To amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the mental health workforce, and for other purposes.

This bill would create a federal loan deferment and forgiveness program for mental health providers. To qualify, a person must be a student at a minority-serving institution in a mental or behavioral health program (or completing supervised clinical training) and agree to work full-time for at least 5 years in an area with a shortage of mental health professionals. While working, the person would not have to make principal payments on eligible loans, but interest would still build up and have to be paid. After 5 consecutive years of service, the federal government would repay the lesser of 100 percent or $200,000 of the person's eligible loan balance, as long as the person is not in default.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Troy A. Carter Democrat sponsor
• 4 cosponsors