C.A.R.E. for Mental Health Professionals Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9866 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9866 To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to establish a grant program to be known as the Mental Health Licensure Portability Program to award grants to eligible entities, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 22, 2026 Mr. Neguse (for himself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to establish a grant program to be known as the Mental Health Licensure Portability Program to award grants to eligible entities, 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 ``Compacts, Access, and Responsible Expansion for Mental Health Professionals Act'' or the ``C.A.R.E. for Mental Health Professionals Act''. SEC. 2. MENTAL HEALTH LICENSURE PORTABILITY PROGRAM. (a) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator, shall establish a grant program to be known as the Mental Health Licensure Portability Program to award grants to eligible entities for projects to-- (1) incentivize counselors to practice in States that have entered into interstate compacts for the purpose of expanding the workforce of credentialed mental health professionals; and (2) develop, operate, or maintain interstate compact commis