Legislation to Improve Access to Care for Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Package Includes Several McKinley Bills to Address Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Washington, D.C. — Congressman David B. McKinley, P.E. (W.Va.-01) today voted in favor of the Mental Health and Well-Being Act (H.R. 7666), which passed the House of Representatives. The bill would improve access to care for substance abuse and mental health in communities across the country and in West Virginia.
The underlying bill included several provisions championed by Rep. McKinley. He also offered an amendment to add the Block, Report, and Suspend Suspicious Shipments Act (H.R. 768), which has previously passed the House in 2019 and 2021. The amendment requires drug manufacturers, distributers, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registrants to track, investigate, and halt suspicious orders.
“The mental health bill we passed today will address pressing concerns facing individuals and families in West Virginia and across the country. Supporting improvements to our mental health care and substance abuse treatment has been a top priority for me and I am glad to continue work on this vital issue,” said Rep. McKinley.
“In recent years, we’ve seen COVID-19 lockdowns and excessive social media use making the mental health crisis worse, especially for young people,” said Rep. McKinley. “West Virginia has consistently topped the list for the highest number of opioid and fentanyl-related overdose deaths in the country. This has devastated families and communities throughout our state. We’ve worked for years to address this drug crisis, but our work is not done. We need to continue fighting for expanded substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery services.”
“At a time of so much division and polarization, this is a good example of coming together to advance legislation addressing important challenges,” said Rep. McKinley.
BACKGROUND:
The Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022
The legislation included language similar to Rep. McKinley’s bill, the PIPES Act (H.R. 6744), which is an important guardrail and prevents federal funding from being used to purchase crack pipes or illicit drug paraphernalia.
Additionally, Rep. McKinley is a lead sponsor or co-sponsor on several of the bills in the package, including:
Mental Health
The Anna Westin Legacy Act of 2022 (H.R. 7249), reauthorizes funding for the Center of Excellence to provide training on eating disorders for health care providers.
The Community Mental Health Services Block Grant Reauthorization Act (H.R. 7241), reauthorizes grant program that ensures state funding for mental health related resources.
The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Reauthorization Act (H.R. 7255), reauthorizes the Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention Grants to support youth suicide prevention in higher education, state, and tribal communities.
Substance Use
The Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant Act of 2022 (H.R. 7235), reauthorizes the Substance Use Disorder Prevention and Treatment Block Grants.
The Excellence in Recovery Housing Act (H.R. 2376), tasks SAMHSA with various activities to promote the availability of high-quality recovery housing for individuals with substance use disorders.
Alternatives to Opioids in the Emergency Department Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4846), reauthorizes the Alternatives to Opioids in the Emergency Department program.