I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7893 
To amend title V of the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establish-
ment of a COVID–19 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Response 
Grant Program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 31, 2020 
Mr. STEIL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend title V of the Public Health Service Act to provide 
for the establishment of a COVID–19 Mental Health 
and Substance Abuse Response Grant 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 ‘‘Mental Health and 
Substance Abuse Support During COVID–19 Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. COVID–19 MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE 
RESPONSE GRANT PROGRAM. 
Subpart 3 of part B of title V of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–31) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 520N. COVID–19 MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE 
ABUSE RESPONSE GRANT PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall, in co-
ordination with the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health 
and Substance Use, establish and carry out a program to 
award grants to States (as defined in section 524) to as-
sist States in addressing the increased costs to States due 
to an increase in mental health challenges and substance 
abuse in such States as a result of, or co-occurring with, 
the COVID–19 pandemic, to be known as the ‘COVID– 
19 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Response Grant 
Program’ (referred to in this section as the ‘Program’). 
‘‘(b) USE OF FUNDS.—A State may use funds re-
ceived through the grant to support one or more of the 
following activities, which may be conducted in coordina-
tion or partnership with local governments or community 
organizations: 
‘‘(1) Enhanced public education to improve 
community awareness, with respect to mental health 
or substance abuse, including for children and youth. 
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‘‘(2) Identification of, and outreach to, individ-
uals at risk of experiencing a mental health and sub-
stance abuse challenge, and referral of such individ-
uals to appropriate treatment, recover, or other re-
sources in the community. 
‘‘(3) Direct services to adults and children to 
prevent or treat a mental health or substance abuse 
problem. 
‘‘(4) Community and peer support programs, 
including programs for veterans and underserved 
communities. 
‘‘(5) Development of partnerships with entities 
such as local healthcare providers, substance abuse 
treatment organizations, schools, child welfare agen-
cies, social services organizations, mental health 
treatment organizations, police departments, busi-
nesses, religious institutions, in order to coordinate 
and expand resources available to addicted or at-risk 
individuals and their family members. 
‘‘(6) Mental health and substance abuse train-
ing for relevant healthcare workforce and community 
members. 
‘‘(7) Upgrading technology to support mental 
health and substance abuse services through tele-
health. 
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‘‘(8) Follow-up services and outpatient support. 
‘‘(9) Support programs for front line COVID– 
19 health care workers. 
‘‘(10) 24/7 crisis call centers. 
‘‘(11) Grants to local governmental entities 
within such State to offset the costs referred to in 
subsection (a). 
‘‘(c) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall, not later 
than 30 days after the date of enactment of this section, 
issue a rule to establish, carry out, and administer the 
Program. 
‘‘(d) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this section $1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2020 through 2022. 
‘‘(2) ALLOCATION.—Of the amounts made 
available under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, each 
State shall be allocated an amount based on the per-
centage constituted by the ratio of an amount equal 
to the population of the State over an amount equal 
to the total population of the States, as indicated by 
the data collected by the Bureau of the Census for 
2010.’’. 
Æ 
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