S 767 118th Congress Senate International Affairs

MINDS Act

Introduced: March 9, 2023 See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Mar 9, 2023

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Mar 9, 2023

Introduced in Senate

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Mental Health in International Development and Humanitarian Settings Act or the MINDS Act

This bill authorizes and requires certain actions by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to integrate mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) activities across U.S. development and foreign assistance programs.

The bill authorizes USAID to appoint an MHPSS coordinator. The coordinator's duties include (1) guiding, overseeing, and directing MHPSS programming and integration across U.S. foreign assistance programming; and (2) promoting best practices, coordination, and reporting in MHPSS across U.S. development and humanitarian assistance programs. Focus populations for the coordinator include adult caretakers, children separated from a family unit, and displaced populations.

In addition, the bill establishes a working group comprised of representatives from relevant USAID bureaus, the Department of State, and other federal agencies. The purpose of the working group is to ensure continuity and integration of MHPSS across U.S. development and humanitarian assistance programs.

The provisions of the bill expire five years after enactment.

What's happening now March 9, 2023

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Committees of jurisdiction 1