[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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