Rep. Angie Craig Leads Bipartisan Farmer Mental Health Legislation

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Angie Craig introduced bipartisan legislation to expand access to mental health resources in Minnesota’s rural communities and connect farmers and producers with stress management tools and medical professionals.

Rep. Craig’s bipartisan Farmers First Act would reauthorize the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) and ensure rural communities have access to certified community behavioral health clinics, critical access hospitals and rural health centers.

“Farmers and farm workers are some of the toughest, hardest working people I know, but farming is a uniquely stressful job and we’ve got to get them the support they need,” said Rep. Angie Craig. “I’m working across the aisle to ensure that farmers and rural Americans know that there are resources available to them to help deal with stress and mental health challenges.”

Rep. Craig introducedthe legislation alongside Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Mike Bost (R-IL) and Jim Costa (D-CA).

The Farmers First Act is supported by several agriculture groups including: the National Farmers Union, the National Rural Health Association, the American Psychological Association, the National Rural Health Association, the National Corn Growers Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation and more.

Bill text of the Farmers First Act can be found here.

###