[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4120 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4120
To address behavioral health and well-being among education
professionals and other school staff.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 25, 2025
Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Dingell, and Mr.
Bacon) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on
Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To address behavioral health and well-being among education
professionals and other school staff.
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 ``Supporting the Mental Health of
Educators and Staff Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. DISSEMINATION OF BEST PRACTICES.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this Act as the
``Secretary''), in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall
identify and disseminate evidence-based or evidence-informed best
practices for--
(1) preventing suicide and improving mental health and
resiliency among education professionals and other school
staff; and
(2) training education professionals and other school staff
in appropriate strategies to support, maintain, and promote
their mental health.
SEC. 3. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS INITIATIVE ENCOURAGING USE OF MENTAL
HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES BY EDUCATION
PROFESSIONALS AND OTHER SCHOOL STAFF.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with relevant
stakeholders, including medical professional associations, shall
establish a national evidence-based or evidence-informed education and
awareness initiative--
(1) to encourage education professionals and other school
staff to seek support and care for their mental health or
substance use concerns, to help such professionals and staff
identify factors associated with risks for suicide and mental
health conditions, and to help such professionals and staff
learn how best to respond to such risks, with the goal of
preventing suicide, mental health conditions, and substance use
disorders; and
(2) to address stigma associated with seeking mental health
and substance use disorder services.
(b) Reporting.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to the Congress an update on
the activities and outcomes of the initiative under subsection (a),
including a description of quantitative and qualitative metrics used to
evaluate such activities and outcomes.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2028.
SEC. 4. PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AMONG THE EDUCATION
WORKFORCE.
Subpart 1 of part E of title VII of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 294n et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating the second section 764 (42 U.S.C.
294s, as added by section 4 of Public Law 117-105) as section
764A; and
(2) by inserting after such section 764A, as so
redesignated, the following:
``SEC. 764B. PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AMONG THE EDUCATION
WORKFORCE.
``(a) Programs To Promote Mental Health Among Education
Professionals and Other School Staff.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants or
contracts to eligible entities to establish or enhance
evidence-based or evidence-informed programs dedicated to
improving mental health and resiliency for education
professionals and other school staff.
``(2) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant or
contract under this subsection, an entity shall be a State
educational agency, a local educational agency, an institution
of higher education, or a consortia thereof.
``(3) Use of funds.--An recipient of a grant or contract
under this subsection shall use funds received through the
grant or contract to implement a new program or enhance an
existing program to promote mental health among education
professionals and other school staff, which may include--
``(A) improving awareness among education
professionals and other school staff about risk factors
for, and signs of, suicide and mental health or
substance use disorders, in accordance with evidence-
based or evidence-informed practices;
``(B) establishing new, or enhancing existing,
evidence-based or evidence-informed programs for
preventing suicide and improving mental health and
resiliency among education professionals and other
school staff;
``(C) establishing new, or enhancing existing,
peer-support programs among education professionals and
other school staff; or
``(D) providing mental health care, follow-up
services and care by a licensed or certified mental
health professional (including by means of telehealth),
or a referral for such care or services by a licensed
or certified mental health professional, as
appropriate.
``(4) Priority.--In awarding grants and contracts under
this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible
entities in areas with a high percentage of schools receiving
financial assistance under part A of title I of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
``(b) Training Grants.--The Secretary may establish a program to
award grants to institutions of higher education, State educational
agencies, local educational agencies, State or local governments,
Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations, or other appropriate public or
private nonprofit entities (or consortia of entities, including
entities promoting multidisciplinary approaches) to support the
inclusion in educator preparation programs (including administrator
preparation programs), and in training, continuing education, or
professional development programs for education professionals and other
school staff, of evidence-based or evidence-informed strategies--
``(1) to address mental and substance use disorders; and
``(2) to improve mental health and resiliency among
education professionals and other school staff.
``(c) Grant Terms.--A grant or contract awarded under subsection
(a) or (b) shall be for a period of 3 years.
``(d) Application Submission.--An entity seeking a grant or
contract under subsection (a) or (b) shall submit an application to the
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such
information as the Secretary may require.
``(e) Annual Report.--An entity awarded a grant or contract under
subsection (a) or (b) shall submit to the Secretary an annual report
evaluating the activities supported by the grant or contract.
``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `institution of higher education' has the
meaning given to such term in section 101 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965.
``(2) The terms `local educational agency' and `State
educational agency' have the meanings given to such terms in
section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $35,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2028.''.
SEC. 5. REVIEW WITH RESPECT TO EDUCATION WORKFORCE MENTAL HEALTH AND
RESILIENCY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with relevant stakeholders,
shall--
(1) conduct a review on improving--
(A) the mental health of education professionals
and other school staff; and
(B) the outcomes of programs authorized under this
Act; and
(2) submit a report to the Congress on the results of such
review.
(b) Considerations.--The review under subsection (a) may include--
(1) assessing the prevalence and severity of mental health
conditions among education professionals and other school
staff, and determining the factors that contribute to those
mental health conditions;
(2) assessing barriers to seeking and accessing mental
health care for education professionals and other school staff,
and actions taken by State educational agencies and local
educational agencies, or other organizations, as appropriate,
to address such barriers;
(3) determining the effects of the COVID-19 public health
emergency on the mental health of education professionals and
other school staff and lessons learned for future public health
emergencies;
(4) assessing programs and policies that promote mental
health and resiliency among education professionals and other
school staff, including programs and policies to strengthen
mental health and resiliency among education professionals and
other school staff; and
(5) assessing the efficacy of training programs for
education professionals and other school staff that promote
resiliency and improve mental health.
(c) Recommendations.--The review under subsection (a), as
appropriate, shall identify best practices related to, and make
recommendations to address--
(1) improving mental health and resiliency among education
professionals and other school staff;
(2) removing barriers to mental health care for education
professionals and other school staff; and
(3) strategies to promote resiliency among education
professionals and other school staff in health care settings.
SEC. 6. GAO REPORT.
Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Congress a
report on the extent to which Federal substance use disorder and mental
health grant programs address the prevalence and severity of mental
health conditions and substance use disorders among education
professionals and other school staff. Such report shall--
(1) include an analysis of available evidence and data
related to such conditions and programs; and
(2) assess whether there are duplicative goals and
objectives among such grant programs.
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