HR-6630 : Still Just a Bill

The "Expanding Mental Health Access for Cyber Command Personnel Act" (H.R. 6630) proposes to address the unique behavioral health needs of the United States Cyber Mission Force. This bill directs the Department of Defense to:

• **Establish an Initiative:** Not later than one year after enactment, an initiative must be launched by the Under Secretaries of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and Policy, in coordination with military department Principal Cyber Advisors and the Commander of U.S. Cyber Command. The goal is to understand and address occupational resiliency challenges (behavioral health issues related to work-related stress) within the Cyber Mission Force.
• **Provide Cleared Professionals:** Ensure that behavioral health professionals are assigned to the operating locations of U.S. Cyber Command and the Cyber Mission Force. These professionals must hold the necessary security clearances to provide treatment to service members at those locations.
• **Mandate Annual Briefings:** For a three-year period following the initiative's commencement, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy must provide annual briefings to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. These briefings will cover:
  • The status of the initiative.
  • Validation of security clearances held by professionals.
  • Analysis of clinical issues being treated.
  • Identified challenges in carrying out the initiative.
  • Efforts to increase awareness among service members about available mental health services.