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H.R. 7235House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant Act of 2022

Sponsored by Paul TonkoRep. Paul Tonko (D-NY)
Introduced March 28, 2022

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 10:19 AM UTC

The Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant Act of 2022 updates Title XIX of the Public Health Service Act to improve federal block grants for substance‑use prevention, treatment and recovery. It replaces stigmatizing terms like “substance abuse” with “substance use,” expands authorized activities to include recovery support, and adds new requirements for viral‑hepatitis services and tribal entities. The bill also sets funding levels and directs a study on how states should allocate the grants.

Key Provisions

  • Replaces “substance abuse” language throughout the act with “substance use” and defines “substance use disorder.”
  • Expands grant‑authorized activities to “prevent, treat, and provide recovery support services” for substance‑use disorders.
  • Requires programs receiving block‑grant funds to screen for viral hepatitis and refer patients for treatment.
  • Updates tribal language to use “Indian Tribe” and “Tribal organization” consistently.
  • Sets block‑grant funding at $1,908,079,000 annually for fiscal years 2023‑2027.
  • Mandates HHS to conduct a study and report on a model needs‑assessment process for allocating grant resources.
  • )

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 29, 2022

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 28, 2022

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

March 28, 2022

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 29, 2022

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 28, 2022

I

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7235

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 28, 2022

Mr. Tonko (for himself, Mr. Guthrie, Ms. Wild, and Mr. McKinley) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To amend title XIX of the Public Health Service Act to make certain improvements with respect to block grants for substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery services, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant Act of 2022.

2.

Eliminating stigmatizing language relating to substance use

(a)

Block Grants for Prevention and Treatment of Substance Use

Part B of title XIX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300x et seq.) is amended—

(1)

in the part heading, by striking Substance Abuse and inserting Substance Use;

(2)

in subpart II, by amending the subpart heading to read as follows: Block grants for substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery services;

(3)

in section 1922(a) (42 U.S.C. 300x–22(a))—

(A)

in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking substance abuse and inserting substance use disorders; and

(B)

by striking such abuse each place it appears in paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting such use;

(4)

in section 1923 (42 U.S.C. 300x–23)—

(A)

in the section heading, by striking Substance Abuse and inserting Substance Use; and

(B)

by striking drug abuse each place it appears in subsections (a) and (b) and inserting substance use disorders;

(5)

in section 1925(a)(1) (42 U.S.C. 300x–25(a)(1)), by striking alcohol or drug abuse and inserting alcohol or other substance use disorders;

(6)

in section 1926(b)(2)(B) (42 U.S.C. 300x–26(b)(2)(B)), by striking substance abuse;

(7)

in section 1931(b)(2) (42 U.S.C. 300x–31(b)(2)), by striking substance abuse and inserting substance use disorders;

(8)

in section 1933(d)(1) (42 U.S.C. 300x–33(d)), in the matter following subparagraph (B), by striking abuse of alcohol and other drugs and inserting use of substances;

(9)

by amending paragraph (4) of section 1934 (42 U.S.C. 300x–34) to read as follows:

(4)

The term substance use disorder means the recurrent use of alcohol or other drugs that causes clinically significant impairment.

;

(10)

in section 1935 (42 U.S.C. 300x–35)—

(A)

in subsection (a), by striking substance abuse and inserting substance use disorders; and

(B)

in subsection (b)(1), by striking substance abuse each place it appears and inserting substance use disorders;

(11)

in section 1949 (42 U.S.C. 300x–59), by striking substance abuse each place it appears in subsections (a) and (d) and inserting substance use disorders;

(12)

in section 1954(b)(4) (42 U.S.C. 300x–64(b)(4))—

(A)

by striking substance abuse each place it appears and inserting substance use disorders; and

(B)

by striking such abuse and inserting such disorders;

(13)

in section 1955 (42 U.S.C. 300x–65), by striking substance abuse each place it appears and inserting substance use disorder; and

(14)

in section 1956 (42 U.S.C. 300x–66), by striking substance abuse each place it appears and inserting substance use disorders.

(b)

Certain programs regarding mental health and substance abuse

Part C of title XIX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300y et seq.) is amended—

(1)

in the part heading, by striking Substance Abuse and inserting Substance Use;

(2)

in section 1971 (42 U.S.C. 300y), by striking substance abuse each place it appears in subsections (a), (b), and (f) and inserting substance use; and

(3)

in section 1976 (42 U.S.C. 300y–11), by striking intravenous abuse and inserting intravenous use.

3.

Authorized activities

Section 1921(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300x–21(b)) is amended by striking prevent and treat substance use disorders and inserting prevent, treat, and provide recovery support services for substance use disorders.

4.

Requirements relating to certain infectious diseases and human immunodeficiency virus

Section 1924 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300x–24) is amended—

(1)

in the section heading, by striking Tuberculosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus and inserting Tuberculosis, Viral Hepatitis, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus;

(2)

by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and

(3)

by inserting after subsection (b) the following:

(c)

Viral hepatitis

(1)

In general

A funding agreement for a grant under section 1921 is that the State involved will require that any entity receiving amounts from the grant for operating a program of treatment for substance use disorders—

(A)

will, directly or through arrangements with other public or nonprofit private entities, routinely make available viral hepatitis services to each individual receiving treatment for such disorders; and

(B)

in the case of an individual in need of such treatment who is denied admission to the program on the basis of the lack of the capacity of the program to admit the individual, will refer the individual to another provider of viral hepatitis services.

(2)

Viral hepatitis services

For purposes of paragraph (1), the term viral hepatitis services, with respect to an individual, means—

(A)

screening the individual for viral hepatitis; and

(B)

referring the individual to a provider specializing in viral hepatitis treatment.

.

5.

State plan requirements

Section 1932(b)(1)(A) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating clauses (vi) through (ix) as clauses (vii) through (x), respectively; and

(2)

by inserting after clause (v) the following:

(vi)

provides a description of—

(I)

the State’s comprehensive statewide recovery support services activities, including the number of individuals being served, target populations, and priority needs; and

(II)

the amount of funds received under this subpart expended on recovery support services;

.

6.

Updating certain language relating to Tribes

Section 1933(d) of the Public Health Service Act (300x–33(d)) is amended—

(1)

in the subsection heading, by striking tribes and tribal organizations and inserting Tribes and Tribal organizations;

(2)

in paragraph (1)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A)—

(i)

by striking of an Indian tribe or tribal organization and inserting of an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization; and

(ii)

by striking such tribe and inserting such Tribe;

(B)

in subparagraph (B)—

(i)

by striking tribe or tribal organization and inserting Tribe or Tribal organization; and

(ii)

by striking Secretary under this and inserting Secretary under this subpart; and

(C)

in the matter following subparagraph (B), by striking tribe or tribal organization and inserting Tribe or Tribal organization;

(3)

by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:

(2)

Indian Tribe or Tribal organization as grantee

The amount reserved by the Secretary on the basis of a determination under this subsection shall be granted to the Indian Tribe or Tribal organization serving the individuals for whom such a determination has been made.

;

(4)

in paragraph (3), by striking tribe or tribal organization and inserting Tribe or Tribal organization; and

(5)

in paragraph (4)—

(A)

in the paragraph heading, by striking Definition and inserting Definitions; and

(B)

by striking The terms and all that follows through given such terms and inserting the following: The terms Indian Tribe and Tribal organization have the meanings given the terms Indian tribe and tribal organization.

7.

Block grants for substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery services

(a)

In general

Section 1935(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300x–35(a)), as amended by section 2, is further amended by striking appropriated and all that follows through 2022.. and inserting the following: appropriated $1,908,079,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027..

(b)

Technical corrections

Section 1935(b)(1)(B) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300x–35(b)(1)(B)) is amended by striking the collection of data in this paragraph is.

8.

Study on assessment for use in distribution of limited State resources

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use (in this section referred to as the Secretary), shall, in consultation with States and other local entities providing prevention, treatment, or recovery support services related to substance use, conduct a study to develop a model needs assessment process for States to consider to help determine how best to allocate block grant funding received under subpart II of part B of title XIX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300x–21) to provide services to substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery support. The study must include cost estimates with each model needs assessment process.

(b)

Report

Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the Senate a report on the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1).