H.R. 7787

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7787 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7787

To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the 
mental health workforce, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 4, 2026

Mr. Carter of Louisiana (for himself, Mr. Turner of Ohio, Mr. 
McCormick, and Ms. Clarke of New York) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the 
mental health workforce, 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. STRENGTHENING THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE.

(a) In General.--Part B of title VII of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 293 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 742. STRENGTHENING THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE.

``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and carry out a 
mental health provider loan deferment and forgiveness program under 
which an eligible individual agrees to be employed full-time as a 
qualified mental health provider for a period of at least 5 years 
(beginning on the date on which the individual is first licensed to 
practice as a qualified mental health provider)--
``(1) as a solo provider within an area that has been 
designated as having a shortage of mental health professionals 
under section 332; or
``(2) at an institution that serves patients who are 
located in an area that has been designated as having a 
shortage of mental health professionals under section 332.
``(b) Program Administration.--Through the program established 
under this section, the Secretary shall enter into contracts with 
eligible individuals under which--
``(1) such eligible individuals will agree to provide 
mental and behavioral health care services as described in 
subsection (a);
``(2) the Secretary agrees that periodic installments of 
the principal of an eligible loan need not be paid, but 
interest shall accrue and be paid, during any period during 
which the borrower is employed as described in subsection (a); 
and
``(3) the Secretary, through the holder of the loan, will 
assume the obligation to repay the lesser of 100 percent or 
$200,000 of the total amount of principal and interest of an 
eligible loan, that are outstanding as of the day immediately 
preceding the first day of the first year of service (as 
described in subsection (a)), for an eligible individual, who--
``(A) has been employed as described in subsection 
(a) for 5 consecutive years; and
``(B) is not in default on a loan for which the 
individual seeks forgiveness.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `eligible individual' means an individual 
who--
``(A)(i) has been accepted for enrollment, or is 
enrolled, as a student in a minority-serving 
institution eligible to receive funding under section 
371 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 in a course of 
study or program leading to a mental or behavioral 
health professions degree or certificate; or
``(ii) is completing training hours under clinical 
supervision for purposes of obtaining such a degree or 
certificate; and
``(B) has accepted employment as a qualified mental 
health provider as described in subsection (a), to 
commence upon graduation.
``(2) The term `eligible loan' means--
``(A) any loan for education or training for mental 
and behavioral health care employment, including 
education or training relating to substance use 
prevention and treatment;
``(B) any Federal Direct Stafford Loan, Federal 
Direct PLUS Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford 
Loan, or Federal Direct Consolidation Loan (as such 
terms are used in section 455 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965);
``(C) any Federal Perkins Loan under part E of 
title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965; and
``(D) any other Federal loan as determined 
appropriate by the Secretary.
``(3) The term `qualified mental health provider' means a 
provider of mental and behavioral health care services, 
including substance use prevention and treatment services, that 
is one of the following:
``(A) A physician (as defined in section 1861(r) of 
the Social Security Act) whose specialty is psychiatry.
``(B) A health service psychologist.
``(C) A psychiatric nurse specialist (as defined in 
appendix C to part 5 of subchapter A of chapter 1 of 
title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor 
regulations)).
``(D) A marriage and family therapist (as defined 
in section 1861(lll)(2) of the Social Security Act).
``(E) A physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or 
clinical nurse specialist (as defined in section 
1861(aa)(5) of the Social Security Act) whose specialty 
is mental health or psychiatry.
``(F) A clinical social worker (as defined in 
section 1861(hh)(1) of the Social Security Act).
``(G) A clinical psychologist (as defined by the 
Secretary for purposes of section 1861(ii) of the 
Social Security Act).
``(H) A mental health counselor (as defined in 
section 1861(lll)(4) of the Social Security Act).''.
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