HouseH.R. 10760119th Congress
Healthy Minds for a Better Future Act
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10760 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10760
To establish a multiagency Middle School Mental Health Task Force at
the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human
Services.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 6, 2026
Mr. Kean introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee
on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a multiagency Middle School Mental Health Task Force at
the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human
Services.
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 ``Healthy Minds for a Better Future
Act''.
SEC. 2. MIDDLE SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE.
(a) In General.--There is established a multiagency Middle School
Mental Health Task Force (referred to in this section as the ``Task
Force'') at the Department of Education and the Department of Health
and Human Services to study and survey the resources that are available
to parents and educators to identify and help middle-school aged
students that may be experiencing mental health issues.
(b) Members.--
(1) In general.--The Task Force established under
subsection (a) shall consist of 12 members including--
(A) the Secretary of Education;
(B) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(C) a representative of an association of school
administration relating to middle school or high
schools appointed by the Secretary of Education;
(D) a representative of an association working for
childhood mental health appointed by the Secretary of
Education;
(E) one school counselor or educator from each
United States region, including--
(i) the Northeastern region (consisting of
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut,
Pennsylvania, and New Jersey);
(ii) the Midwestern region (consisting of
Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri,
Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota,
Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa);
(iii) the Western region (consisting of
Montana, Washington, Oregon, California,
Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada,
Wyoming, Idaho, Alaska, and Hawaii); and
(iv) the Southern region (consisting of
Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South
Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky,
West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and
Virginia); and
(F) one parent of a middle school student (from a
public or private secondary school) from each region
listed in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph
(6).
(2) Application process.--Each member of the Task Force
described in subparagraphs (E) and (F) of paragraph (1) shall
be selected through an annual application process determined by
the Secretary of Education.
(3) Prohibition on compensation.--Each member of the Task
Force shall serve on the Task Force without pay.
(4) Length of service.--Each member of the Task Force shall
serve on the Task Force for 2 calendar years.
(c) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Task Force shall be
elected by a majority vote of the members of the Commission. The term
of office of the Chairperson may not exceed 2 years.
(d) Meetings.--
(1) In general.--The Task Force shall meet twice a year at
the call of the Chairperson or the majority of the members of
the Task Force.
(2) Quorum.--Three-fourths of the members of the Task Force
shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold
hearings.
(e) Prohibition on Additional Personnel.--The Task Force shall not
be entitled to appoint additional personnel.
(f) No Subpoena Power.--The Task Force may not issue subpoenas.
(g) Experts.--The Task Force may procure temporary and intermittent
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at
rates for individuals not to exceed the annual rate of basic pay for
GS-10 of the General Schedule.
(h) Contract Authority.--To the extent or in the amounts provided
in advance in appropriation Acts, the Task Force may contract with and
compensate government and private agencies or persons for certain
services relating to the work of the Task Force.
(i) Study and Annual Report.--The Task Force shall--
(1) study that resources (including online platforms,
professional mental health services providers, community mental
health providers, and any other tools or resources to address
mental health) available to secondary school educators
(including educators in the middle grades) and parents for
helping a student who is experiencing mental health issues; and
(2) submit to the Committee on Education and Workforce of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, an annual report
on the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1).
(j) Definitions.--In this Act, the terms ``middle grades'' and
``secondary school'' have the meanings given the terms in section 8101
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
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