II 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 631 To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, to conduct or support research on the mental health consequences of SARS–CoV– 2 or COVID–19, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 9, 2021 Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Mr. KAINE) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Edu- cation, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, to conduct or support research on the mental health consequences of SARS–CoV–2 or COVID–19, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘COVID–19 Mental 4 Health Research Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:00 Apr 02, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S631.IS S631 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •S 631 IS SEC. 2. RESEARCH ON THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT OF 1 COVID–19. 2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 3 Human Services (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Sec- 4 retary’’), acting through the Director of the National In- 5 stitute of Mental Health, shall conduct or support re- 6 search on the mental health consequences of SARS–CoV– 7 2 or COVID–19. 8 (b) USE OF FUNDS.—Research under subsection (a) 9 may include— 10 (1) research on the mental health impact of 11 SARS–CoV–2 or COVID–19 on health care pro- 12 viders, including— 13 (A) traumatic stress; 14 (B) psychological distress; 15 (C) psychiatric disorders; and 16 (D) longer-term stress, including burnout; 17 (2) research on the impact of SARS–CoV–2 or 18 COVID–19 stressors on mental health over time; 19 (3) research to strengthen the mental health re- 20 sponse to SARS–CoV–2 or COVID–19, including 21 adapting to and maintaining or providing additional 22 services for new or increasing mental health needs; 23 (4) research on the reach, efficiency, effective- 24 ness, and quality of digital mental health interven- 25 tions; 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:00 Apr 02, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S631.IS S631 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •S 631 IS (5) research on the effectiveness of strategies 1 for implementation and delivery of evidence-based 2 mental health interventions and services for under- 3 served populations; 4 (6) research on suicide prevention; 5 (7) research on the impact of SARS–CoV–2 or 6 COVID–19 on the mental health of specific popu- 7 lations, including children and adolescents, women, 8 older adults, individuals with disabilities, and mem- 9 bers of racial and ethnic minority groups; and 10 (8) research on the impact of SARS–CoV–2 or 11 COVID–19 on the mental health of individuals expe- 12 riencing long-term symptoms or side effects after in- 13 fection. 14 (c) RESEARCH COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall 15 coordinate activities under this section with similar activi- 16 ties conducted by national research institutes and centers 17 of the National Institutes of Health to the extent that 18 such institutes and centers have responsibilities that are 19 related to the mental health consequences of SARS–CoV– 20 2 or COVID–19. 21 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 22 out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated 23 $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, 24 to remain available until expended. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:00 Apr 02, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S631.IS S631 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •S 631 IS (e) SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.—Amounts made 1 available to carry out this section shall be used to supple- 2 ment, and not supplant, other funding made available to 3 the National Institute of Mental Health. 4 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:00 Apr 02, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S631.IS S631 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS