H.R. 8520

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8520 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8520

To facilitate nationwide accessibility and coordination of 211 services 
in order to provide information and referral to all individuals in the 
United States for health and human services needs, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 27, 2026

Mr. McGarvey (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Correa, Mr. Garcia of 
California, Mr. Tonko, Mrs. Sykes, Mr. Frost, and Mr. Morelle) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To facilitate nationwide accessibility and coordination of 211 services 
in order to provide information and referral to all individuals in the 
United States for health and human services needs, 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 ``Human-Services Emergency Logistics 
Program Act of 2026'' or the ``HELP Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. STRENGTHENING NATIONWIDE ACCESSIBILITY AND COORDINATION OF 211 
SERVICES FOR INFORMATION AND REFERRAL FOR HEALTH AND 
HUMAN SERVICES.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in 
this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall establish a program 
for the following purposes:
(1) To increase the capacity of 211 services in the States, 
to ensure 211 services are directly accessible to all 
individuals in each State.
(2) To increase coordination between 211, 988, and 911 
service providers.
(3) To increase awareness and use of 211 services by the 
public.
(b) Administration.--In carrying out the program under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall select one administering agency to assist the 
Secretary in implementing such program.
(c) Allotments.--
(1) In general.--For the purpose specified in subsection 
(a)(1), the Secretary shall, using funds made available under 
section 6 and in consultation with the administering agency, 
determine the amount to be made available for grants to 
qualified 211 service entities in each State.
(2) Formula.--The Secretary shall develop a formula for 
determining the total amount to be allotted for each State for 
the grants referred to in paragraph (1). Such formula shall be 
based on population, population density, poverty rate, and 
other evidence-based predictive data related to the needs in 
the State for, and access to, health and human services.

SEC. 3. ADMINISTERING AGENCY.

(a) Eligibility.--An entity is eligible to be selected as the 
administering agency under this section if such entity is an 
organization that--
(1) is described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of 
such Code;
(2) has experience working with, and providing technical 
assistance to, 211 service providers;
(3) has established relationships with local, community-
based organizations in each State; and
(4) has experience in disaster response and Federal grants 
management (and the infrastructure required to manage such 
grants).
(b) Duties of Administering Agency.--The duties of the 
administering agency shall be--
(1) with respect to the purpose specified in section 
2(a)(1)--
(A) to advise the Secretary on, and make 
recommendations to, the Secretary with respect to State 
allotments from amounts made available under section 6, 
including the amount of each State allotment;
(B) to determine the amount of funding, on a State-
by-State basis, using the amount of each such State 
allotment, to be made available to each of the 
qualified 211 service entities in such State; and
(C) to award grants to such qualified 211 service 
entities in each State under section 4;
(2) beginning with calendar year 2026 and not less 
frequently than once every 5 calendar years thereafter, to 
submit to the Secretary an evaluation of the network of 211 
service providers throughout the United States that is 
conducted in accordance with subsection (d);
(3) beginning with calendar year 2026 and each calendar 
year thereafter, to submit to the Secretary the report under 
subsection (d);
(4) with respect to the purpose specified in section 
2(a)(2), to increase coordination among 211 service providers, 
911 service providers, 988 service providers, and other 
entities providing similar services; and
(5) with respect to the purpose specified in section 
2(a)(3), to develop and implement a public awareness campaign 
that--
(A) educates the public with respect to the 
purpose, function, and use of 211 services; and
(B) ensures consistent messaging and branding 
across 211 service providers.
(c) Shared Data Platforms.--The administering agency may use funds 
reserved under section 6 to support shared data platforms, including 
with respect to the integration or sharing of 211 resource and service-
level data.
(d) Application.--An eligible entity seeking to be selected as the 
administering agency under this section shall submit to the Secretary 
an application not less frequently than once every 10 years, at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require, including the following:
(1) How the eligible entity intends to--
(A) meet the goal of ensuring that every individual 
in the United States with phone or internet service can 
connect to 211 services at no charge; and
(B) meet the goal of ensuring availability, 
throughout each State, of 211 information and referral 
services with respect to health and human services.
(2) Information about the manner in which the entity will--
(A) select qualified 211 service entities to 
receive a grant (or subgrant) under this Act;
(B) develop, sustain, and evaluate the 211 services 
provided in the United States and work to ensure 
sufficient 211 service provider capacity for answering 
and responding to calls to 211;
(C) provide for increased coordination between 211, 
911, and 988 systems and other entities providing 
similar services to divert calls to mental health and 
human services responders who can assist individuals 
and link individuals with voluntary, community-based 
services, as appropriate; and
(D) use annual 211 operational data to inform the 
eligible entity's approach to assessing the program and 
establishing oversight metrics.
(3) A certification that the entity will take all steps 
necessary to ensure that all activities and information 
provided by the qualified 211 service entities receiving grants 
(or eligible 211 service provider receiving a subgrant) 
pursuant to this Act will be directly accessible for purposes 
of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 
et seq.), section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 
U.S.C. 794d), and part 1194 of title 36, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or any successor regulations).
(e) Evaluation and Reports.--
(1) Evaluation.--
(A) In general.--The administering agency shall 
award a contract to an independent entity to conduct 
the evaluation specified in subsection (b)(2).
(B) Content.--The evaluation under subsection 
(b)(2) shall address--
(i) barriers to access to 211 services;
(ii) effectiveness of 211 services at 
connecting individuals to needed health and 
human services;
(iii) the effectiveness of collaborations 
among 211, 988, and 911 systems, and other 
entities providing similar services;
(iv) the comprehensiveness of the 
information in the 211 databases;
(v) public awareness of 211 services; and
(vi) user satisfaction with 211 services.
(2) Report.--The administering agency shall submit to the 
Secretary a report on the program carried out under this 
section, with information disaggregated by State and by each 
eligible 211 service provider, which shall--
(A) describe the activities or services funded 
through a grant by each qualified 211 service entity 
receiving such a grant (or each eligible 211 service 
provider receiving a subgrant);
(B) assess the effectiveness of such activities and 
services in making available, to all residents of the 
State, 211 services for information and referrals with 
respect to health and human services;
(C) assess the effectiveness of collaboration with 
resource and referral entities and service providers; 
and
(D) describe the services to which individuals were 
referred by eligible 211 service providers receiving 
funding under this Act and any efforts to track the 
effectiveness of such referrals.

SEC. 4. GRANTS TO 211 SERVICE ENTITIES TO INCREASE CAPACITY.

(a) In General.--The administering agency shall make grants to 
qualified 211 service entities in a State to expand the availability 
and accessibility of 211 services in the State.
(b) Use of Funds.--The administering agency shall, as a condition 
on the receipt of funding under this Act, ensure that any qualified 211 
service entity selected by the administering agency to receive a grant 
using such funds, only use such grant for--
(1) the provision of 211 services via voice, short message 
service, or other messaging, internet, or other communication 
methods, including--
(A) the operation and maintenance of 211 contact 
centers;
(B) increasing public awareness of 211 services in 
the State in collaboration with 911 and 988 services 
and other entities providing similar services;
(C) coordination of the State's 211 services, 
including the collection, accessibility, and display of 
information through information and referral databases;
(D) the conduct of statewide and regional planning 
for the provision of 211 services; and
(E) any activities necessary to ensure that 211 
services are directly accessible, consistent with the 
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12101 et seq.), section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act 
of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d), and part 1194 of title 36, 
Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor 
regulations);
(2) the start-up costs of extending 211 services to 
unserved areas, including costs of software and hardware 
upgrades and telecommunications and internet costs;
(3) administrative costs, such as staffing, training, and 
activities related to accreditation;
(4) infrastructure costs, including internet hosting and 
site development and maintenance for an information and 
referral database and the development and maintenance of cloud-
based data and messaging capacity;
(5) the evaluation of 211 service provider activities and 
capacity;
(6) increasing coordination and collaboration--
(A) among 211 services within the State;
(B) with local 911 and 988 service providers; and
(C) with shared data platforms, including with 
respect to the integration or sharing of resource and 
service-level data;
(7) the preparation and submission of reports under State 
reporting requirements and to the administering agency for 
purposes of section 3(b)(4);
(8) innovations that support service delivery; and
(9) carrying out such other activities determined to be 
appropriate by the administering agency.
(c) Selection.--
(1) In general.--
(A) State 211 networks.--Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the administering agency shall award 
the State allocation determined under section 3(b)(1) 
to the eligible State 211 network in each State.
(B) Exception.--If the administering agency 
determines there is no eligible State 211 network in a 
State, the administering agency shall award grants from 
the State allotment determined under section 3(b)(1) 
directly to all eligible 211 service providers in such 
State.
(2) Considerations.--In awarding grants to all eligible 211 
service providers in a State under paragraph (1)(B), the 
administering agency shall consider--
(A) the ability of the 211 service provider seeking 
the grant to carry out activities in furtherance of the 
provision of 211 services;
(B) the extent to which the award of the grant will 
facilitate equitable geographic distribution of grants 
to ensure that rural communities have access to 211 
services; and
(C) the extent to which the award of the grant will 
further the goals of--
(i) making available 211 services to all 
individuals in a State via voice, short message 
service, or other messaging, internet, or other 
communication methods; and
(ii) increasing the provision of community 
information and referral with respect to health 
and human services, among individuals, 
families, agencies seeking such services and 
the providers of such services.
(3) Conditions.--The administering agency shall ensure that 
each qualified 211 service entity submits an application and 
agrees, as a condition on the receipt of funds under this 
section--
(A) in making 211 services available, to the 
maximum extent practicable, to--
(i) abide by the most recently issued 
version of the Inform USA Standards and Quality 
Indicators for Professional Information and 
Referral or a comparable set of standards;
(ii) collaborate with public and private 
organizations that provide health and human 
services and existing national, regional, and 
local information and referral systems to 
provide an exhaustive and comprehensive 
database of services that is maintained and 
updated on a consistent basis from which to 
provide information or referrals to individuals 
using 211 services; and
(iii) ensure State-level coordination 
across all 211 service providers in such State; 
and
(B) to provide matching funds, in the form of cash 
or in-kind contributions, from non-Federal sources in 
an amount equal to not less than 25 percent of the 
amount of funds received by the entity under this 
section.
(d) Administrative Costs for Certain States.--In the case of a 
State described in subsection (c)(1)(B), the administering agency may 
use, of the amount of the allocation determined for such State under 
section 2(c), an amount determined by the administering agency 
necessary to cover additional administrative expenses incurred by the 
administering agency resulting from the lack of an eligible State 211 
network in such State.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) 211 service.--The term ``211 service'' means providing 
individuals with information and referrals, via voice 
telephone, text telephone, short message service, text, 
internet phone, or other communication methods, with respect to 
health and human services and referrals to agencies providing 
health and human services.
(2) Eligible 211 service provider.--The term ``eligible 211 
service provider'' means a provider of 211 services that--
(A) is a nonprofit or governmental entity;
(B) has the capability (directly or through 
contract with another entity) to provide such services 
via phone at no charge to the consumer; and
(C) has access to the applicable State or local 211 
dialing code.
(3) Qualified 211 service entity.--The term ``qualified 211 
service entity'' means--
(A) an eligible State 211 network; and
(B) in the case of a State described in section 
4(c)(1)(B), an eligible 211 service provider.
(4) Eligible state 211 network.--The term ``eligible State 
211 network'' means a nonprofit entity that--
(A) represents all eligible 211 service providers 
in a State; and
(B) provides coordination or infrastructure for 
providers of 211 services, including--
(i) acting as a fiscal agent for State 211 
funding; or
(ii) supporting information and referral 
databases, phone systems, dashboards, web 
access, or text and website chat tools.
(5) Health and human services.--The term ``health and human 
services'' means services provided with respect to homelessness 
and housing supports, veterans resources, food assistance, 
disaster response and recovery resources, workforce 
development, community health resources, mental health 
resources, caregiving resources, domestic violence resources, 
and other health and human service needs, that--
(A) assist individuals in becoming more self-
sufficient, in preventing dependency, and in 
strengthening family relationships;
(B) address social determinants of health;
(C) support personal and social development; or
(D) help ensure the health and well-being of 
individuals, families, and communities.
(6) Indian tribe; tribal organization.--The terms ``Indian 
Tribe'' and ``Tribal organization'' have the meanings given 
such terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(7) State.--The term ``State'' means the several States, 
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the 
United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or an Indian 
Tribe or Tribal organization.

SEC. 6. FUNDING.

(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this Act $250,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2032, to remain available until expended.
(b) Reservation.--Of the amount made available under paragraph (1) 
to carry out this Act for a fiscal year, the Secretary may reserve not 
more than 10 percent for administrative and coordinating activities by 
the administering agency (including the expenditures referred to in 
section 4(d)).
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