HR 5937 · 117th Congress 2021–2023, ended

Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act of 2021

Introduced Nov 9, 2021 Originated House Sponsor Grace Meng D-NY

Fact sheet Spreadsheet

Latest action · Nov 10, 2021 Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Progress

Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.

  1. IntroducedNov 9, 2021
  2. Passed HouseNot reached
  3. Passed SenateNot reached
  4. To the PresidentNot reached
  5. Became lawNot reached

Summary

Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act of 2021

This bill establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) two demonstration programs to increase access to mental health services provided in languages other than English at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). In carrying out the programs, HHS must give preference to FQHCs at which at least 20% of the patients are best served in a language other than English.

First, HHS must provide National Health Service Corps (NHSC) loan repayments to mental health care providers who agree to serve their period of obligated service in an FQHC. HHS may provide enhanced payments to those who serve in an FQHC with non-English language needs. (The NHSC is a scholarship and student loan repayment program for eligible health care providers who agree to work in areas with a shortage of primary care, dental care, and mental health care providers.)

Second, HHS must award grants to FQHCs for recruiting and retaining mental health care providers who are fluent in a language other than English.

Cosponsors 32

Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Nov 9, 2021 to Mar 11, 2022; 23 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.

SeatCosponsorSigned on
D-WAAdam SmithOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-NYAdriano EspaillatOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-NJAlbio SiresOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-CABarbara LeeOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-NJBonnie Watson ColemanOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-MDDavid J. TroneOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-CADoris O. MatsuiOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-DCEleanor Holmes NortonOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-CAGrace F. NapolitanoOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-MDJamie RaskinOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-NYJerrold NadlerOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-CAJudy ChuOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-CAKaren BassOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-MDKweisi MfumeOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-TXLizzie FletcherOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-CALucille Roybal-AllardOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-CAMark TakanoOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-CANanette Diaz BarragánOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-MASeth MoultonOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-TXSheila Jackson LeeOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-TXSylvia R. GarciaOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-CATed LieuOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-NYYvette D. ClarkeOriginalNov 9, 2021
D-CAAdam B. SchiffDec 14, 2021
D-CAMark DeSaulnierDec 14, 2021
D-CAPete AguilarJan 28, 2022
D-CAAlan S. LowenthalFeb 18, 2022
D-DELisa Blunt RochesterFeb 18, 2022
D-NYCarolyn B. MaloneyMar 7, 2022
D-FLSheila Cherfilus-McCormickMar 7, 2022
D-NYThomas R. SuozziMar 7, 2022
D-FLDarren SotoMar 11, 2022

Committees 1

Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.

ChamberCommitteeWhat it did
HouseEnergy and Commerce Committee
Referred Nov 9, 2021
Health Subcommittee
Referred Nov 11, 2021

Actions 3

Everything that happened, newest first.

  1. Nov 10, 2021Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  2. Nov 9, 2021Introduced in House
  3. Nov 9, 2021Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Research

What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.

Constitutional authority

Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant to the following: Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution.

The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 167, no. 196, November 9, 2021, page H6243.

Related bills 2

Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.

BillTitleRelationshipLatest action
S 4486Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2022Related billJun 23, 2022
S 4677Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act of 2022Related billJul 28, 2022

Titles 2

Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.

Official Title as Introduced
To increase language access to mental health services at certain health centers, and for other purposes.
Short Title(s) as Introduced
Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act of 2021

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Health.

Text 1

Each version as it was printed, newest first.

  1. Nov 9, 2021Introduced in House

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Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.