The publication is reproduced in full below:
CALLING ON THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION
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HON. MARCY KAPTUR
of ohio
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call my colleagues' attention to the dire need for Congress to continue building upon recent investments in mental health care.
The American Rescue Plan funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is commendable but Congress must hone its focus to address this ongoing crisis by working to create and pass comprehensive mental health legislation.
I, alongside Members of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus and the Bipartisan Mental Health and Addiction Taskforce, are working to pull together key pieces of legislation to establish a comprehensive Mental Health Crisis Response Act.
I ask my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, to please work with us and send bills our way to present to leadership and the White House, as the fundamentals of our social economy depend on the good health of our citizenry and their ability to access quality and affordable behavioral health services.
Throughout my 38 years in Congress, I have heard countless stories from constituents who face barriers when accessing essential mental health services. We must work to overcome these issues.
Further, we must enhance our Nation's capacity to address the negative social and physical determinants of health that cause trauma and behavioral health problems, as well as deploy more effective upstream prevention strategies.
It's past time for Congress to take meaningful action, targeting provider shortages, reimbursement parity, housing support, treatment, and increased Federal funding to push the bounds of Federal research.
Full recovery from the pandemic will be contingent upon addressing the behavioral health conditions of our population, because mental health is public health.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 91
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