On First Full Day of Biden Presidency, Congressman Trone Introduces Two Bipartisan Bills to Address Addiction and Mental Health Crises in America
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hannah Muldavin, Hannah.Muldavin@mail.house.gov
On First Full Day of Biden Presidency, Congressman Trone Introduces Two Bipartisan Bills to Address Addiction and Mental Health Crises in America
WASHINGTON — The day after President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn into office in a call for unity, Congressman David Trone (MD-06) announced he would take immediate bipartisan legislative action on two crises facing the country — the mental health and addiction epidemics currently impacting millions of Americans.
Trone announced that today he will introduce two bipartisan bills, the Family Support Services for Addiction Act with Congressman Dan Meuser (R-PA) and the Preventing Mental Health and Substance Use Crises During Emergencies Act with Congressman Steve Womack (R-AR). Both pieces of legislation address the alarming increase in Americans suffering from addiction and mental health challenges during the pandemic. Just last week, Trone called for action from leaders when data showed a 111% increase in overdose deaths in parts of Maryland.
The Family Support Services for Addiction Act would create a grant program to assist non-profit organizations that provide family support services for addiction treatment, ensuring that families can access the treatment option that is right for their loved one. Trone and his own family lost a loved one, his nephew Ian Trone, to a fentanyl overdose in 2016 after working with him for over five years to seek treatment. Reps. Trone and Meuser introduced the bill during the 116th Congress, where it passed the House floor unanimously.
The full text of the legislation can be found here.
More information about the bill can be found here.
The Preventing Mental Health and Substance Use Crises During Emergencies Act would create a joint task force to prevent mental health crises triggered by public health emergencies. It would also direct the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to assess the federal governments’ response to the impacts of COVID-19 and create a national strategy to help manage future mental health crises.
The full text of the legislation can be found here.
More information about the bill can be found here.
“We have vaccines for COVID, but we will never have a vaccine to cure the mental health and addiction epidemics that have been exacerbated by this pandemic,” said Congressman Trone. “As President Joe Biden said yesterday, this is a time of enormous crisis and challenge in America, and we must unite together in order to solve these problems. I want to thank my colleagues across the aisle for joining together in bipartisan solutions that will help support families affected by addiction and prioritize mental health during these unprecedented times.”
“The Family Support Services For Addiction Act, which passed unanimously in the House last Congress, will help families navigate the difficult and intimidating process of assisting a loved one with substance use disorder,” said Congressman Meuser. “This bipartisan legislation provides a community-based approach to addiction treatment, helping families navigate their insurance coverage and explore treatment options to assist their loved one. Thank you to Congressman Trone for leading this effort.”
“The coronavirus outbreak is a multifaceted crisis. The devastating medical and economic consequences—compounded by stress and isolation—have profoundly impacted the mental health and well-being of Americans,” said Congressman Womack. “We must bring this silent epidemic out of the shadows and help those struggling. This legislation implements a coordinated effort to ensure we are better prepared to assist individuals and provide life-saving resources now and in the future.”
“We know that when families are involved, informed and supported, the outcomes for those with addiction are better,” said Marcia Lee Taylor, Chief External and Government Relations Officer at Partnership to End Addiction. “The Family Support Services for Addiction Act will be a game changer for families through the creation of a grant program for local organizations. It will provide support services that are so desperately needed in communities across the country.”
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 Committee in the 117th Congress and previously served on the Education and Labor, Foreign Affairs, and Joint Economic Committees. In Congress, Trone is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders, including the opioid epidemic, criminal justice reform, and funding for medical research.
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