Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Oct 20, 2021
Comforting Our Military Families through On-base or Remote Treatment Act of 2021 or the COMFORT Act of 2021
This bill authorizes the Office of Military Family Readiness Policy within the Department of Defense (DOD) to coordinate programs and activities for the provision of nonmedical counseling services to military families through the DOD Military and Family Life Counseling Program. Under the bill, nonmedical counseling services means mental health care services that are nonclinical, short-term, and solution-focused to address topics related to personal growth, development, and positive functioning.
The bill authorizes mental health professionals to provide non-medical counseling services regardless of where the provider or recipient is located so long as the provision of service is within the scope of the authorized duties of the provider. For purposes of the bill, mental health professionals include licensed or certified mental health professionals or members of the uniformed services, civilian DOD employees, or DOD contractors.
Source last updated: Dec 6, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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