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119-hr-2741119th CongressWALLET

PEER Support Act

Sponsored By: Representative Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would professionalize the peer support specialist workforce by defining who peer support specialists are and setting standards for their services. It would also create an Office of Recovery at SAMHSA and require research on criminal background check barriers for these workers.

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  • Families and caregivers: The bill would explicitly recognize people with lived experience as parents or caregivers as peer support specialists, creating a clearer path to certification for those who support families navigating mental health and substance use systems.
  • Peer support workers: It would set national service standards tied to the National Association of Peer Supporters' guidelines and SAMHSA core competencies, and would fund training, certification, supervision guidance, professional development, retention efforts, and career-path recommendations for the workforce.
  • States, tribes, and programs: The bill would direct OMB to add a peer support specialist occupational category to the Standard Occupational Classification by Jan. 1, 2026. It would also require HHS, with the Attorney General, to report within one year after enactment on criminal background check laws and recommend ways to reduce certification barriers, and to post that report on SAMHSA's website.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

National standards for peer support services

If enacted, peer support services would need to follow national practice guidelines and SAMHSA core skills. Training programs and employers would use these standards. People getting peer support could expect more consistent, high‑quality help across programs and places.

New office to expand recovery services

If enacted, a new Office of Recovery would be set up inside the federal mental health and substance use agency. It would start when the bill becomes law and take over the current recovery office’s staff and duties. The office would guide best practices, training, and data, and help states, local areas, and Tribes grow recovery support services. This could make it easier to find quality peer support in more communities.

Peer support gets its own job category

The government would add a job category for peer support specialists in federal labor statistics by January 1, 2026. This would make it easier to count these jobs and plan training and hiring. It would not by itself set pay or benefits.

Certification rules for peer support workers

If you want to work as a peer support specialist, you would need lived experience with recovery or as a caregiver. You would also need to be certified under your State’s process or one the federal health department approves. This could mean training time and costs for workers, but it would also set clear job standards. The goal is to define the role and professionalize the peer workforce.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]

OR • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]

    KS • D

    Sponsored 4/8/2025

  • Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 4/8/2025

  • Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 4/8/2025

  • Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 4/8/2025

  • Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 6/20/2025

  • Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1]

    KS • R

    Sponsored 7/25/2025

  • Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

    TN • D

    Sponsored 8/1/2025

  • Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 10/24/2025

  • Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 11/7/2025

  • Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 11/12/2025

  • Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 11/12/2025

  • Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 12/5/2025

  • Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

  • Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

  • Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 12/12/2025

  • Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 12/17/2025

  • Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 12/17/2025

  • Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 1/6/2026

  • Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 1/8/2026

  • Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 1/13/2026

  • Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 1/30/2026

  • Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 1/30/2026

  • Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 6/9/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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