Sponsors (4)
The bill channels predictable federal funds to expand culturally competent preventive care, local health jobs, and capacity among faith- and community-based organizations in underserved areas, at the cost of increased federal spending, limited eligibility that may exclude some providers, and a small administrative set-aside that reduces funds for direct services.
Residents of low-income, rural, and urban medically underserved communities gain increased access to culturally and linguistically appropriate preventive and medical services through grant-funded programs.
Community-based organizations can create local jobs by hiring community health workers, navigators, and peer specialists, while expanding and diversifying the health workforce that serves underserved areas to improve continuity and cultural competence of care.
Eligible faith- and community-based organizations receive capacity-building funds to scale programs addressing chronic disease and social determinants of health, strengthening local social-service responses.
All taxpayers bear the cost of the program (authorized $50M→$70M annually), which increases federal spending and could exert upward pressure on deficits or require tradeoffs elsewhere in the budget.
Limiting eligibility to faith- or community-based organizations in underserved areas may exclude other effective providers (e.g., some hospitals or newer innovators), creating gaps in coverage or uneven service provision.
Allowing up to 5% of grant funds for administrative costs reduces the share available for direct services (e.g., up to $2.5M in FY2026), potentially limiting frontline impact.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a grant program to fund faith- and community-based organizations to expand culturally appropriate care, community health workers, and address social determinants of health.
Introduced September 16, 2025 by Nikema Williams · Last progress September 16, 2025
Creates a Health Equity Innovation Grant Program that lets the HHS Secretary award grants to faith- and community-based organizations to expand culturally and linguistically appropriate care, support community health workers and trusted messengers, increase workforce diversity, and address social determinants of health in medically underserved areas and Health Professional Shortage Areas. The bill authorizes multi-year funding (rising from $50M in FY2026 to $70M in later years as written) and allows the Secretary to use up to 5% of appropriated funds for administration.