The Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) monitors Congressional actions to impact additional mental health and addiction issues. Although the listed topics are where we find the greatest concentration of legislation affecting behavioral health in our nation, other issues are raised on occasion and will be found here.
Issue statements from past Congresses appear below. For statements from the current session of Congress, view the other mental health and addiction issues statements page.
- Letter Urging the Senate’s Consideration for Several Suicide and Youth Mental Health Bills: MHLG writes in September 2020 during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month urging Senate floor consideration for a number of suicide and youth mental health bills recently passed by the House.
- Letter of Support for the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act (S. 4349): MHLG writes to Senators Kaine, Reed, Cassidy, and Young to thank them for introducing the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act (S. 4349). This legislation will
reduce and prevent suicide and mental and behavioral health conditions among health care professionals, sometimes referred to as “burn out.” - Letter Urging House Consideration of Legislation to Prevent Youth Suicide and Mental Health: MHLG writes to Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy to bring forward for House floor consideration legislation recently reported out of the Energy & Commerce Committee to help prevent youth suicide and intervene early to support youth mental health.
- MHLG Writes in Support of the Advancement of S. 2661: MHLG writes to Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, Leader McCarthy, and Chairman Pallone to urge to advance S. 2661, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives as quickly as possible.
- MHLG Thanks the Honorable Chris Stewart and the Honorable Doris Matsui: MHLG thanks Representatives Stewart and Matsui for introducing the Suicide Prevention Act of 2019 (H.R. 5619), which will help to identify and track suicide attempts and instances of self-harm in emergency departments and improve follow up care.
- MHLG Issues Comment letter to Federal Communications Commission in Support 988 Designation: The Mental Health Liaison Group wrote to Chairman Ajit Pai of the Federal Communications Commission to express support for the FCC’s proposed rule, Implementation of the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018.
- MHLG supports H.R. 4861: The Effective Suicide Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department Act of 2019 would help address the growing epidemic of suicides in the United States by improving the identification, assessment and treatment of patients in emergency departments who are at high risk of suicide.
- MHLG urges passage of H.R. 2345, the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2017: The Mental Health Liaison Group wrote to Representatives Greg Walden, Frank Pallone, Marsha Blackburn and Mike Doyle urging passage of H.R. 2345, the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act. This life-saving legislation calls for a study to evaluate (1) the feasibility of designating a three-digit dialing code for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system; and (2) the effectiveness of the current National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
- MHLG support for H.R. 4309, the Barriers to Suicide Act: The Mental Health Liaison Group wrote to Representatives Donald Beyer, John Katko and Grace Napolitano to express strong support for the Barriers to Suicide Act of 2019. This vital piece of legislation will create grants for state and local governments to fund nets and barriers on bridges to prevent deaths by suicide.
- MHLG support for H.R. 4861, the Effective Suicide Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department Act of 2019: The Mental Health Liaison Group wrote to Representatives Gus Bilirakis and Eliot Engel to express support for the Effective Suicide Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department Act of 2019. This legislation will help address the growing epidemic of suicides in the United States by improving the identification, assessment and treatment of patients in emergency departments who are at high risk of suicide.
- MHLG supports the RISE from Trauma Act: This ACT would direct important resources for communities to implement evidence-based best practices to prevent and mitigate the impact of trauma.
- MHLG Extends strong support for the Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Load Repayment Act of 2019: The Mental Health Liaison Group wrote to the Honorable Kamala Harris and the Honorable Cory Gardner to support this vital step in addressing our nation’s dire shortage of mental health professionals and reducing the unmet mental health treatment gap for Americans across the lifespan.
- MHLG Continues Support for the Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act (HR. 2431), 8.12.19: The Mental Health Liaison Group wrote to the Honorable John Katko and the Honorable Grace Napolitano to express continued support for the Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act. This legislation is a vital step in addressing our nation’s dire shortage of mental health professionals and reducing the unmet mental health treatment gap for Americans across the lifespan.
- MHLG support for H.R. 1329, the Medicaid ReEntry Act. (5.2.19): The Mental Health Liaison Group wrote to Representatives Paul Tonko and Michael Turner to express support for the Medicaid ReEntry Act. This legislation will grant Medicaid eligibility to incarcerated individuals 30-days prior to their release.
- MHLG support for the Protecting Pre-existing Conditions and Making Health Care Affordable Act. (5.1.19): The Mental Health Liaison Group wrote to Representatives Frank Pallone, Bobby Scott, and Richard Neal to express support for the Protecting Pre-existing Conditions and Making Health Care Affordable Act. This legislation is a vital step to comprehensively ensuring higher quality health coverage at lower costs.
- MHLG Continues Support for the Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act (S. 3796), 12.20.18: The Mental Health Liaison Group wrote to the Honorable Kamala Harris to express continued support for the Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act. This legislation is a vital step in addressing our nation’s dire shortage of mental health professionals and reducing the unmet mental health treatment gap for Americans across the lifespan.
- MHLG Supports the Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Relief Act of 2018, 8.24.18: The Mental Health Liaison Group wrote to Representative John Katko and Representative Grace Napolitano to extend strong support for the Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Relief Act of 2018 (H.R. 6597).
- MHLG Submits Inquiries to Federal Agencies in Support of ISMICC Recommendations, 2.23.18: The Mental Health Liaison Group wrote to several federal agencies inquiring about their plans to implement the recommendations contained in the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee’s (ISMICC) first report. Read our letters to the Departments of Education, Veterans Affairs, Justice, Defense, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Social Security Administration.
- MHLG Opposes Repeal of Individual Mandate, 12.7.17: The group wrote to Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Ryan and Democratic Leader Pelosi to express continued opposition to specific provisions within the House and Senate versions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that repeal the Affordable Care Act’s individual shared responsibility mandate and the House’s provision repealing the medical expense deduction.
- MHLG opposes provisions within the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, 11.17.17: The Mental Health Liaison Group sent a letter to Majority Leader McConnell, Speaker Ryan, and Chairmen Hatch and Brady to express opposition of specific provisions within the House and Senate versions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, particularly the provisions repealing the Affordable Care Act’s individual shared responsibility mandate and the House’s provision repealing the medical expense deduction.
- MHLG Urges Mental Health Reform, 11.14.16: The Mental Health Liaison Group sent a letter to Senate leadership in support of passing the Mental Health Reform Act (S. 2680) and the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act (H.R. 2646).
- MHLG Supports the Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act (S. 2685/H.R. 4374), 9.28.16: A Mental Health Liaison Group letter to Senator Durbin and Representative Schakowsky emphasizing the importance of this legislation in assisting colleges and universities to address their growing mental health needs.
- MHLG Support Letter Mental Health Reform Act 2016
- MHLG Excellence Act Expansion Support Letter 2016
- MHLG Urges HELP Committee Take Up the Mental Health Reform Act of 2015 (S. 1945), 10.27.15. The Mental Health Liaison Group sent a letter to HELP Committee leadership advocating their support of this legislation.
- MHLG Supports the Anna Westin Act of 2015 (S. 1865), 10.2.15: A Mental Health Liaison Group letter to Senators Klobuchar, Ayotte, Baldwin, and Capito in support of this bill that would help those affected by eating disorders.
- MHLG Supports the Anna Westin Act of 2015 (H.R. 2515), 10.2.15: A Mental Health Liaison Group letter to Representatives Deutch and Ros-Lehtinen in support of this bill that would help those affected by eating disorders.
- MHLG Letter of Support of the Anna Westin Act of 2015 S. 1865 – 10/2/15
- MHLG Letter of Support of the Ann Westin Act of 2015 H.R. 2515 – 10/2/15
- MHLG Letter of Support of the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act of 2015 final – 8/6/15
- MHLG Advocates for the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act of 2015 (S. 1893), 8.6.15: A Mental Health Liaison Group letter to Senators Alexander and Murray of the HELP Committee supporting S. 1893, which fosters early detection of mental disorders, awareness, and understanding.
- MHLG Letter in Support of Senate Reauthorization of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act of 2015 – 5/15/15
- MHLG Supports the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization of 2015, 5.15.15: The Mental Health Liaison Group sent a letter to Senators Reed and Murkowski in response to their legislation, which would support youth and college suicide prevention grants across the country.
- MHLG Letter in Support of Medical Evaluation Parity for Service Members (MEPS) Act (S. 646) – 4/10/15
- MHLG Letter in Support of the Mental Health in Schools Act – 3/25/15
- MHLG Letter on CHIP Extension – 3/15/15
- MHLG Thank You Letter on President’s Budget to Eliminate the Medicare 190-day Lifetime Limit – 2/19/15
- MHLG Letter on Medicare Budget Equity – 2/19/15
- MHLG Letter on Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization of 2015 – 2/18/15
- MHLG Supports the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization of 2015, 2.18.15: The Mental Health Liaison Group sent a letter to Representatives Jolly and Davis in response to their legislation, which would support youth and college suicide prevention grants across the country.
- MHLG Comment to the Proposed ONC Strategic Plan “Federal Health IT Strategic Plan 2015-2020” – 2-5-15
- MHLG Critiques ONC Health IT Strategic Plan, 2.5.15: The Mental Health Liaison Group sent a letter to Acting ONC Assistant Secretary DeSalvo suggesting an alteration of their plan to include that behavioral health care settings must receive meaningful use payments to afford EHRs.
- MHLG Letter in Support of Caring for America’s Heroes Act – 10/17/14
- MHLG Sen Finance Final letter 9 30 13
- MHLG Letter to the House of Representatives in Support of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization
- MHLG Letter to Senator Murray on Children’s Recovery from Trauma Act of 2013 (S. 380) – 5/8/13
- MHLG Letter to Senate HELP Committee – 4/8/13
- MHLG Letter on Mental Health in Schools Act – 3/18/13
- MHLG Letter on Excellence in Mental Health Act – 3/18/13
- MHLG Letter on Mental Health First Aid – 2/25/13
- MHLG Letter on Mental Health in Schools Act – 2/8/13
- MHLG Letter on Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization of 2013 – 1/31/13
- Mental Health Liaison Group recommendation letter to Vice President Biden’s Commission – 1/14/13
- MHLG hearing record letter for hearing entitled “Examining Medicare and Medicaid Coordination for Dual-Eligibles” – 7/18/12
- MHLG letter in support of the Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, H.R. 2783 – 8/11/11
- Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization of 2011. Letter 4-5-11
- Campus Mental Health Improvement Act. Letter supporting HR 1833, 2-11-11
- 112th Congress Introduction of the Mental Health in Schools Act of 2011. 2-9-11
- MHLG letter on Health Information Technology (H.R. 5040) – 5/20/10
- Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2009. Letter endorsing S. 678 to the full Senate, 2-26-10.
- Establishing a Network of Health-Advancing National Centers of Excellence for Depression (ENHANCED) Act. Letter endorsing H.R. 4204 to Reps. Kennedy & Murphy, 12-9-09.
- Letter supporting the nomination of Pam Hyde as SAMHSA Administrator, 11-19-09.
- Mental Health in Schools Act of 2009 Legislation for expanding the availability of comprehensive school-based mental health services for students in communities across America.
- Endorsement letter of S. 1857 to Sen. Stabenow, 11-13-09.
- MHLG Letter in Support of Medicaid Emergency Psychiatric Care Demonstration Project Act, H.R. 1415 – 3/13/09
- Letter to Senator Jack Reed endorsing his health reform amendment on mental health/primary care co-location, 7-8-09.
- Letter to Senator Durbin endorsing the Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act. 2-17-09.
- Healthy Transitions Act of 2009, (HR 691) Endorsement letter to Reps Stark, Bono-Mack and Camp.
- Letter supporting S. 1854, the Stop Senior Suicide Act, 8-30-07.
- Letter to Speaker Hastert and Senator Frist opposing
Association Health Plan legislation, 1-16-03. - Letters to Senators Frist, Jeffords & Breaux on their draft Patients’ Bill of Rights Plus Act, 4-30-01.
- Endorsement letters, 4-10-01
- Patients’ Bill of Rights Plus Act (S.Amdt. 3694) Opposition Letter, 7-12-00
- Letter to United Behavioral Health Corp., 11-6-99
- Letter to Speaker Hastert on rule for floor debate, 9-30-99
- Health Care Quality & Choice Act (H.R. 2824) Opposition Letter, 9-22-99
- Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act (H.R. 2723) Endorsement letter, 9-7-99
- Letter to Senator Lott, endorsing S. 1890Endorsement letter, 9-23-98
- Patients’ Bill of Rights Act of 1998 (S. 1890 / H.R. 3605) “Endorsement letter, 5-6-98
- Letter to President Clinton on Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health
Care Industry “Letter to President Clinton, 11-18-97 - Patient Access to Responsible Care Act (H.R. 1415 / S. 644) Endorsement letter, 6-6-97
- Health Insurance Bill of Rights Act of 1997 (H.R. 820 / S. 353) Endorsement letter, 6-6-97
- Letter supporting S. 2510, the Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act, 5-9-06.
- Letter opposing S. 1955, the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act, 4-12-06.
- Letter opposing S. 1955, the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act, 3-7-06.
- Health Care for Working Families Act (S. 2639) Endorsement letter, 7-30-02