H.R. 10722 – 9–8–8 Crisis Response Workforce Act

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Updated October 8, 2026 at 3:13 AM UTC

The 9‑8‑8 Crisis Response Workforce Act amends the Public Health Service Act to grow the behavioral health workforce that can respond to mental‑health crises. It requires the government to track where crisis services are lacking, creates a new fellowship program to train minority mental‑health professionals in crisis work, and adds funding for a broader range of training programs—including remote and crisis‑line practicum experiences. The changes affect health‑professional shortage areas, crisis call centers, mobile crisis teams, and the professionals who staff them.

Key Provisions

The Secretary must publish data on the availability and need for crisis response services (call centers, mobile units, stabilization facilities, and staff) in health‑professional shortage areas.
A Minority Fellowship Pilot Program is established to fund post‑baccalaureate training for mental‑health and substance‑use professionals in crisis management, with $25 million authorized each year FY2023‑2027 and an additional $10 million for crisis‑specific fellowships FY2027‑2031.
Behavioral health training programs are expanded to include remote practicum options and specific training for crisis‑line, mobile team, and stabilization‑facility work across multiple disciplines (psychiatry, nursing, social work, etc.).
Appropriations are set at $50 million annually FY2026‑2030 for various grant categories supporting these training expansions, plus an extra $10 million each year FY2027‑2031 dedicated to crisis workforce development.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

October 5, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 5, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

October 5, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued October 5, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10722

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 5, 2026

Mr. Carter of Louisiana (for himself, Ms. Matsui, Mrs. Trahan, Mr. Smith of Washington, Ms. McClellan, Ms. Barragán, Mrs. Watson Coleman, and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To amend the Public Health Service Act to expand behavioral health workforce training programs, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the 9–8–8 Crisis Response Workforce Act.

2.

Expanding behavioral health workforce training programs

(a)

National Health Service Corps

Section 332 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(l)

The Secretary shall collect and publish in the Federal Register data comparing the availability and need of crisis response services in health professional shortage areas and in areas within such health professional shortage areas, including—

(1)

the number of crisis call centers, mobile crisis response units, and crisis receiving and stabilization facilities in such areas; and

(2)

the number of behavioral and mental health professionals providing crisis management services or working in crisis response settings, including the settings described in paragraph (1).

.

(b)

Minority fellowship pilot program for crisis management services

Section 597 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290ll) is amended—

(1)

by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

(b)

Training covered

The fellowships awarded under subsection (a) shall be for postbaccalaureate training (including for master’s and doctoral degrees) for mental and substance use disorder treatment professionals, including—

(1)

in the fields of psychiatry, addiction medicine, nursing, social work, psychology, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, and substance use disorder and addiction counseling; and

(2)

in crisis management services (such as at a crisis call center, as part of a mobile crisis team, or at a crisis receiving and stabilization facility).

; and

(2)

by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

(c)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated—

(1)

for carrying out this section (except with respect to subsection (b)(2)), $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027; and

(2)

for awarding fellowships described in subsection (b)(2), $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

.

(c)

Behavioral health workforce education and training

Section 756 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 294e–1) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

in paragraph (1)—

(i)

by inserting or remote programs that offer practicum hours after other field placement programs;

(ii)

by inserting (which may include training or a field practicum employing call, text, or chat responders for mental health crisis lines) after social work; and

(iii)

by inserting crisis management (such as at a crisis call center, as part of a mobile crisis team, or through a crisis receiving and stabilization program), after occupational therapy (which may include master’s and doctoral level programs),;

(B)

in paragraph (2), by inserting and providing crisis management services (such as at a crisis call center, as part of a mobile crisis team, or through a crisis receiving and stabilization program) after treatment services,;

(C)

in paragraph (3), by inserting and providing crisis management services (such as at a crisis call center, as part of a mobile crisis team, or through a crisis receiving and stabilization program) after behavioral health services; and

(D)

in paragraph (4), by inserting , including for the provision of crisis management services (such as at a crisis call center, as part of a mobile crisis team, or through a crisis receiving and stabilization program), after paraprofessional field; and

(2)

by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:

(f)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

In general

For each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000, to be allocated as follows:

(A)

For grants described in subsection (a)(1), $15,000,000.

(B)

For grants described in subsection (a)(2), $15,000,000.

(C)

For grants described in subsection (a)(3), $10,000,000.

(D)

For grants described in subsection (a)(4), $10,000,000.

(2)

Additional authorization for crisis workforce development

For each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, in addition to the amounts under paragraph (1), there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section with respect to crisis workforce development $10,000,000.

.