Hope Heals Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 6940 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6940 To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to assess how Executive departments address mental health crisis prevention and awareness, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 6, 2026 Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina 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 to assess how Executive departments address mental health crisis prevention and awareness, 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 ``Hope Heals Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS PREVENTION AND AWARENESS. (a) Assessment.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall assess-- (A) the feasibility of improving coordination between Executive departments that provide direct services to the public, with respect to identifying-- (i) any individual experiencing a mental health crisis; or (ii) any individual that expresses concern that they may be experiencing such a crisis or related distress; (B) any opportunity for an Executive department to improve how such department shares information, best practices, and referral mechanisms related to suicide prevention and mental health support with an individual seeking services during a mental health crisis; and (C) for the purpose of increasing awareness of the signs of a mental health crisis, whether an Executive department may implement a program to d