[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4382 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4382

   To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the 
    accessibility of addiction and mental health care providers and 
services for farmers and ranchers who have been impacted by severe and 
    persistent drought, extreme weather events, instability in the 
 commodities market, misinformation targeting consumers, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 27, 2023

  Mr. Neguse introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                        Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the 
    accessibility of addiction and mental health care providers and 
services for farmers and ranchers who have been impacted by severe and 
    persistent drought, extreme weather events, instability in the 
 commodities market, misinformation targeting consumers, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Agricultural Access to Addiction and 
Mental Health Care Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDING.

    Congress finds that farmers and ranchers face numerous challenges, 
which can have a significant impact on the mental health and well being 
of such farmers and ranchers, including--
            (1) severe and persistent drought;
            (2) extreme weather events;
            (3) instability in the commodities market; and
            (4) misinformation targeting consumers.

SEC. 3. STUDY ON ACCESSIBILITY OF ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE 
              PROVIDERS AND SERVICES FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS.

    (a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through 
the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (in this 
section referred to as the ``Secretary''), shall conduct a study on the 
accessibility of addiction and mental health care providers and 
services for farmers and ranchers who have been impacted by severe and 
persistent drought, extreme weather events, instability in the 
commodities market, misinformation targeting consumers, and related 
factors.
    (b) Topics Addressed.--The study conducted under subsection (a) 
shall include an examination of the following:
            (1) The availability and accessibility in rural areas of 
        addiction and mental health care providers and services that 
        are trained and dedicated to serve the needs of farmers, 
        ranchers, agricultural workers, and their family members.
            (2) Barriers and challenges faced by farmers and ranchers 
        in accessing addiction and mental health care and health and 
        wellness resources, including financial, geographic, and 
        cultural barriers.
            (3) Identification of best practices and successful 
        programs at the State and local level that can be replicated at 
        the Federal level to addressed addiction and mental health care 
        needs in agricultural communities including the following:
                    (A) Hiring and training addiction and mental health 
                care professionals with expertise in working with 
                agricultural communities.
                    (B) Accessing cultural competency training for 
                addiction and mental health care professionals that 
                lack expertise in working with agricultural 
                communities.
                    (C) Developing certificate programs for 
                paraprofessionals and coaches to offer peer-to-peer 
                support programming.
                    (D) Researching effective curricula for youth and 
                young adults to be offered in rural schools.
                    (E) Expanding telehealth and telemedicine services 
                to improve access to care in rural areas.
                    (F) Developing outreach and educational programs to 
                reduce stigma and increase awareness of mental health 
                issues among farmers and ranchers.
                    (G) Enhancing coordination and collaboration 
                between existing mental health providers and 
                agricultural organizations.
                    (H) Conducting research and evaluation to measure 
                the effectiveness of addiction and mental health care 
                services provided to farmers and ranchers.
            (4) Recommendations for improving the accessibility of 
        addiction and mental health care for farmers and ranchers.
            (5) The feasibility of providing funding for 6 reimbursable 
        therapy sessions, by providers that are trained and dedicated 
        to serve the needs of farmers, ranchers and their family 
        members, through the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network 
        under section 7522 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 
        2008 (7 U.S.C. 5936).
    (c) Collaboration and Consultation.--The Secretary shall 
collaborate and consult with relevant Federal agencies, State 
departments of agriculture, mental health organizations, agricultural 
organizations, and other stakeholders in conducting the study.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the 
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a 
report containing the findings of the study under subsection (a).
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2024 through 2027.
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