I
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10246
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 3, 2026
Ms. Barragán (for herself, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Costa, Ms. McClellan, Ms. Norton, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Thanedar, Mrs. Trahan, and Ms. Tokuda) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to provide for health center capital grants, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the 9–8–8 Community Infrastructure Act
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Health center capital grants
Subpart 1 of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Health center capital grants
In general
The Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities for capital projects.
Eligible entity
In this section, the term eligible entity is an entity that is—
a health center funded under section 330, or in the case of a Tribe or Tribal organization, eligible, to be awarded without regard to the time limitation in subsection (e)(3) and subsections (e)(6)(A)(iii), (e)(6)(B)(iii), and (r)(2)(B) of such section; or
a crisis receiving and stabilization facility or crisis call center that has a working relationship with one or more local community mental health and substance use organizations, community mental health centers, and certified community behavioral health clinics, or other local mental health and substance use care providers, including inpatient and residential treatment settings.
Use of funds
Amounts made available to a recipient of a grant or cooperative agreement pursuant to subsection (a) shall be used for crisis response program facility alteration, renovation, remodeling, expansion, new construction, and other capital improvement costs, including the costs of amortizing the principal of, and paying interest on, loans for such purposes.
Definitions
In this section:
Crisis receiving and stabilization facility
The term crisis receiving and stabilization facility means a freestanding, non-hospital facility that—
qualifies for licensure or certification as a crisis receiving and stabilization facility, pursuant to State law of the State in which such facility furnishes crisis response services;
provides 23-hour observation and assessment chairs or beds and 48-hour crisis stabilization psychiatric beds inclusive of withdrawal management and 24-hour medical monitoring;
provides crisis response services 24 hours per day, 7 days per week using a sliding scale of payment, and neither rejects service nor limits services on the basis of a patient’s ability to pay, place of residence, prior forensic engagement, acuity of mental health or substance use condition, intellectual or developmental disability, age or related factors;
supports no-wrong-door admission capacity available to law enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel, and family members; and
maintains an average length-of-stay of less than 150 hours.
Crisis response program facility
The term crisis response program facility means a facility used for the purposes of mental health or substance use services that are furnished to an individual, including children and adolescents, experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis by—
a mobile crisis response team;
a crisis receiving and stabilization facility;
a mental health or substance use urgent care facility; or
other appropriate provider, as determined by the Secretary.
Mental health and substance use urgent care facility
The term mental health and substance use urgent care facility means an ambulatory facility in which individuals experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis may receive crisis assessment services, crisis intervention services, medication, and connection to other appropriate services, without making an appointment prior to arriving at the facility.
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000,000, to remain available until expended.
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