E&C Committee Democrats Mark First Step Towards Mental Health Reform

Press Release

Today, Democratic Members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, Congressman Gene Green (D-TX), Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO), Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA), Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY), Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA), and Congressman Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) released the following statement on the mental health bill, H.R. 2646 as amended, being considered this week before the House Energy & Commerce Committee:

"We are pleased that the mental health bill under consideration in Committee includes many of the provisions Democrats offered to make the legislation more meaningful for patients and families. While this legislation is a step forward, we have much more work to do on our path to comprehensive reform, and we look forward to continuing to work with our colleagues to ensure we are providing the necessary resources needed to reform the entire spectrum of care."

In February 2016, Reps. Green, DeGette, Matsui, Tonko, Loebsack, and Kennedy introduced H.R. 4435, the Comprehensive Behavioral Health Reform and Recovery Act of 2016, which put forth solutions for increasing investments in services and resources across the entire spectrum of mental health care, and reflected policy priorities put forth by Democratic members during ongoing efforts this Congress. Many of the provisions included in H.R. 4435 were included in the amendment in the nature of a substitute.