House Passes Nolan-Cosponsored Mental Health Reform Bill

U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan today announced the successful House passage of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act (H.R. 2646), legislation he cosponsored to reform several aspects of America’s failing mental health system. Among other provisions, the bill directs the federal Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to states to enhance community-based crisis response systems. It also funds the development of bed registries for inpatient psychiatric and residential community mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities.

“Passage of our legislation is an important step forward in reforming our broken mental health system in America,” Nolan said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue address this issue.”

Last year, Nolan held a mental health roundtables in Duluth and Virginia, MN with local stakeholders to mental health issues on the county, state, and federal levels. The first meeting in Virginia, MN revealed the urgent need for more beds and faster access to treatment on the Iron Range. The Duluth roundtable focused specifically on the needs of young people facing a mental health crisis.