HEART Act of 2026
- Sponsor
- Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29]
- Committees
- Energy and Commerce Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jun 18, 2026
Bottom line
The HEART Act of 2026 establishes a new HHS office and grant program to provide mental health support and services to communities and individuals affected by federal immigration enforcement actions, while prohibiting information sharing with enforcement agencies.
What it actually does
This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish an Office of Immigrant Community Mental Health and Resilience. This office would assist communities in providing mental health services to individuals experiencing fear-based trauma related to federal immigration law enforcement actions. The bill outlines duties for the office, including establishing mobile mental health response teams, providing emergency counseling vouchers, administering a grant program, and supporting workforce development and community involvement.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that federal immigration enforcement actions can cause significant fear-based trauma, particularly in vulnerable immigrant communities, leading to adverse public health outcomes. They contend that the federal government has a responsibility to address these mental health needs by providing dedicated, culturally competent resources and services to help affected individuals and foster community resilience.
Opponents contend
Critics may argue that this bill creates an unnecessary new bureaucracy within HHS and diverts resources from other critical public health priorities. They might also contend that providing specialized services to individuals affected by immigration enforcement could be perceived as undermining federal immigration laws or exceeding the appropriate scope of HHS's mission.
The bill is concise and clearly structured, making it highly accessible for a thorough review within a short timeframe.
Section 2(a)-(b)
Establishment of Office of Immigrant Community Mental Health and Resilience
This provision directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a new office within the Office of the Secretary, to be called the 'Office of Immigrant Community Mental Health and Resilience.' This office will be led by a Director appointed by the Secretary, establishing a dedicated federal entity focused on the mental health needs of immigrant communities.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that a dedicated office is crucial for effectively coordinating and delivering mental health services to immigrant communities, ensuring that their unique needs are addressed with appropriate focus and expertise.
Critics contend
Critics might contend that creating a new office could lead to bureaucratic inefficiencies or overlap with existing HHS functions, potentially diverting resources from other established mental health programs.
Tradeoffs
The tension lies between the desire for a focused approach to immigrant mental health and concerns about adding new administrative layers to the federal bureaucracy.
Section 2(c)(1)-(2)
Direct Care and Service Delivery Support
This provision mandates the Director of the new office to carry out programs and activities that assist impacted communities, specifically by providing mental health services to individuals experiencing fear-based trauma related to immigration law enforcement actions. This includes establishing mobile mental health response teams, providing emergency counseling vouchers, and offering guidance to States on Medicaid flexibilities for these services.
Section 2(c)(3)
Data Reporting and Public Health Impact Assessment
This section requires the Director to create a process for States, local governments, and community-based organizations to report federal immigration law enforcement actions. This data will help direct the Office's resources. Additionally, the Director must submit an annual report to Congress on the public health impacts of these actions, including recommendations for care in medically underserved communities.
Section 2(c)(4)
Workforce Development for Culturally Competent Care
The bill directs the Office to support impacted communities in hiring culturally competent behavioral health specialists and training existing healthcare providers. This aims to ensure that mental health services provided are sensitive to the cultural and linguistic backgrounds of immigrant populations and that the workforce is adequately prepared to address their specific trauma-related needs.
Section 2(d)
Mental Health Grant Program for Impacted Communities
This provision establishes a grant program, administered by the Secretary, for eligible entities serving impacted communities. Grant funds can be used for various purposes, including providing trauma-informed mental health services, addressing behavioral health crises, developing 'know your rights' campaigns related to healthcare, deploying mobile services, and integrating multilingual mental health services with school-based healthcare.
Section 2(e)
Prohibition on Sharing of Information
This provision explicitly prohibits the Office of Immigrant Community Mental Health and Resilience from sharing any data, actions, or information collected with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or any other federal agency involved in immigration law enforcement actions. This aims to build trust within immigrant communities and encourage individuals to seek services without fear of adverse immigration consequences.
Authorization of Appropriations: The bill authorizes the transfer of 'such sums as may be necessary' from amounts made available under sections 90003, 100051, and 100052 of Public Law 119-21 to carry out this Act, with funds remaining available until expended.
Section 4
Why it matters:This is a standard legislative practice for authorizing new programs by drawing from existing, broader appropriations, rather than creating new spending authority. It allows for flexibility but obscures the immediate fiscal impact of the specific bill.
Case for: Supporters would argue that this approach allows for efficient use of existing federal funds without requiring new appropriations, streamlining the process for establishing the new office and programs.
Case against: Critics might argue that this method lacks transparency regarding the actual cost of the new programs and how it impacts the original intent of the funds in Public Law 119-21, making it difficult to assess the true fiscal commitment.
Estimated impact: The total financial impact is not specified in the bill text, as it relies on transfers of 'such sums as may be necessary' from existing appropriations in PL 119-21. The actual amount will depend on future administrative decisions.