# 119-hr-9866: C.A.R.E. for Mental Health Professionals Act

119-hr-9866, C.A.R.E. for Mental Health Professionals Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-CO); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-30).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9866
- As of: 2026-10-30
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-9866
- Congress: 119
- Title: C.A.R.E. for Mental Health Professionals Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-07-22
- Sponsor: Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-CO)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-30

## Summary

**Makes it easier for licensed mental health professionals to practice across state lines.** This bill would create a Mental Health Licensure Portability Program at the Department of Health and Human Services to fund grants that encourage counselors to work in States that join interstate licensure compacts and to support the commissions that run those compacts. - Counselors and licensed mental health workers: Could receive incentives to practice in compact states, helping grow the pool of credentialed professionals. - State licensure boards and compact commissions: Eligible entities can get grants to develop, operate, or maintain interstate compact commissions and related projects. - Patients and communities: By expanding the credentialed workforce across States, the bill aims to increase access to mental health care where compacts take effect. *Would authorize $4.0 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to carry out the program.*

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2026-07-22T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More mental health counselors across states: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would create a Mental Health Licensure Portability Program at HHS run by the HRSA Administrator. The Secretary would have 90 days after enactment to start the grant program. The program would give grants to interstate compact commissions or State licensure boards. Grants would…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-10061: Wildfire Response and Readiness Act
- 119-hr-1923: Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025
- 119-hr-10280: 9–8–8 Implementation Act of 2026

## Sources
- [119-hr-9866 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9866)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-10061: Wildfire Response and Readiness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-10061)
- [119-hr-1923: Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1923)
- [119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2725)
- [119-hr-10280: 9–8–8 Implementation Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-10280)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9866 (as of 2026-10-30).