and family measures as provided for in 
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subparagraph (B) and local educational meas-
ures as provided for under subparagraph (C). 
‘‘(B) STUDENT AND FAMILY MEASURES OF 
OUTCOMES.—The measures for outcomes devel-
oped under paragraph (1)(B) relating to stu-
dents and families shall, with respect to activi-
ties carried out under a program under this 
section, at a minimum include provisions to 
evaluate whether the program is effective in— 
‘‘(i) increasing social and emotional 
competency; 
‘‘(ii) improving academic outcomes, 
including as measured by proficiency on 
the annual assessments under section 
1111(b)(2) of the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965; 
‘‘(iii) reducing disruptive and aggres-
sive behaviors; 
‘‘(iv) improving child functioning; 
‘‘(v) reducing substance use disorders; 
‘‘(vi) reducing rates of suicide; 
‘‘(vii) reducing suspensions, truancy, 
expulsions, and violence; 
‘‘(viii) increasing high school gradua-
tion rates, calculated using the four-year 
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adjusted cohort graduation rate or the ex-
tended-year adjusted cohort graduation 
rate (as such terms are defined in section 
8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965); 
‘‘(ix) improving attendance rates and 
rates of chronic absenteeism; 
‘‘(x) improving access to care for men-
tal health disorders, including access to 
mental health services that are trauma-in-
formed, and developmentally, linguistically, 
and culturally appropriate; 
‘‘(xi) improving health outcomes; and 
‘‘(xii) decreasing disparities among 
vulnerable and protected populations in 
outcomes described in clauses (i) through 
(viii). 
‘‘(C) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES.— 
The outcome measures developed under para-
graph (1)(B) relating to local educational sys-
tems shall, with respect to activities carried out 
under a program under this section, at a min-
imum include provisions to evaluate— 
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‘‘(i) the effectiveness of comprehensive 
school mental health programs established 
under this section; 
‘‘(ii) the effectiveness of formal part-
nership linkages among child and family 
serving institutions, community support 
systems, and the educational system; 
‘‘(iii) the progress made in sustaining 
the program once funding under the grant 
has expired; 
‘‘(iv) the effectiveness of training and 
professional development programs for all 
school personnel that incorporate indica-
tors that measure cultural and linguistic 
competencies under the program in a man-
ner that incorporates appropriate cultural 
and linguistic training; 
‘‘(v) the improvement in perception of 
a safe and supportive learning environment 
among school staff, students, and parents; 
‘‘(vi) the improvement in case-finding 
of students in need of more intensive serv-
ices and referral of identified students to 
prevention, early intervention, and clinical 
services; 
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‘‘(vii) the improvement in the imme-
diate availability of clinical assessment and 
treatment services within the context of 
the local community to students posing a 
danger to themselves or others; 
‘‘(viii) the increased successful matric-
ulation to postsecondary school; 
‘‘(ix) reduced suicide rates; 
‘‘(x) reduced referrals to juvenile jus-
tice; and 
‘‘(xi) increased educational equity. 
‘‘(3) SUBMISSION OF ANNUAL DATA.—An eligi-
ble entity described in subsection (c) that receives a 
grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this 
section shall annually submit to the Assistant Sec-
retary a report that includes data to evaluate the 
success of the program carried out by the entity 
based on whether such program is achieving the pur-
poses of the program. Such reports shall utilize the 
measures of outcomes under paragraph (2) in a rea-
sonable manner to demonstrate the progress of the 
program in achieving such purposes. 
‘‘(4) EVALUATION BY ASSISTANT SECRETARY.— 
Based on the data submitted under paragraph (3), 
the Assistant Secretary shall annually submit to 
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Congress a report concerning the results and effec-
tiveness of the programs carried out with assistance 
received under this section. 
‘‘(5) LIMITATION.—An eligible entity shall use 
not more than 20 percent of amounts received under 
a grant under this section to carry out evaluation 
activities under this subsection. 
‘‘(h) INFORMATION
AND
EDUCATION.—The Sec-
retary shall establish comprehensive information and edu-
cation programs to disseminate the findings of the knowl-
edge development and application under this section to the 
general public and to health care professionals. 
‘‘(i) AMOUNT OF GRANTS AND AUTHORIZATION OF 
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) AMOUNT OF GRANTS.—A grant under this 
section shall be in an amount that is not more than 
$2,000,000 for each of the first 5 fiscal years fol-
lowing the date of enactment of the Pursuing Equity 
in Mental Health Act of 2019. The Secretary shall 
determine the amount of each such grant based on 
the population of children up to age 21 of the area 
to be served under the grant. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this section, $250,000,000 for each of the first 5 fis-
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cal years following the date of enactment of the Pur-
suing Equity in Mental Health Act of 2019.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Part G of title V of 
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290hh et seq.), 
as amended by subsection (b), is further amended by strik-
ing the part designation and heading and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘PART G—SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH’’. 
TITLE II—HEALTH EQUITY AND 
ACCOUNTABILITY 
SEC. 201. INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE DEMONSTRATION 
PROGRAM. 
Part D of title V of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 290dd et seq.) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 550. INTERPROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE TEAMS FOR 
PROVISION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE 
IN PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS. 
‘‘(a) GRANTS.—The Secretary, acting through the 
Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance 
Abuse, shall award grants to eligible entities for the pur-
pose of establishing interprofessional health care teams 
that provide behavioral health care. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to receive 
a grant under this section, an entity shall be a Federally 
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qualified health center (as defined in section 1861(aa) of 
the Social Security Act), rural health clinic, or behavioral 
health program, serving a high proportion of individuals 
from racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined in sec-
tion 1707(g)). 
‘‘(c) SCIENTIFICALLY
BASED.—Integrated health 
care funded through this section shall be scientifically 
based, taking into consideration the results of the most 
recent peer-reviewed research available. 
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—To 
carry out this section, there is authorized to be appro-
priated $20,000,000 for each of the first 5 fiscal years 
following the date of enactment of the Pursuing Equity 
in Mental Health Act of 2019.’’. 
SEC. 202. ADDRESSING RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY 
MENTAL HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCH 
GAPS. 
Not later than 6 months after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Director of the National Institute 
on Minority Health and Health Disparities shall enter into 
an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences 
(or, if the National Academy of Sciences declines to enter 
into such an arrangement, an arrangement with the Insti-
tute of Medicine, the Patient Centered Outcomes Research 
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Institute, the Agency for Healthcare Quality, or another 
appropriate entity)— 
(1) to conduct a study with respect to mental 
health disparities in racial and ethnic minority 
groups (as defined in section 1707(g) of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u–6(g))); and 
(2) to submit to the Congress a report on the 
results of such study, including— 
(A) a compilation of information on the dy-
namics of mental disorders in such racial and 
ethnic minority groups; and 
(B) a compilation of information on the 
impact of exposure to community violence, ad-
verse childhood experiences, and other psycho-
logical traumas on mental disorders in such ra-
cial and minority groups. 
SEC. 203. HEALTH PROFESSIONS COMPETENCIES TO AD-
DRESS RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY MEN-
TAL HEALTH DISPARITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary 
for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall award grants 
to qualified national organizations for the purposes of— 
(1) developing, and disseminating to health pro-
fessional educational programs curricula or core 
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competencies addressing mental health disparities 
among racial and ethnic minority groups for use in 
the training of students in the professions of social 
work, psychology, psychiatry, marriage and family 
therapy, mental health counseling, and substance 
abuse counseling; and 
(2) certifying community health workers and 
peer wellness specialists with respect to such cur-
ricula and core competencies and integrating and ex-
panding the use of such workers and specialists into 
health care to address mental health disparities 
among racial and ethnic minority groups. 
(b) CURRICULA; CORE COMPETENCIES.—Organiza-
tions receiving funds under subsection (a) may use the 
funds to engage in the following activities related to the 
development and dissemination of curricula or core com-
petencies described in subsection (a)(1): 
(1) Formation of committees or working groups 
comprised of experts from accredited health profes-
sions schools to identify core competencies relating 
to mental health disparities among racial and ethnic 
minority groups. 
(2) Planning of workshops in national fora to 
allow for public input into the educational needs as-
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sociated with mental health disparities among racial 
and ethnic minority groups. 
(3) Dissemination and promotion of the use of 
curricula or core competencies in undergraduate and 
graduate health professions training programs na-
tionwide. 
(4) Establishing external stakeholder advisory 
boards to provide meaningful input into policy and 
program development and best practices to reduce 
mental health disparities among racial and ethnic 
minority groups. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) QUALIFIED NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘‘qualified national organization’’ means a na-
tional organization that focuses on the education of 
students in programs of social work, psychology, 
psychiatry, and marriage and family therapy. 
(2) RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY GROUP.— 
The term ‘‘racial and ethnic minority group’’ has the 
meaning given to such term in section 1707(g) of 
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u– 
6(g)). 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
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such sums as may be necessary for each of the first 5 
fiscal years following the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 204. RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY BEHAVIORAL 
AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH AND EDU-
CATION STRATEGY. 
Part D of title V of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 290dd et seq.) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 553. BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH 
AND EDUCATION STRATEGY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Assistant Secretary, shall, in coordination with advo-
cacy and behavioral and mental health organizations serv-
ing racial and ethnic minority groups, develop and imple-
ment an outreach and education strategy to promote be-
havioral and mental health and reduce stigma associated 
with mental health conditions and substance abuse among 
racial and ethnic minority groups. Such strategy shall— 
‘‘(1) be designed to— 
‘‘(A) meet the diverse cultural and lan-
guage needs of the various racial and ethnic mi-
nority groups; and 
‘‘(B) be developmentally and age-appro-
priate; 
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‘‘(2) increase awareness of symptoms of mental 
illnesses common among such groups, taking into 
account differences within subgroups, such as gen-
der, gender identity, age, or sexual orientation, of 
such groups; 
‘‘(3) provide information on evidence-based, cul-
turally and linguistically appropriate and adapted 
interventions and treatments; 
‘‘(4) ensure full participation of, and engage, 
both consumers and community members in the de-
velopment and implementation of materials; and 
‘‘(5) seek to broaden the perspective among 
both individuals in these groups and stakeholders 
serving these groups to use a comprehensive public 
health approach to promoting behavioral health that 
addresses a holistic view of health by focusing on the 
intersection between behavioral and physical health. 
‘‘(b) REPORTS.—Beginning not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this section and annu-
ally thereafter, the Secretary, acting through the Assistant 
Secretary, shall submit to Congress, and make publicly 
available, a report on the extent to which the strategy de-
veloped and implemented under subsection (a) increased 
behavioral and mental health outcomes associated with 
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mental health conditions and substance abuse among ra-
cial and ethnic minority groups. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘racial 
and ethnic minority group’ has the meaning given to that 
term in section 1707(g). 
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$10,000,000 for the first fiscal year following the date of 
enactment of the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act 
of 2019.’’. 
SEC. 205. ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR NATIONAL INSTITUTES 
OF HEALTH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In addition to amounts otherwise 
authorized to be appropriated to the National Institutes 
of Health, there is authorized to be appropriated to such 
Institutes $100,000,000 for each of the first 5 fiscal years 
following the date of enactment of this Act to build rela-
tions with communities and conduct or support clinical re-
search, including clinical research on racial or ethnic dis-
parities in physical and mental health. 
(b) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘clinical 
research’’ has the meaning given to such term in section 
409 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284d). 
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SEC. 206. ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR NATIONAL INSTITUTE 
ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARI-
TIES. 
In addition to amounts otherwise authorized to be ap-
propriated to the National Institute on Minority Health 
and Health Disparities, there is authorized to be appro-
priated to such Institute $650,000,000 for each of the 
first 5 fiscal years following the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
TITLE III—OTHER PROVISIONS 
SEC. 301. REAUTHORIZATION OF MINORITY FELLOWSHIP 
PROGRAM. 
Section 597(c) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 297ll(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘$12,669,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022’’ and inserting 
‘‘$25,000,000 for each of the first 5 fiscal years following 
the date of enactment of the Pursuing Equity in Mental 
Health Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 302. COMMISSION ON THE EFFECTS OF SMARTPHONE 
AND SOCIAL MEDIA USE ON ADOLESCENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall establish a commission, to be known 
as the Commission on the Effects of Smartphone and So-
cial Media Usage on Adolescents, to examine— 
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(1) the extent of smartphone and social media 
use in schools; and 
(2) the effects of such use on— 
(A) the emotional and physical health of 
students; and 
(B) the academic performance of students. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) NUMBER.—The Commission shall consist of 
15 members appointed by the Secretary. 
(2) COMPOSITION.—The members of the Com-
mission— 
(A) shall not include any government offi-
cials or employees; and 
(B) shall include representatives of aca-
demia, technology companies, and advocacy 
groups. 
(c) GUIDELINES.—The Secretary shall authorize the 
Commission to establish guidelines for its operation. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after its estab-
lishment, the Commission shall submit to the Congress, 
and make publicly available, a report on the findings and 
conclusions of the Commission. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Com-
mission on the Effects of Smartphone and Social 
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Media Usage on Adolescents established under sub-
section (a). 
(2) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services. 
(f) SUNSET.—Not later than 6 months after the 
Commission submits the report required by subsection (c), 
the Secretary shall terminate the Commission. 
SEC. 303. NO FEDERAL FUNDS FOR CONVERSION THERAPY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—No Federal funds may be used 
for conversion therapy. 
(b) DISCOURAGING STATES FROM FUNDING CON-
VERSION THERAPY.—Beginning on the date that is 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, any State 
that funds conversion therapy shall be ineligible to be 
awarded a grant or other financial assistance under any 
program of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Serv-
ices Administration, including any program under title V 
of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290aa et 
seq.). 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section: 
(1) CONVERSION THERAPY.—The term ‘‘conver-
sion therapy’’— 
(A) means any practice or treatment by 
any person that seeks to change another indi-
vidual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, 
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including efforts to change behaviors or gender 
expressions, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or 
romantic attractions or feelings toward individ-
uals of the same gender, if such person receives 
monetary compensation in exchange for any 
such practice or treatment; and 
(B) does not include any practice or treat-
ment, which does not seek to change sexual ori-
entation or gender identity, that— 
(i) provides assistance to an individual 
undergoing a gender transition; or 
(ii) provides acceptance, support, and 
understanding of a client or facilitation of 
a client’s coping, social support, and iden-
tity exploration and development, including 
sexual orientation-neutral interventions to 
prevent or address unlawful conduct or un-
safe sexual practices. 
(2) GENDER
IDENTITY.—The term ‘‘gender 
identity’’ means the gender-related identity, appear-
ance, mannerisms, or other gender-related character-
istics of an individual, regardless of the individual’s 
designated sex at birth. 
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(3) PERSON.—The term ‘‘person’’ means any 
individual, partnership, corporation, cooperative, as-
sociation, or any other entity. 
(4) SEXUAL ORIENTATION.—The term ‘‘sexual 
orientation’’ means homosexuality, heterosexuality, 
or bisexuality. 
(5) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the mean-
ing given to such term in section 2 of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201). 
Æ 
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