HR 2904
Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act
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Bill overview
The Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act aims to address disparities in mental healthcare for youth, particularly those from racial and ethnic minority groups. It does this by increasing grant funding for primary and behavioral health care programs, supporting research into mental health disparities, promoting culturally competent training for health professions, and establishing an outreach and education strategy to reduce stigma and improve access to mental health services. The bill also provides additional funding for key research institutes to further investigate and address these disparities.
Key provisions
- Increases grant funding for primary and behavioral health care programs, giving special consideration to organizations serving racial and ethnic minority groups.
- Directs the National Institutes of Health to conduct a study on mental health disparities research gaps in minority groups and submit a report to Congress.
- Requires health professions schools to develop and disseminate best practices and core competencies related to mental health disparities.
- Mandates the development and implementation of an outreach and education strategy to promote behavioral and mental health among racial and ethnic minority groups.
- Authorizes additional appropriations to the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities for fiscal years 2026-2031.
- Amends the Public Health Service Act to align with a Strategic Framework for Addressing Youth Mental Health Disparities.
- Revises grant application processes to prioritize organizations serving minority communities.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Becca [D-VT-At Large] Balint
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 2904
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To address mental health issues for youth, particularly youth of color, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act
.
Section 520K of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–42) is amended—
by redesignating subsections (d) through (i) as subsections (e) through (j), respectively;
by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
in subsection (c)(2)(G), by striking subsection (e)
and inserting subsection (f)
;
in subsection (i) (as redesignated by paragraph (1))—
by striking subsection (f)
and inserting subsection (g)
; and
by striking subsection (d)(2)
and inserting subsection (e)(2)
; and
in subsection (j)(1) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)), by striking $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027
and inserting $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and $80,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031
.
to conduct a study with respect to mental health disparities research gaps in racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined in section 1707(g) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u–6(g))); and
to submit to Congress a report on the results of such study, including—
a compilation of information on the prevalence of mental health outcomes in such racial and ethnic minority groups;
If no arrangement can be made with an entity specified in subsection (a), the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality shall conduct the study and submit the report, as described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of such subsection.
Section 597 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290ll) is amended—
by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively;
by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
Formation of committees or working groups comprised of experts from accredited health professions schools to identify best practices and core competencies relating to mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups.
Planning of workshops in national fora to allow for public input into the educational needs associated with mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups.
Dissemination and promotion of the use of best practices or core competencies in undergraduate and graduate health professions training programs nationwide.
Establishing external advisory boards to provide meaningful input into policy and program development and best practices to reduce mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups.
in subsection (d) (as so redesignated), by striking 2027
and inserting 2031
.
Part D of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290dd et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 553 (42 U.S.C. 290ee–10) of such Act the following:
The Secretary shall, in consultation with advocacy and behavioral and mental health organizations serving racial and ethnic minority groups, develop and implement an outreach and education strategy to promote behavioral and mental health and reduce stigma associated with mental health conditions and substance use among racial and ethnic minority groups. Such strategy shall—
be designed to—
meet the diverse cultural and language needs of the various racial and ethnic minority groups; and
be developmentally and age-appropriate;
provide information on evidence-based, culturally and linguistically appropriate and adapted interventions and treatments;
seek to broaden the perspective among both individuals in racial and ethnic minority groups and communities serving such groups to use a comprehensive and integrated public health approach to promoting behavioral health by focusing on the intersection between behavioral and physical health.
In this section, the term racial and ethnic minority group has the meaning given to that term in section 1707(g).
build relations with communities and conduct or support clinical research, including clinical research on racial or ethnic disparities in physical and mental health; and
In this section, the term clinical research has the meaning given to such term in section 409 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284d).
In addition to amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated to the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, there is authorized to be appropriated to such Institute $750,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031.