Trone Attends HHS Mental Health Summit and Visits Eastern Shore to Highlight Mental Health Month
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2023
Contact: Sasha Galbreath, Sasha.Galbreath@mail.house.gov
Trone Attends HHS Mental Health Summit and Visits Eastern Shore to Highlight Mental Health Month
Rep. Trone and Maryland Special Secretary of Opioid Response Emily Keller visit the Whitsitt Center
SALISBURY, MD — Last week, Congressman David Trone (D-MD) honored Mental Health Awareness Month and visited the Eastern Shore to discuss progress on combating the opioid epidemic and expanding broadband access.
On Thursday, Trone joined United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra for aMental Health Summit. One in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness, and as the co-founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force, Trone is a leading voice on this issue. During the event, Trone gave a speech focused on the efforts he’s taken in Congress to address America’s mental health crisis, including the role he played in passing the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act last year.
Trone wrapped up his day by meeting with the Executive Director of the Maryland Broadband Cooperative, Drew Van Dopp, in Salisbury to discuss the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s over $100 million investment into expanding broadband in Maryland. Trone helped pass the law last Congress, which allows nearly one in five low-income Maryland families to access high-speed internet through the Affordable Connectivity Program. Access to affordable high-speed internet will allow Marylanders to better access job opportunities, education, and telehealth.
On Friday, Trone visited the Whitsitt Center, an addiction residential treatment facility in Chestertown, with Maryland’s Special Secretary of Opioid Response Emily Keller. During his visit, Trone toured the center and the twelve crisis stabilization beds available for those with substance use disorders, thanks to State Opioid Response Grants. Last year, Congressman Trone’s State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act was signed into law to deliver $8.75 billion over the next five years to organizations on the frontlines of this epidemic. Substance use disorder and mental illness are often co-occurring; more than 25% of adults living with serious mental health problems also have a substance use problem.
“Our country has had to deal with so much in the last few years, but it’s important to look back and remember the progress we’ve made. I’m proud that we’ve taken action to improve addiction and mental health resources and expand essential services like broadband access nationwide,” said Congressman David Trone. “These investments will help us address rising overdose deaths and give underserved communities a better opportunity to access jobs, education, and health care. That’s why I came to Congress — to help those in the shadows of life — and I’ll never stop fighting for them.”
Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. Trone serves on the Appropriations, Budget, and Joint Economic Committees in the 118th Congress. In Congress, Trone is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders, including the mental health and addiction crises, criminal justice reform, and funding for medical research.
Follow Congressman Trone at @RepDavidTrone for updates on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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