COMFORT Act

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 3267 To authorize the provision of non-medical counseling services to a member of the Armed Forces, or a dependent of such member, by a mental health professional, without regard to the location of the provider or recipient of such services. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 11, 2023 Ms. SLOTKIN (for herself and Mr. WITTMAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To authorize the provision of non-medical counseling services to a member of the Armed Forces, or a dependent of such member, by a mental health professional, without regard to the location of the provider or recipient of such services. 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 ‘‘Comforting Our Mili- 4 tary Families through On-base or Remote Treatment Act’’ 5 or the ‘‘COMFORT Act’’. 6 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:37 May 25, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3267.IH H3267 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HR 3267 IH SEC. 2. NON-MEDICAL COUNSELING SERVICES FOR MILI- 1 TARY FAMILIES. 2 (a) NON-MEDICAL COUNSELING SERVICES.—Not- 3 withstanding any other provision of law, a mental health 4 professional described in subsection (b) may provide non- 5 medical counseling services to military families at any lo- 6 cation in a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory 7 or possession of the United States, without regard to 8 where the provider or recipient of such services is located, 9 if the provision of such services is within the scope of the 10 authorized Federal duties of the provider. 11 (b) COVERED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.— 12 A mental health professional described in this subsection 13 is a person who is— 14 (1) a currently licensed or certified mental 15 health care provider who holds an unrestricted li- 16 cense or certification that is— 17 (A) issued by a State, the District of Co- 18 lumbia, or a territory or possession of the 19 United States; and 20 (B) recognized by the Secretary of De- 21 fense; 22 (2) a member of the Armed Forces, a civilian 23 employee of the Department of Defense, or a con- 24 tractor designated by the Secretary; and 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:37 May 25, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3267.IH H3267 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HR 3267 IH (3) performing authorized duties for the De- 1 partment of Defense under a program or activity re- 2 ferred to in subsection (a). 3 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:37 May 25, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H3267.IH H3267 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB