Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Votes for Bipartisan Mental Health Reform Measure

Statement

Today, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) released the statement below after voting in favor of H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act. The bill passed the House by a vote of 422-2.

"Millions of people in the U.S., including more than 32,000 adults and 12,000 children in Hawaiʻi*, are living with serious mental health conditions, yet less than half receive the services they need. To help bridge the gap that has long existed in mental health care, H.R. 2646 would better connect those dealing with mental illness to community-based services, promote early intervention and treatment, increase access to tele-medicine for underserved and rural communities, and remove access barriers to Medicaid and Medicare for adults and children who need treatment. In addition, the legislation will help address a nationwide shortage of nearly 100,000 inpatient beds, encourage states to provide community-based alternatives to institutionalization, and increase funding for suicide prevention research and outreach programs. Mental illness affects every community in every state across the nation. This bipartisan legislation will help to ensure that those in need of mental health care have better access to the treatment and care they need."

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