House Passes Representative Angie Craig’s Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Critical Mental Health Programs

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Angie Craig's bipartisan Reauthorizing Evidence-based and Crisis Help Initiatives Needed to Generate (REACHING) Improved Mental Health Outcomes for Patients Act of 2022. The REACHING Act, which Craig introduced alongside Representatives Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Sharice Davids (D-KS) and Claudia Tenney (R-NY), would reauthorize and improve programs that provide critical care and treatment for adult mental health, suicide prevention, substance abuse and related issues across the country.

"We are facing a mental health crisis in our country – a crisis that was greatly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Representative Craig. "These grants will ensure our communities, schools and mental health agencies are prepared to meet the challenges of this moment and that mental health resources are accessible and readily available to those who need them most."

The REACHING Act would establish the Mental Health Crisis Response Partnership Pilot Program and reauthorize seven additional Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) programs, including the Mental Health Awareness and Training Grant, to address rising mental health needs, provide training to first responders, law enforcement and school personal to recognize the signs of serious mental health illness and prevent suicide among adults. These programs will provide a crucial lifeline to communities and individuals in crisis.

The REACHING Act passed the House as part of the bipartisan Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, a comprehensive package to strengthen and expand programs to support mental health care and substance use disorder prevention, care and treatment. Restoring Hope would also bolster the behavioral health workforce and increase investment in pediatric and maternal mental health.

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