September 17, 2026
Ms. Hassan (for herself and Mr. Scott of South Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a centralized application for substance use disorder grant programs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Addiction Grants Modernization Act
.
Sec. 2. Centralized applications for Federal substance use disorder grant programs
(a) Covered grant programs
(1) In general
The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary), in coordination with the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Attorney General, shall conduct a review of all discretionary substance use disorder grant programs of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and the Department of Justice to determine which of such grant programs shall be included as a covered grant program for purposes of the centralized application under subsection (c).
(2) Prohibition
The Secretary may not include as a covered grant program any program that awards block grants or formula-funded grants under part B of title XIX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300x et seq.).
(3) Publication on interface
Not later than December 31, 2028, the Secretary shall publish on the interface established under subsection (b) a list of each covered grant program identified under paragraph (1).
(4) Updates
The Secretary shall update the interface established under subsection (b) to reflect any new covered grant program at the time at which the funding opportunity for such program is announced.
(b) Centralized grants interface
(1) In general
The Secretary shall establish a secure website interface for purposes of—
(A)
publicly listing all covered grant programs identified under subsection (a);
(B)
announcing funding opportunities for each covered grant program; and
(C)
all activities relating to the submission of centralized applications under this section.
(2) Requirements
The interface established under paragraph (1) shall enable applicants to browse grants—
(A)
by organization type; and
(B)
by grant activity, including—
(i)
primary prevention activities, such as education, youth prevention programs, and caregiver programs;
(ii)
overdose reversal activities, such as distribution of overdose reversal medication, crisis response programs, and first responder training;
(iii)
treatment activities, such as care administered across specialty substance use disorder settings and primary care, emergency department, and other non-specialty settings; and
(iv)
recovery activities, such as peer support, recovery housing, and recovery community centers.
(c) Centralized application
(1) In general
The Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Attorney General, and after taking into consideration the recommendations of the working group under subsection (d)(2)(A), shall establish a centralized application under which an entity may apply to any or all of the covered grant programs for which such entity is eligible under the requirements of the particular program.
(2) Requirements
The centralized application established under paragraph (1) shall—
(A)
require the same basic information for all covered grant programs; and
(B)
enable the Secretary to add supplemental questions for any individual covered grant program.
(d) Working group
(1) In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a working group consisting of the members described in paragraph (3).
(2) Duties
The working group established under paragraph (1) shall collaborate on, and coordinate—
(A)
the development of recommendations to the Secretary for the establishment of the centralized application under subsection (c);
(B)
the review of centralized applications submitted under this section; and
(C)
a report to Congress on the recommendations developed under subparagraph (A) and review conducted under subparagraph (B), including an estimate of any Federal resources required to implement the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B).
(3) Members
(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), the working group shall consist of—
(i)
non-partisan career civil service employees from each of the agencies and offices of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and the Department of Justice that administer 1 or more covered grant programs, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance; and
(ii)
non-Federal stakeholders, which may include State alcohol and drug agency directors, providers at and other representatives of community substance use disorder organizations, representatives of recovery community organizations, and health care professionals specializing in addiction.
(B) Chair
The Secretary shall designate a career appointee (as defined in section 3132(a) of title 5, United States Code) of the Department of Health and Human Services to serve as the chair of the working group.
(C) Vice chairs
The Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Attorney General shall each designate a career appointee (as defined in section 3132(a) of title 5, United States Code) of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Department of Justice, respectively, to serve as vice chairs of the working group.
(e) Synchronization of grants
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall synchronize the announcement of funding opportunities for each covered grant program.
(f) Savings clause
Nothing in this section authorizes the Secretary, the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, or the Attorney General to modify, eliminate, reallocate, or reduce funding, or modify the allowable activities as authorized by Congress, for a grant program of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, or the Department of Justice, as applicable.