To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to jointly award grants for the purposes of improving access to, developing, or expanding services that provide an individual with transportation to or from substance use disorder treatment or supportive services.

Summary of HR 8916 (119th Congress)

Purpose and intent

• HR 8916 directs the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to jointly award grants.
• The primary goal is to improve access to transportation for individuals seeking substance use disorder (SUD) treatment or related supportive services, and to support the development or expansion of transportation-enabled treatment access.

Key provisions

• Creation of a joint grant program administered by:
  • The Secretary of Health and Human Services
  • The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
• Grant purpose categories (as inferred from the bill’s title and objectives):
  • Improving access to transportation for individuals pursuing SUD treatment.
  • Developing new transportation-related services or expanding existing ones to support treatment access.
  • Providing transportation to and from SUD treatment facilities and supportive services (which may include counseling, aftercare, or ancillary services essential to engaging in treatment).
• Collaborative administration:
  • The grant program requires coordination between HHS and HUD, likely leveraging HHS’s public health resources and HUD’s housing and community development authorities to address transportation barriers.
• Funding considerations:
  • While specific dollar amounts are not provided in the summary, the bill would authorize or appropriate funds for grants, and set eligibility criteria, application processes, and reporting requirements (typical for federal grant programs).

Who would be affected

• Individuals seeking SUD treatment and related supportive services who face transportation barriers.
• Service providers, including:
  • Treatment facilities (drug and alcohol treatment centers)
  • Community-based organizations that deliver transportation or transportation-related supportive services
  • Local/jurisdictional housing authorities and community development programs collaborating with HHS and HUD
• Local governments and transit providers that might partner to deliver transportation solutions (e.g., vouchers, rideshare programs, or other mobility services) to support treatment access.

Procedural and timeline aspects

• Referral and consideration:
  • The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Financial Services for consideration of provisions within their jurisdictions.
• Introduction and sponsorship:
  • Introduced in the House on May 20, 2026.
  • Co-sponsors include Suzanne Bonamici, David Valadao, and Don Bacon.
• Next steps (typical for such bills):
  • Committees would review, hold hearings if needed, and mark up the legislation.
  • If approved, it would move to the full House for debate and voting.
  • Potential inclusion in broader appropriations or policy packages, depending on Congress’s agenda and budgetary constraints.

Practical implications

• By funding and coordinating transportation-focused solutions, the bill aims to reduce a common barrier to initiating and maintaining SUD treatment.
• Could enhance continuity of care by ensuring patients can reliably access appointments, counseling, medication-assisted treatment, and aftercare services.
• May foster partnerships between health services and housing/community development sectors to address transportation as a social determinant of health.

Note: The summary reflects the bill’s stated purpose and provisions as described in the available action history and title. Detailed text would provide specific eligibility criteria, grant amounts, match requirements (if any), performance metrics, reporting obligations, and any accompanying authorization of appropriations.