Healthcare (Mental Health)

in committee · United States · Senate May 21, 2026

S 4640: 9–8–8 Connect Act

The 9-8-8 Connect Act establishes a new grant program to help crisis centers provide follow-up care to individuals who contact the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline via call, text, or chat. These grants, totaling $30 million for fiscal year 2026, will fund activities such as well-being check-ins, outreach to ensure continued support, and referrals to appropriate care, all of which require the individual's informed consent. The bill also directs the Federal Communications Commission to create rules ensuring that all mobile phone calls and texts are routed to 9-8-8, including those from devices without a service plan. Additionally, the legislation updates federal communications laws to officially include 9-8-8 alongside 9-1-1 as a dialable number on multi-line telephone systems.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $30M in federal funding to expand crisis care services and support essential public health programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $30M to fund crisis center follow-up care and mental health support services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Jul 16, 2026

HR 9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act

The Take Care of America's Veterans Act is a comprehensive legislative bill designed to improve benefits, healthcare access, and administrative efficiency for veterans and their families. The bill directly affects veterans, their surviving spouses, caregivers, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Key provisions include expanding disability compensation for combat-related retirees, allowing remarried surviving spouses to retain certain survivor benefits, and increasing compensation rates for specific disability conditions like sleep apnea and tinnitus. The legislation also mandates significant healthcare improvements, such as establishing a pilot program to coordinate care between the VA and Medicare, creating a formulary for prosthetic items, and requiring the VA to provide lactation spaces in all medical centers. Additionally, the bill introduces administrative reforms to speed up claims processing, prohibit denying claims solely for missed medical appointments, and enhance oversight of the VA's disability rating system.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands disability compensation and improves healthcare access for veterans and families, directly strengthening health services.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly aims to improve benefits, healthcare access, and administrative efficiency for veterans and their families.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare Mental Health Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · United States · House May 21, 2026

HR 8979: Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act

This bill creates a new funding program to hire more school counselors, psychologists, and social workers at schools with high numbers of low-income students. It provides federal grants to states, which then distribute money to local school districts to help them meet recommended staffing ratios of 250 students per counselor and 500 students per psychologist. To receive these funds, states must contribute matching money and submit detailed plans showing how they will improve student-to-provider ratios in their highest-need schools. The program is designed to address rising mental health issues among youth by increasing access to professional support directly within the school environment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates funding to hire counselors and improve student support ratios, directly strengthening educational access and resources.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds school psychologists and social workers to improve mental health access for low-income students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Apr 29, 2026

HR 8573: STOP Act

The STOP Act prohibits healthcare providers and others from performing gender transition procedures on minors under 18, defining these procedures broadly to include hormone treatments, surgeries, and puberty blockers. The bill allows for exceptions in cases of disorders of sex development, acute physical injuries, or precocious puberty, but imposes federal civil penalties of at least $100,000 for violations. Additionally, the legislation establishes a federal grant program to fund nonprofit organizations that provide detransition services, education, and mental health support to individuals seeking to reverse gender transition procedures.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts access to gender-affirming care for minors, limiting patient access to specific medical procedures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House May 21, 2026

HR 9004: Truck Stop Safety Act

The Truck Stop Safety Act requires that certain truck stop facilities prominently display notices about human trafficking and suicide prevention. These notices must include specific resources, such as the National Human Trafficking Hotline and details about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which is free and available around the clock. The law directly affects entities responsible for constructing, reopening, or improving these facilities under existing federal transportation funding. By mandating these displays, the bill aims to increase awareness and provide immediate access to help for individuals at risk. This change is implemented by amending current legislation related to highway safety projects.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates display of suicide prevention resources (988), directly supporting mental health services and patient access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House May 21, 2026

HR 8986: Ensuring Rural Health Care Access for Military and Tribal Families Act

This bill allows rural hospitals serving military and tribal families to be designated as critical access hospitals even if they do not currently meet standard financial criteria. Starting in October 2026, facilities can qualify for this status if they serve at least three specific conditions, such as deriving a significant portion of their revenue from TRICARE-covered patients or being located on an Indian reservation. The legislation also permits these hospitals to establish psychiatric and rehabilitation units without being limited by the usual bed count restrictions. These changes aim to improve healthcare availability for service members, their dependents, and veterans living in rural areas by expanding the number of eligible facilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands access to rural hospitals for military and tribal families by relaxing financial criteria, directly strengthening healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill expands healthcare access for military families by allowing rural hospitals to qualify as critical access hospitals, directly benefiting veterans through improved service availability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health Military Families Veteran Healthcare Tags Tribal Nations

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in committee · United States · House May 21, 2026

HR 8989: Evidence-Based Youth Suicide Prevention Act of 2026

The Evidence-Based Youth Suicide Prevention Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to fund demonstration programs that test suicide prevention strategies specifically in schools and other youth-serving settings. To ensure effectiveness, the bill requires that funded programs be supported by strong, moderate, or promising evidence from rigorous studies and mandates coordination with state and local educational agencies. Recipients must track various outcomes, including mental health safety, academic performance, and student engagement, while submitting annual reports to Congress on their findings. Funding is authorized for fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to support these evidence-based initiatives and innovative approaches that include rigorous evaluation plans.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill directs the Secretary of HHS to fund demonstration programs for suicide prevention, indicating increased government spending on public services.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill directs HHS to fund demonstration programs for suicide prevention specifically in schools, requiring coordination with state and local educational agencies to enhance student safety.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill directs funding for evidence-based youth suicide prevention programs in schools, directly advancing mental health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate May 20, 2026

SRES 743: A resolution supporting the designation of May 3 through May 9, 2026, as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Week".

This resolution designates the week of May 3 through May 9, 2026, as Children's Mental Health Awareness Week to highlight mental health challenges faced by youth. It aims to raise public awareness about the importance of early detection, treatment, and prevention strategies while encouraging communities to reduce stigma and participate in related activities. The bill also recognizes factors like outdoor recreation, healthy diet, socialization, and sleep as vital to children's mental well-being and calls for mental health to be treated as a national priority.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill designates a week to raise awareness for children's mental health, encouraging early detection and reducing stigma, which supports mental health services.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House May 7, 2026

HRES 1260: Supporting the designation of May 10, 2026, as "National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day".

This resolution formally designates May 10, 2026, as National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day to raise awareness about mental health within these communities. The text highlights that many individuals in this diverse group face barriers to care, including high costs, language differences, and cultural stigma, which result in low rates of treatment utilization. While the measure itself is symbolic and does not create new laws or funding, it encourages federal, state, and local agencies to develop policies that improve access to culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill raises awareness of mental health barriers in specific communities, indirectly supporting improved access and care utilization.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate May 19, 2026

S 4562: AVERT Future Violence Act of 2026

The AVERT Future Violence Act of 2026 directs the Attorney General to conduct a study analyzing the link between animal cruelty and future human violence, with the goal of developing evidence-based prevention strategies. To support this research, the bill authorizes $2 million in funding for a grant program that helps states, local governments, and nonprofit organizations create early intervention resources and training for law enforcement and mental health professionals. These grants can be used to build specialized units, improve data tracking systems, and provide behavioral health treatment for individuals who have committed animal cruelty offenses. The legislation also defines specific acts of animal cruelty while excluding standard veterinary care, hunting, and necessary pest control from its scope.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds early intervention resources and training for law enforcement and mental health professionals to prevent future violence.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds grants for mental health training and early intervention resources for professionals, directly supporting healthcare services.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Mental Health

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