H.R. 9389

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9389 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9389

To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize funding for 
nutrition education and chronic disease prevention at federally 
qualified health centers, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 23, 2026

Mrs. Harshbarger introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize funding for 
nutrition education and chronic disease prevention at federally 
qualified health centers, 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 ``Nutrition Education and Chronic 
Disease Prevention in Community Health Centers Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. NUTRITION EDUCATION AND CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION AT FEDERALLY 
QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS.

Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b) is 
amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (r) as subsection (s); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (q) the following:
``(r) Nutrition Education and Chronic Disease Prevention 
Initiative.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
Administrator of the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (in this subsection referred to as the 
`Secretary'), shall support health centers in integrating and 
expanding evidence-based nutrition education and counseling 
into primary care delivery and workforce training.
``(2) Use of funds.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
Secretary may utilize existing funding, made available under 
section 10503(a)(1) of the Patient Protection and Affordable 
Care Act, to award a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, 
and may provide technical assistance, to a health center for--
``(A) patient-centered nutrition education and 
counseling services;
``(B) integration of nutrition assessment and 
dietary counseling into chronic disease management;
``(C) training and continuing education in 
nutrition science and dietary counseling for health 
center providers in health centers;
``(D) establishing and maintaining 
interdisciplinary models of care that incorporate 
registered dietitians, community health workers, and 
other appropriate professionals;
``(E) developing culturally and linguistically 
appropriate nutrition education materials; and
``(F) evaluating clinical and cost outcomes 
associated with nutrition interventions.
``(3) Participation of affiliated entities.--A health 
center may affiliate with an academic medical center or medical 
school in carrying out activities receiving assistance under 
this subsection.
``(4) Priority.--In making awards under this subsection, 
the Secretary shall prioritize health centers serving 
populations with high rates of diet-related chronic disease, 
food insecurity, or other nutrition-related health disparities.
``(5) Supplement, not supplant.--Funds made available to 
carry out this subsection shall supplement, and not supplant, 
other Federal, State, local, or private funding used for 
similar purposes.
``(6) Annual reports to congress.--Not later than 3 years 
after the date of enactment of the Nutrition Education and 
Chronic Disease Prevention in Community Health Centers Act of 
2026, and annually thereafter through fiscal year 2031, the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that--
``(A) describes the use of funds under this 
subsection;
``(B) evaluates improvements in patient outcomes 
related to chronic disease indicators attributable to 
activities receiving assistance under this subsection;
``(C) assesses improvements in workforce training 
participation and competency development attributable 
to activities receiving assistance under this 
subsection; and
``(D) estimates potential cost savings to Federal 
health care programs attributable to nutrition 
interventions receiving assistance under this 
subsection.''.
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