To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the mental health workforce, and for other purposes.
This bill creates a federal loan forgiveness program to encourage mental health professionals to work in areas with shortages of care providers. It directly affects students and graduates enrolled in mental health training programs at minority-serving institutions who agree to work full-time in underserved communities for at least five years. Under the program, eligible individuals would receive loan deferment during their service period, and after completing five years of employment, the government would repay up to $200,000 of their outstanding student loans. The bill defines qualified mental health providers to include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other licensed professionals specializing in mental and behavioral health care.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Mar 4, 2026
Last action Mar 4, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Mar 4, 2026
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Troy A. Carter
DDemocratic
Co
Michael R. Turner
RRepublican
Co
Richard McCormick
RRepublican
Co
Yvette D. Clarke
DDemocratic
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