June 18, 2026
Ms. Rivas (for herself, Mr. García of Illinois, and Mr. Cisneros) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an office to assist communities in providing mental health services to individuals experiencing fear-based trauma related to immigration law enforcement actions taken by Federal agencies, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Healing and Equity for Enforcement-Affected Residents and Trauma Act of 2026
or the HEART Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Family stability and mental health support for communities impacted by Federal immigration law enforcement actions
(a) Establishment of office
The Secretary shall establish within the Office of the Secretary an office to be known as the Office of Immigrant Community Mental Health and Resilience
.
(b) Director
The Office shall be headed by a Director, who shall be appointed by the Secretary.
(c) Duties
(1) In general
The Director shall carry out programs and activities to assist impacted communities, including through the provision of mental health services to individuals experiencing fear-based trauma related to immigration law enforcement actions taken by Federal agencies.
(2) Direct care and service delivery
In carrying out paragraph (1), the Director shall support impacted communities by—
(A)
providing for the establishment of mobile mental health response teams;
(B)
providing for the establishment of emergency counseling vouchers;
(C)
carrying out the mental health grant program under subsection (d); and
(D)
providing guidance to States on any Medicaid flexibilities available for assisting individuals described in paragraph (1).
(3) Data reporting
In carrying out paragraph (1), the Director shall—
(A)
create a process for States, local governments, or community-based organizations to report immigration law enforcement actions taken by Federal agencies to help direct the resources of the Office; and
(B)
submit to Congress an annual report on the public health impacts of such immigration law enforcement actions, including recommendations for providing care to individuals described in paragraph (1) who reside in medically underserved communities.
(4) Workforce development
In carrying out paragraph (1), the Director shall support impacted communities in—
(A)
the hiring of culturally competent behavioral health specialists to address the emergent public health needs of impacted communities; and
(B)
the training of health care providers in providing mental health services for individuals described in paragraph (1).
(5) Community Involvement
In carrying out paragraph (1), the Director shall support impacted communities in—
(A)
developing and implementing know your rights
campaigns relating to health care rights;
(B)
developing and implementing public awareness campaigns relating to accessing health care services in a multilingual setting;
(C)
developing and distributing educational materials relating to fear-based trauma; and
(D)
providing trauma-informed mental health and family stabilization services.
(d) Grants
(1) In general
The Secretary shall make grants to eligible entities serving impacted communities.
(2) Use of funds
A recipient of a grant under this subsection shall use the funds received under the grant to—
(A)
provide trauma-informed mental health services, including crisis counseling and short-term therapeutic interventions;
(B)
address emergent behavioral health crises;
(C)
provide inclusive mental health and substance use prevention, response, and recovery services that an impacted community may need following immigration law enforcement actions taken by Federal agencies;
(D)
develop and implement a know your rights
campaign relating to health care rights;
(E)
deploy mobile or community-based mental health response services; or
(F)
integrate multilingual, trauma-informed mental health services with healthcare services provided by local educational agencies and schools, to the extent feasible.
(e) Prohibition on sharing of information
The data, actions, and information collected by the Office shall not be shared with the Department of Homeland Security or any other Federal agency that takes immigration law enforcement actions.
Sec. 3. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Behavioral health specialist
The term behavioral health specialist
means a professional licensed to provide behavioral health services, including a child or adult psychiatrist, a psychologist, a social worker, a guidance counselor, a peer support specialist, or other qualified individual as determined by the Secretary.
(2) Director
The term Director
means the Director of the Family Stability and Mental Health Support Office established under section 2.
(3) Eligible entity
The term eligible entity
means—
(A)
a State or local government;
(B)
a Federally qualified health center (as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act (2 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)));
(C)
a rural health clinic (as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act (2 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)));
(D)
a Tribal health organization;
(E)
a local educational agency;
(F)
a faith-based organization providing health or social services; or
(G)
a community-based organization.
(4) Impacted community
The term impacted community
means a local jurisdiction that demonstrates that a Federal agency has taken immigration law enforcement actions within the borders of the jurisdiction.
(5) Medically underserved community
The term medically underserved community
has the meaning given the term in section 799B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p).
(6) Secretary
The term Secretary
means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Sec. 4. Authorization of appropriations
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, of the amounts made available under sections 90003, 100051, and 100052 of Public Law 119–21 (139 Stat. 72 et seq.), such sums as may be necessary shall to transferred to the Secretary to carry out this Act. Any sums so transferred shall remain available until expended.