H.R. 6940

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6940 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6940

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to assess how 
Executive departments address mental health crisis prevention and 
awareness, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 6, 2026

Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to assess how 
Executive departments address mental health crisis prevention and 
awareness, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Hope Heals Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS PREVENTION AND AWARENESS.

(a) Assessment.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services (in this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') 
shall assess--
(A) the feasibility of improving coordination 
between Executive departments that provide direct 
services to the public, with respect to identifying--
(i) any individual experiencing a mental 
health crisis; or
(ii) any individual that expresses concern 
that they may be experiencing such a crisis or 
related distress;
(B) any opportunity for an Executive department to 
improve how such department shares information, best 
practices, and referral mechanisms related to suicide 
prevention and mental health support with an individual 
seeking services during a mental health crisis; and
(C) for the purpose of increasing awareness of the 
signs of a mental health crisis, whether an Executive 
department may implement a program to distribute--
(i) a validated screening tool, including 
the Patient Health Questionnaire-3 (PHQ-3) or a 
comparable tool; and
(ii) any commonly used symptom indicator.
(2) Coordination with other executive departments.--In 
carrying out the assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall coordinate with the head of any relevant Executive 
department, which may include--
(A) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
(B) the Secretary of Defense; and
(C) the Secretary of Education.
(3) Consultation with experts.--In carrying out the 
assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary may consult 
with--
(A) an independent person with expertise in suicide 
prevention, public mental health, behavioral health 
systems, or coordination between Executive departments;
(B) an academic institution with demonstrated 
expertise in mental or behavioral health research, 
suicide prevention, or public health;
(C) a mental health professional; or
(D) any such other entity with relevant expertise.
(4) Report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date on which the Secretary completes the assessment 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to each 
appropriate congressional committee a report containing 
the results of such assessment and any recommendations 
related to such results.
(B) Appropriate congressional committee defined.--
In this paragraph, the term ``appropriate congressional 
committee'' means--
(i) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of 
the House of Representatives;
(ii) the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and
(iii) any congressional committee with 
jurisdiction over the head of an Executive 
department that the Secretary coordinates with 
under paragraph (2).
(b) Implementation.--Each Executive department shall, to the extent 
practicable, implement any recommendation contained within the report 
submitted under subsection (a)(4).
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Executive department.--The term ``Executive 
department'' means an Executive department listed in section 
101 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Mental health crisis.--The term ``mental health 
crisis'' means a situation in which an individual--
(A) experiences acute psychological distress or 
behavioral disruption that--
(i) places such individual at risk of 
harming themself or another individual; or
(ii) significantly impairs the ability of 
such individual to function in daily life; and
(B) requires support, intervention, or referral to 
services.
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