Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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

This bill would require SAMHSA to develop a strategy to increases awareness of symptoms of mental illnesses and provide information on evidence-based interventions and treatments that are culturally and linguistically appropriate.

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. Only 47.4 percent of Hispanic adults ages 18 or older with any mental illness received services in 2023. Between 2010 and 2020, the suicide rate among male Hispanic adults, ages 20 to 64, increased by 35.7 percent and the female rate increased by 40.6 percent.

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 Salinas 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 quickly as possible. ______

By Mr. DURBIN:

S. 2457. A bill to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

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