Several members of Congress have added themselves as cosponsors to the Mental Health First Aid Act and Behavioral Health IT Act in the wake of the National Council’s 10th annual Hill Day, held May 7 in Washington, D.C.
Hill Day brought more than 1,200 mental health and substance use advocates to DC for three days of public policy workshops and trainings, followed by visits with their legislators to advocate for our field’s priorities. Held in partnership with NAMI, Mental Health America, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, and International Bipolar Foundation, the National Council’s Hill Day is the biggest behavioral health advocacy event of the year.
Following participants’ meetings with their Members of Congress, several lawmakers have newly signed on to our legislative priorities as cosponsors:
Mental Health First Aid Act (H.R. 274)
- Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH)
- Rep. Michael Doyle (D-PA)
- Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN)
- Rep. David Scott (D-GA)
- Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA)
Behavioral Health IT Act (S. 1517)
- Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Behavioral Health IT Act (H.R. 2957)
- Rep. David Scott (D-GA)
- Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD)
The National Council thanks all the Hill Day attendees for speaking up on behalf of these important bills! We expect to see more lawmakers adding their names in the coming months as a result of Hill Day attendees’ advocacy. Don’t see your legislator’s name on this list? Don’t forget to follow up with a “thank you” for the meeting – and a reminder that you’d appreciate his or her support. Contact Rebecca Farley at rebeccaf@thenationalcouncil.org with any questions about follow-up.
