To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the mental health workforce, and for other purposes.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7787 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7787 To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the mental health workforce, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 4, 2026 Mr. Carter of Louisiana (for himself, Mr. Turner of Ohio, Mr. McCormick, and Ms. Clarke of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the mental health workforce, 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. STRENGTHENING THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE. (a) In General.--Part B of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 293 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 742. STRENGTHENING THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE. ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and carry out a mental health provider loan deferment and forgiveness program under which an eligible individual agrees to be employed full-time as a qualified mental health provider for a period of at least 5 years (beginning on the date on which the individual is first licensed to practice as a qualified mental health provider)-- ``(1) as a solo provider within an area that has been designated as having a shortage of mental health professionals under section 332; or ``(2) at an institution that serves patients who are located in an area that has been designated as having a shortage of mental health professionals under section 332. ``(b) Program Administration.--Through the program established under this section, the Secretary shall enter into contracts with eligible individuals under whic