Hope Heals Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6940
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-06: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-21T11:23:24Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Hope Heals Act of 2026 aims to improve how federal government departments identify, prevent, and raise awareness of mental health crises among people seeking public services. It focuses on better coordination across agencies to support individuals in distress, including through suicide prevention and screening tools.
Key Provisions
- Assessment by HHS Secretary: Within 180 days of the bill's enactment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) must evaluate:
- Ways to enhance coordination between federal departments (called "Executive departments," which are the main Cabinet-level agencies like HHS, Veterans Affairs, and Defense) to spot individuals in a mental health crisis or showing signs of one.
- Opportunities for these departments to better share information, best practices, and referral options for suicide prevention and mental health support during crises.
- Potential for departments to launch programs distributing validated screening tools (e.g., the Patient Health Questionnaire-3 or PHQ-3, a short survey to detect depression symptoms) or common symptom checklists to boost public awareness of crisis signs.
- Coordination and Consultation: The HHS Secretary must work with leaders of relevant agencies, such as Veterans Affairs, Defense, and Education, and may consult experts like suicide prevention specialists, researchers, mental health professionals, or academic institutions.
- Reporting Requirement: Within 180 days after completing the assessment, HHS must submit a report to key congressional committees (e.g., House Energy and Commerce, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions) with findings and recommendations.
- Implementation: All Executive departments must, where feasible, adopt the report's recommendations.
- Definitions:
- Mental health crisis: A sudden episode of severe emotional distress or behavior changes that risks self-harm, harm to others, or major disruption to daily life, requiring help like counseling or referrals.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new mandates for federal agencies without directly amending prior laws. It creates a one-time assessment and reporting process, plus a non-binding push for implementing recommendations, to address gaps in inter-agency mental health efforts. Previously, there was no centralized federal requirement for such coordination on crisis identification and awareness in public services.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Could lead to improved information-sharing and new training or tools within departments like HHS, Veterans Affairs, and Education, potentially streamlining services but requiring resources for implementation.
- Citizens: May result in earlier detection of mental health issues for people accessing federal services (e.g., veterans, students, or those in public programs), offering quicker referrals to support and reducing crisis risks through wider awareness.
- International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic federal operations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Primarily HHS (leading the effort), plus Veterans Affairs, Defense, Education, and other Executive departments providing public services.
- Congressional Committees: Those overseeing health, labor, and relevant agencies, which receive the report.
- Experts and Professionals: Mental health specialists, researchers, and organizations consulted during the assessment.
- Public Users of Services: Individuals seeking federal assistance, such as veterans, military personnel, students, or those in health programs, who may benefit from better crisis support.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill's requirements are directive but flexible ("to the extent practicable"), avoiding strict mandates that could face enforcement challenges. It relies on existing authority under federal health laws without raising privacy concerns, though any new screening tools must comply with health data protections like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which safeguards medical information).
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; it supports the federal government's role in public health without infringing on states' rights or individual liberties.
- Political: Promotes bipartisan mental health priorities by emphasizing prevention and awareness, potentially influencing future funding for behavioral health programs. The non-binding implementation allows agencies leeway, reducing political friction.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-06: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-01-06: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-06: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Hope Heals Act of 2026 — issued 2026-01-06 — PDF (5 pages)