Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Mental Health for Latinos Act. This important bill would boost our continued efforts to reduce stigma and promote mental wellness, while meeting the diverse needs of Latino communities across the country.

In response to the mental health crisis in the Latino community, this legislation requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a strategy to provide information on evidence-based practices, interventions, and treatments that are culturally and linguistically appropriate and increases awareness of symptoms of mental illnesses common among such populations, considering differences within subgroups, such as gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, race, or ethnicity.

The evidence is clear: We are experiencing a mental health crisis in the Latino community. Disparities within our healthcare system are preventing members of Latino communities from receiving lifesaving mental health services.

These barriers to care are causing too many to suffer in silence, and this must change. Presently, only 36.1 percent of Latino adults aged 18 or older with a mental illness received services in 2021, compared to the U.S. average of 47.2 percent. Between 2010 and 2020, the suicide rate among male Latino adults ages 20 to 64 increased by 35.7 percent, and the female rate increased by 40.6 percent. Even those who are able to access services rarely receive the effective, culturally competent care they need.

This bill would further our continued efforts to reduce stigma and promote mental wellness, while meeting the diverse needs of Latino populations across the country. As our Nation confronts an unfolding mental health crisis, this critical legislation reinforces the timeless message that there is zero shame in asking for help and that seeking support is a sign of strength.

I would like to thank Congresswoman Napolitano for leading this legislation in the House of Representatives, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Mental Health for Latinos Act as soon as possible. ______

By Mr. THUNE (for himself and Mr. Warner):

S. 2477. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide pharmacy payment of certain services; to the Committee on Finance.

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Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Converting Our Waste Sustainably, COWS, Act of 2023. This legislation will help dairy and livestock producers reduce methane emissions, improve air and water quality, and implement more sustainable alternative manure management practices.

As the top dairy State in the country and the second in cheese production, California is the largest producer of milk, butter, and cheeses like mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and queso fresco. Dairy operations contribute billions of dollars to California's economy but are also responsible for 60 percent of California's methane emissions.

Recognizing the urgency of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions like methane, California and the dairy industry are on track to reduce dairy methane emissions by 40 percent by 2030 largely due to the successes of California's own Alternative Manure Management Program.

The COWS Act would establish an Alternative Manure Management Program to help dairy and livestock producers transition toward pasture-based management, alternative treatment and storage practices, solid separation systems, and scrape technologies.

This voluntary program, modeled after California's extremely successful Alternative Manure Management Program, will provide more resources for the dairy and livestock industry to modernize technologies for manure management that help boost profitability, improve water quality, and reduce methane and nitrogen oxide emissions by fostering climate-smart farming.

The bill also makes composting eligible for funding under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural operations is critical to addressing the climate crisis. Because of the high construction and operation costs associated with anerobic digesters, nondigester manure management practices can provide a more cost- effective alternative for family dairy and livestock operators seeking to improve profitability while improving air and water quality for their communities.

I would like to thank my colleagues, Senators Brown and Heinrich, for their leadership in reducing agricultural methane emissions and Representative Costa for championing this bill in the House.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the COWS Act as quickly as possible.

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