Sponsors (4)
Establishes a grant program funding faith- and community-based groups to expand culturally appropriate care and address health inequities, with authorized annual appropriations for FY2026–FY2029.
Official title: To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to faith- or community-based organizations to address persistent health inequities and chronic disease challenges.
Introduced September 16, 2025 by Nikema Williams · Last progress September 16, 2025
The bill channels stable federal grants to faith- and community-based organizations to expand culturally competent services, workforce capacity, and local jobs in underserved areas, at the cost of new federal spending, eligibility limits that may exclude other providers, and modest administrative set-asides.
Residents of low-income, rural, and urban underserved communities will gain increased access to culturally and linguistically appropriate preventive and medical services through grant-funded local programs.
Nonprofits, faith- and community-based organizations, and local health systems receive predictable multi-year federal funding ($50M rising to $70M annually) to support planning and sustain local health equity interventions.
Healthcare workers and Medicaid beneficiaries in underserved areas benefit from funding intended to diversify and expand the local health workforce, improving continuity of care and cultural competence.
Taxpayers fund the program’s $50M (FY2026) rising to $70M (FY2029) annual appropriations, increasing federal spending and potential deficit pressure.
Limiting eligibility to faith- and community-based organizations in underserved areas may exclude hospitals and other providers, creating potential service gaps or fragmentation in local public health systems.
Permitting up to 5% of grant funds for administrative costs reduces the share available for direct services (e.g., up to ~$2.5M in FY2026 could be used for administration).
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a new 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, address chronic disease and health inequities, support community health workers and trusted messengers, strengthen organizational capacity, and tackle social determinants of health. The bill sets eligibility and priority rules for organizations in medically underserved areas or Health Professional Shortage Areas and authorizes annual appropriations from FY2026 through FY2029 with up to 5% for administrative costs.