[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 194 (Tuesday, November 18, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H4765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RURAL MENTAL HEALTHCARE

  (Ms. SALINAS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SALINAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the growing 
mental health care crisis in rural America.
  Nearly one in five adults live with a mental illness, yet rural 
communities lack the providers, facilities, and resources to meet their 
needs. In my own district, an entire county has only one child and 
adolescent psychiatrist. For families seeking timely specialized care, 
that is not just an inconvenience. It is a barrier that can mean the 
difference between preventative help and a crisis.
  Communities across the country face the same impossible math: too 
many needs and too few providers.
  That is why I have introduced legislation to support clinicians who 
commit to practicing in rural areas and to expand telemental health 
services tailored to farmers, fishers, and foresters, the people who 
power our rural economies.
  Access to quality care should not depend on your ZIP Code. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in ensuring rural Americans are no longer 
overlooked or underserved.

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