Rep. Angie Craig Helps Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Provide Mental Health Resources for Farmers

Today, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig continued her fight to address the insufficient mental health resources in our rural communities by cosponsoring the bipartisan Seeding Rural Resilience Act.

Rep. Craig grew up watching her grandfather endure the stress of losing his job on the farm in the 1980's farm crisis and fought to be on the Agriculture Committee so that she could stand up for family farmers.

"I've talked with farmers whose families have farmed on the same land for generations describe the stress inflicted by the current farm crisis. Earlier this year I held a roundtable focused on rural mental health in Wabasha, and I've also walked with farmers on their land as they describe the sense of isolation that can set in with uncertain markets and low commodity prices," said Rep. Angie Craig. "I understand that right now we must expand mental health resources to support Minnesota farmers, and I'm proud to expand resources that meet farmers where they live."

"Farming is stressful, no matter what," said Gary Wertish, Minnesota Farmers Union President. "But the past few years have been particularly difficult for farm families. Faced with low prices, unpredictable weather and a costly trade war, farmers are finding a real lack of mental health resources in their rural communities. The Seeding Rural Resilience Act would help farmers bridge this gap and get the mental health support they need where they are. Minnesota Farmers Union thanks Rep. Craig for her leadership on this critical issue."

"Minnesota farmers and ranchers are facing severe financial and emotional challenges. The Seeding Rural Resilience Act will provide needed resources to help farmers respond to stress, as well as decrease the unique stigma associated with mental health in rural communities," said Kevin Paap, Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation President. "MFBF appreciates Rep. Craig's leadership in recognizing that there are many challenges out of our control that farmers and ranchers face on a daily basis. Farmers understand we can't change what has happened in the past. But we can change how we accept and respond moving forward. To do that successfully, there needs to be access to tools, resources and support systems which this bill provides."

Co-led by Rep. Anthony Brindisi of New York, Rep. Craig is an original cosponsor of the Seeding Rural Resilience Act which would:

• Implement a Farmer-Facing Employee Training Program that requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide voluntary stress management training to Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency, and National Resources Conservation Service Employees.
• Form a partnership between the Department of Health and Human Services and USDA to create a $3 million PSA to increase public awareness of farm and ranch stress and destigmatize mental health care in rural communities.
• Direct the Secretary of Agriculture to work with state, local, and non-governmental stakeholders to collaborate and determine best practices for responding to farm and ranch mental stress.

Rep. Craig is a member of the House Agriculture Committee and has led several efforts to stand up for Minnesota's family farmers and expand rural health care resources, including the Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act to expand access to community health services and the Mental Health Telemedicine Expansion Act, which would make it easier for people to get mental health care in their homes.