Rural Wellness Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1906
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-28: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-09T14:43:35Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Rural Wellness Act (H.R. 1906) aims to improve access to behavioral, mental health, and substance use disorder treatment services in rural areas. It does this by directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prioritize funding for related projects in certain rural development programs and by extending existing funding protections for substance use disorder initiatives.
Key Provisions
- Extension of Program Duration: Extends certain rural development priorities and set-asides (reserved funding portions) related to substance use disorders from 2025 to 2029.
- Adjustment to Substance Use Disorder Set-Asides:
- Reduces the percentage of funds reserved for substance use disorder projects from 20% to 17% in one category, while maintaining overall support.
- Priority for Behavioral and Mental Health Projects:
- In funding for essential community facilities (like clinics or treatment centers) under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, the USDA Secretary must prioritize applicants developing facilities for behavioral and mental health services. These include prevention (stopping issues before they worsen), treatment (direct care), recovery (support after treatment), or combinations, provided by staff with relevant expertise.
- Expands eligibility to include behavioral and mental health alongside substance use disorder projects.
- Priority in Rural Health Education Grants: For grants under the Rural Development Act of 1972 focused on health and safety education, prioritizes applicants using funds for behavioral and mental health education and treatment programs.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 6101(a)(1) of the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act, which previously emphasized substance use disorder priorities in rural programs:
- Timeline Extension: Pushes the end date for substance use disorder set-asides and priorities from 2025 to 2029, ensuring longer-term funding stability.
- Percentage Adjustment: Lowers the set-aside percentage for substance use projects from 20% to 17%, potentially freeing up funds for broader mental health initiatives without eliminating the reservation.
- New Priorities Added: Introduces specific selection priorities for behavioral and mental health facilities and education, which were not explicitly prioritized before. This broadens the scope beyond substance use disorders to include general mental health concerns.
- Structural Updates: Adds a new subparagraph (D) for education grants and redesignates clauses to incorporate mental health alongside existing substance use provisions.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The USDA will need to update grant selection processes to incorporate these priorities, potentially increasing administrative review time but aligning programs with rural health needs. No major new funding is authorized; changes use existing budgets.
- On Citizens: Rural residents, especially those facing mental health challenges, could gain better access to local treatment and prevention services, reducing barriers like travel to urban areas. This may help address high rates of mental health issues and substance use in underserved rural communities.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic rural U.S. programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Rural Communities and Residents: Primary beneficiaries, particularly individuals and families needing mental health or substance use support in areas with limited services.
- Healthcare Providers and Organizations: Rural clinics, treatment centers, and nonprofits eligible for USDA grants, who can now compete more favorably for funding to build or expand facilities.
- USDA and Federal Agencies: The Department of Agriculture's Rural Development office will implement changes, affecting how it allocates loans and grants.
- Congressional and Local Leaders: Sponsors (e.g., Representatives Budzinski, Finstad, Davis, and Taylor) and the House Committee on Agriculture, who oversee rural policy.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Strengthens existing rural development frameworks without creating new mandates or liabilities. The priorities are directive (guiding USDA discretion) rather than mandatory, avoiding potential legal challenges over funding allocation.
- Constitutional Implications: None significant; the bill operates within Congress's spending power under Article I, supporting general welfare in rural areas without infringing on states' rights or individual liberties.
- Political Implications: Highlights bipartisan focus on rural mental health amid ongoing crises (e.g., opioid epidemic, farmer stress), potentially influencing future farm bills. It promotes health equity in rural America but may spark debate over fund reallocations if percentages are seen as diluting substance use focus.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Taylor, David [R-OH-2], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-28: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
- 2025-03-06: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-03-06: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-06: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Rural Wellness Act — issued 2025-03-06 — PDF (4 pages)