Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank the chairman for his support. I will support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a staunch advocate for…”

“I thank the chairman for his support. I will support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a staunch advocate for mental health services to speak in favor of the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well- Being Act of 2022. This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize critical mental health programs for those dealing with mental health or substance abuse disorders. H.R. 7666 works to mitigate some of the most pressing issues of our time by designating grants, expanding the availability of high-quality recovery housing, reauthorizing treatment programs, and combatting substance abuse. In 2019, an estimated 10.1 million people in the U.S. aged 12 or older misused opioids in the past year. Specifically, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers and 745,000 people used heroin. The bill eliminates a key restrictive classification of opioid addiction so that access to treatment programs is expanded. These issues disproportionately impact tribal communities. According to the American Addiction Centers, 10% of Native Americans have a substance use disorder. H.R. 7666 specifically funds the prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders for tribal populations. This is a needed step in protecting a community with a history of being mistreated by the Federal government.…”