    [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2025)]
    [Senate]
    [Pages S1430-S1431]
    From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

          By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Kaine, and Ms.
            Murkowski):
      S. 779. A bill to amend title XIX of the Public Health Service Act to
    provide for prevention and early intervention services under the Block
    Grants for Community Mental Health Services program, and for other
    purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
      Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the bipartisan Early
    Action and Responsiveness Lifts Youth Minds Act. This legislation would
    increase access to early intervention and prevention initiatives in
    children's mental health.

    [[Page S1431]]

      Our bipartisan bill would allow States to use up to 5 percent of
    their community mental health services block grant funding for
    prevention and early intervention activties. The community mental
    health services block grant, MHBG, administered by the Substance Abuse
    and Mental Health Services Administration, is currently limited to
    funding services for those with severe, diagnosed mental illnesses.
      The bill would also require the U.S. Department of Health and Human
    Services, HHS, to provide reports to Congress detailing States' efforts
    to promote early intervention. HHS would report to Congress every 2
    years regarding States' efforts to promote early intervention,
    including comprehensive information on activities undertaken and
    outcomes achieved.
      Over 20 percent of youth have reported seriously considering suicide
    in the previous year, with 18 percent having developed a suicide plan,
    which is one of the most significant risk factors that precipitates an
    actual attempt. Over 40 percent of teens reported persistent feelings
    of sadness or hopelessness, with a shocking 57 percent of girls
    reporting this. These statistics regarding suicidality and hopelessness
    are considerably poorer than ten years ago. The evidence is clear:
    There is a youth mental health crisis, and it is getting worse. Yet
    many of these youth in distress do not yet have a diagnosed mental
    health condition, meaning that MHBG funds can't be used to help them
    and prevent their symptoms from worsening.
      Research shows that intervening early with people who are
    experiencing mental health challenges can help prevent those challenges
    from turning more serious--and more costly to treat.
      States should have the flexibility to use up to 5 percent of mental
    health block grant funds for prevention and early intervention
    activities if they so choose. Without this adjustment, the mental
    health block grant is missing a valuable opportunity to intervene early
    and save lives.
      I would like to thank Senators Tillis, Kaine, and Murkowski for co-
    leading this legislation, and I look forward to working with my
    colleagues to enact this bill as soon as possible.
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