Virginia Foxx: “Republicans are committed to addressing the Nation's mental health crisis, including in the workplace. Unfortunately…”

“Republicans are committed to addressing the Nation's mental health crisis, including in the workplace. Unfortunately, this amendment, while spending $30 million, puts the cart before the horse and does nothing to address the serious flaws in H.R. 7780. If Democrats were serious about improving mental health resources and implementing best practices in the workplace, they would strike the provisions in the underlying bill that will make it more difficult for employers to offer mental health benefits. Still, the amendment, as written, is not ready for prime time. First, I have concerns about the program's bloated $30 million price tag over 3 years. It is all too common for Congress to throw money at a problem without any oversight or accountability to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent in the most effective way possible. The amendment also establishes inappropriate criteria for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH, to examine. This includes how changes in workplace protocols or traumatic grief from COVID-19 in the workplace contributes to adverse worker mental health. These criteria are overly prescriptive. Congress should let NIOSH do its job in determining what kinds of workplace factors contribute to poor mental health. Further, the amendment directs NIOSH to report to Congress within a year on whether the best practices have been developed and adopted by relevant stakeholders.…”