Strengthening Communities of Recovery Act
- Bill Number
- S. 1022
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2025-04-21T12:24:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Strengthening Communities of Recovery Act (S. 1022) aims to reauthorize and enhance a federal program that supports the development and maintenance of recovery communities for individuals with substance use disorders. This program, originally established under the Public Health Service Act, provides grants to organizations to build networks of support for recovery from addiction.
Key Provisions
- Reauthorization of Grants: The bill amends Section 547 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290ee-2) to continue funding grants for recovery community organizations. These grants help create or expand peer-to-peer recovery support services, such as coaching and outreach, to assist individuals in maintaining long-term recovery.
- Funding Allocation: Authorizes $16,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to support these initiatives.
- Scope Expansion: Updates program language to include activities that "build or strengthen" recovery communities, emphasizing ongoing support beyond initial establishment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Title Update: Changes the section heading from "Building Communities of Recovery" to "Strengthening Communities of Recovery" to reflect a broader focus on sustainability.
- Program Language Adjustment: Modifies subsection (d)(2)(A) by adding "or strengthen" after "build," allowing grants to fund both new developments and enhancements to existing recovery networks.
- Funding Increase and Extension: Replaces the previous authorization of $5,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2019 through 2023 with a higher amount ($16,000,000 per year) and extends it to fiscal years 2025 through 2029, tripling the annual funding level.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which administers the program, will have increased resources to award more grants, potentially expanding program reach without new administrative burdens.
- On Citizens: Individuals with substance use disorders and their families may benefit from enhanced access to community-based recovery support, promoting better health outcomes and reducing relapse rates in affected areas.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic public health initiatives.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Individuals with Substance Use Disorders: Primary beneficiaries through improved access to recovery support services.
- Recovery Community Organizations: Nonprofits and peer support groups that receive grants to operate and expand programs.
- Federal and State Health Agencies: Including HHS and state health departments, which oversee grant distribution and implementation.
- Local Communities: Particularly those in high-need areas impacted by the opioid crisis or other substance use challenges.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens existing public health infrastructure under the Public Health Service Act without introducing new regulatory requirements, ensuring continuity in federal support for addiction recovery.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority to regulate public health and welfare under the Commerce Clause, with no apparent conflicts to individual rights or federalism principles.
- Political: Represents bipartisan support (introduced by Senators Lujan and Cornyn) for addressing the ongoing substance use disorder epidemic, potentially influencing future appropriations debates by committing to higher funding levels.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-03-13: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Strengthening Communities of Recovery Act — issued 2025-03-13 — PDF (2 pages)