# 119-hr-7787: To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the mental health workforce, and for other purposes.

119-hr-7787, To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the mental health workforce, and for other purposes., is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2] (D-LA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-30).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7787
- As of: 2026-09-30
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-7787
- Congress: 119
- Title: To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the mental health workforce, and for other purposes.
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-03-04
- Sponsor: Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2] (D-LA)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-30

## Summary

**A mental health provider loan deferment and forgiveness program** to grow the mental and behavioral health workforce by tying loan relief to service in federally designated shortage areas. The program requires five years of full-time service starting at first licensure to qualify for forgiveness. - Students and new providers: Individuals accepted to or enrolled in eligible minority-serving institutions for mental health programs who accept employment starting at graduation can pause principal payments while serving full time and have interest accrue and be paid during service. - Borrowers with federal education loans: Eligible loans include Federal Direct Stafford, Direct PLUS, Direct Unsubsidized Stafford, Direct Consolidation Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, and other federal loans the Secretary approves. After five consecutive years of service and no loan default, the program forgives the lesser of 100% or $200,000 of outstanding principal and interest as measured the day before service began. - Underserved communities and institutions: Service must be provided either as a solo provider in an area designated under section 332 as having a shortage or at an institution that serves patients located in such shortage areas. Definitions tie qualifying professions and licensure to existing Social Security Act and regulation language.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2026-09-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10] (R-OH), 2026-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7] (R-GA), 2026-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2026-03-04T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Student loan relief for mental health providers: mixed, high. If enacted, the bill would create a loan deferment and forgiveness program for mental health providers. You would need to work full-time as a qualified mental health provider for five consecutive years. The five-year period would begin when you are first licensed to practice. Your job would have to…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-8870: BUILD America 250 Act
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-7787 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7787)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-8870: BUILD America 250 Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8870)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3514)
- [119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2102)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7787 (as of 2026-09-30).