Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee (E&C) recently voted in favor of HR 2646, known as the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, to create significant mental health reforms this year.
Tim Murphy (R-PA), chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, first introduced the act, which was passed with a vote of 53-0.
“Thoughtful legislating takes time and dedication,” Fred Upton (R-MI), chairman of the E&C, said. “This congress, we have seen multi-year landmark efforts finally make it across the finish line in SGR reform and updating our chemical safety laws which will be signed into law in the coming days. 21st Century Cures has taken years, and we continue to make progress. And I am hopeful these mental health reforms that we have long pursued are on the same path to being signed into law.”
The goal is to address the failing mental health system in the U.S. The act will serve to change, modify and restructure the current federal agency -- the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA), which is the mental health and substance use treatment and prevention system based in the U.S. -- that is in charge of improving the nation's mental health practices.
