[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 456 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 456

    To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize non-medical 
 counseling services, provided by certain mental health professionals, 
                         to military families.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 15, 2023

  Ms. Sinema (for herself and Mr. Sullivan) introduced the following 
   bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed 
                                Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize non-medical 
 counseling services, provided by certain mental health professionals, 
                         to military families.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Comforting Our Military Families 
through On-base or Remote Treatment Act'' or the ``COMFORT Act''.

SEC. 2. NON-MEDICAL COUNSELING SERVICES FOR MILITARY FAMILIES.

    (a) Non-Medical Counseling Services.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, a mental health professional described in subsection 
(b) may provide non-medical counseling services to military families at 
any location in a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or 
possession of the United States, without regard to where the provider 
or recipient of such services is located, if the provision of such 
services is within the scope of the authorized Federal duties of the 
provider.
    (b) Covered Mental Health Professionals.--A mental health 
professional described in this subsection is a person who is--
            (1) a currently licensed or certified mental health care 
        provider who holds an unrestricted license or certification 
        that is--
                    (A) issued by a State, the District of Columbia, or 
                a territory or possession of the United States; and
                    (B) recognized by the Secretary of Defense;
            (2) a member of the uniformed services, a civilian employee 
        of the Department of Defense, or a contractor designated by the 
        Secretary; and
            (3) performing authorized duties for the Department of 
        Defense under a program or activity referred to in subsection 
        (a).
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