H.R. 7875

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7875 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7875

To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a grant program for 
providing services to individuals experiencing gambling addiction.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 9, 2026

Mrs. Houchin (for herself, Ms. Salinas, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, and Mr. 
Carter of Louisiana) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a grant program for 
providing services to individuals experiencing gambling addiction.

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 ``Providing Opportunities for 
Individuals in Need of Treatment and Support Act of 2026'' or the 
``POINTS Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR PROVIDING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING 
GAMBLING ADDICTION.

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. 554. GRANTS FOR PROVIDING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING 
GAMBLING ADDICTION.

``(a) In General.--The Assistant Secretary shall make grants to 
States, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations (as such terms are 
defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) on a competitive basis to establish, 
improve, or expand programs providing prevention, screening, 
assessment, intervention, and treatment services, including culturally 
and linguistically appropriate services, to individuals at risk of or 
experiencing clinical gambling addiction.
``(b) Use of Funds.--A State, Indian Tribe, or Tribal organization 
that receives a grant under this section shall use funds received 
through such grant to, with respect to gambling addiction--
``(1) provide training on screening, brief intervention, 
referral for treatment, and treatment to health care providers 
and health paraprofessionals who practice in primary care, 
behavioral health, or other relevant health care settings;
``(2) implement a prevention strategy, including public 
outreach and awareness, in the State or Indian Tribe that 
receives such funds;
``(3) provide a specialized treatment service, including--
``(A) in-person or telehealth outpatient treatment; 
or
``(B) a peer support group, including a program 
operated by Gamblers Anonymous;
``(4) establish or expand help lines or such other real-
time service for prevention or intervention, including 
coordinating with the National Problem Gambling Helpline 
operated by the National Council on Problem Gambling, for 
individuals in the State or Indian Tribe that receives such 
funds; or
``(5) implement such other innovative prevention, 
intervention, or treatment services determined appropriate by 
the Assistant Secretary.
``(c) Priority.--In making grants under this section, the Assistant 
Secretary shall give priority to a State, Indian Tribe, or Tribal 
organization that--
``(1) proposes to establish, improve, or expand a program 
described under subsection (a) that serves individuals who are 
disproportionally impacted by gambling addiction, including 
men, youth, Native Americans (as defined in section 103 of the 
Native American Languages Act (25 U.S.C. 2902)), members of the 
Armed Forces, and veterans;
``(2) proposes to establish, improve, or expand a program 
described under subsection (a) in a primary care setting;
``(3) partners with, or proposes to partner with, at least 
one community-based organization to address gambling addiction; 
or
``(4) operates in a health professional shortage area (as 
defined in section 332), including a rural target area.
``(d) Application.--
``(1) In general.--A State, Indian Tribe, or Tribal 
organization seeking to receive a grant under this section 
shall submit an application to the Assistant Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Assistant Secretary may require.
``(2) Required content.--At a minimum, an application 
submitted under this subsection shall explain how the applicant 
establishing, improving upon, or expanding a program described 
under subsection (a) would increase--
``(A) access to services for gambling addiction in 
the communities served by such applicant; and
``(B) the percentage of individuals served by such 
program in at least one such community.
``(e) Technical Assistance.--The Assistant Secretary shall provide 
technical assistance related to the services described under subsection 
(b) to each State, Indian Tribe, or Tribal organization that receives a 
grant under this section.
``(f) Report.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than December 29, 2027, and 
annually thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees a report on the 
effectiveness of grants made under this section for 
establishing, improving, or expanding programs.
``(2) Appropriate congressional committee defined.--In this 
subsection, the term `appropriate congressional committee' 
means--
``(A) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
House of Representatives;
``(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
of Representatives;
``(C) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions of the Senate; and
``(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
Senate.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
to carry out this section for fiscal year 2027 an amount that 
is equal to 33 percent of the amounts received by the Secretary 
of the Treasury under section 4401(a) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 4401(a)), with respect to the 2025 
calendar year.
``(2) Adjustment for inflation.--For fiscal years 2028 
through 2032, the amount authorized by this subsection shall be 
adjusted by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer 
Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) published by the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor for the 
most recent 12-month period for which data is available.''.
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