S 3021 117th Congress Senate Armed Forces and National Security Health personnel Mental health Military medicine Military personnel and dependents

COMFORT Act of 2021

Introduced: October 20, 2021 See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Oct 20, 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Oct 20, 2021

Introduced in Senate

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Comforting Our Military Families through On-base or Remote Treatment Act of 2021 or the COMFORT Act of 2021

This bill authorizes the Office of Military Family Readiness Policy within the Department of Defense (DOD) to coordinate programs and activities for the provision of nonmedical counseling services to military families through the DOD Military and Family Life Counseling Program. Under the bill, nonmedical counseling services means mental health care services that are nonclinical, short-term, and solution-focused to address topics related to personal growth, development, and positive functioning.

The bill authorizes mental health professionals to provide non-medical counseling services regardless of where the provider or recipient is located so long as the provision of service is within the scope of the authorized duties of the provider. For purposes of the bill, mental health professionals include licensed or certified mental health professionals or members of the uniformed services, civilian DOD employees, or DOD contractors.

What's happening now October 20, 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Committees of jurisdiction 1