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STAR Plus Scholarship Act

USA119th CongressHR-3655| House 
| Updated: 5/29/2025
Andrea Salinas

Andrea Salinas

Democratic Representative

Oregon

Cosponsors (3)
Paul Tonko (Democratic)Daniel S. Goldman (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)

Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The STAR Plus Scholarship Act establishes the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Behavioral and Mental Health Workforce Scholarship Program , administered by the Secretary through the Health Resources and Services Administration. This program aims to address critical workforce shortages by providing scholarships to students pursuing careers in these vital health fields. Eligible individuals must be full-time students in accredited educational programs leading to covered employment and must agree to a service obligation. Scholarship recipients commit to serving in designated mental health professional shortage areas , counties with high drug overdose death rates, or other Secretary-approved facilities experiencing shortages of mental health professionals. The period of obligated service is one year for each school year a scholarship is received. The scholarship covers tuition and other reasonable educational expenses, and priority is given to applicants likely to remain in shortage areas and those from groups underrepresented in the workforce. The bill broadly defines "covered employment" to include various professionals providing direct treatment or recovery support for substance use, behavioral, or mental health disorders. It also establishes a fund to utilize amounts recovered from contract breaches to recruit new professionals, ensuring continuity of services in underserved areas. The Act authorizes $75,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 and amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the scholarship tax-exempt for recipients.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-9581
STAR Plus Scholarship Act
May 29, 2025
Introduced in House
May 29, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-9581
    STAR Plus Scholarship Act


  • May 29, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • May 29, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.

Health

STAR Plus Scholarship Act

USA119th CongressHR-3655| House 
| Updated: 5/29/2025
The STAR Plus Scholarship Act establishes the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Behavioral and Mental Health Workforce Scholarship Program , administered by the Secretary through the Health Resources and Services Administration. This program aims to address critical workforce shortages by providing scholarships to students pursuing careers in these vital health fields. Eligible individuals must be full-time students in accredited educational programs leading to covered employment and must agree to a service obligation. Scholarship recipients commit to serving in designated mental health professional shortage areas , counties with high drug overdose death rates, or other Secretary-approved facilities experiencing shortages of mental health professionals. The period of obligated service is one year for each school year a scholarship is received. The scholarship covers tuition and other reasonable educational expenses, and priority is given to applicants likely to remain in shortage areas and those from groups underrepresented in the workforce. The bill broadly defines "covered employment" to include various professionals providing direct treatment or recovery support for substance use, behavioral, or mental health disorders. It also establishes a fund to utilize amounts recovered from contract breaches to recruit new professionals, ensuring continuity of services in underserved areas. The Act authorizes $75,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 and amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the scholarship tax-exempt for recipients.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-9581
STAR Plus Scholarship Act
May 29, 2025
Introduced in House
May 29, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-9581
    STAR Plus Scholarship Act


  • May 29, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • May 29, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
Andrea Salinas

Andrea Salinas

Democratic Representative

Oregon

Cosponsors (3)
Paul Tonko (Democratic)Daniel S. Goldman (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)

Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee

Health

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted