May 23, 2024
The Honorable Bernie Sanders
Chair
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Committee
428 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Bill Cassidy, MD
Ranking Member
Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Committee
428 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Chair Sanders and Ranking Member Cassidy:
On behalf of the undersigned organizations and the millions of health care workers across the country who now havegreater access to mental health care services and support for their mental health needs, thank you for your criticaleffort to reauthorize the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act (H.R. 7153/S. 3679) and ensure thatthe vital programs it established continue to be available to our health care workforce. As a result of this law that
honors Dr. Lorna Breen’s life and legacy, health care workers have better access to education and training on
preventing stress and burnout before the need becomes dire.
Because of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, lives have been saved and livelihoods
have been protected. Access to mental and behavioral health support and treatment has improved and more
employers are able to engage with their workforce on these issues, provide greater resources, and accelerate promisingsolutions. We have also been able to capitalize on this momentum to begin implementing overdue changes in licensing
and credentialing processes that have unintentionally contributed to the stigma around seeking mental health care.
However, even despite this important progress, health care professionals still face greater and increasing rates ofmental and behavioral health conditions, suicide, and burnout than other professions. We must continue working toensure an environment where each and every health care professional always has access to the necessary mental healthcare services they need and deserve, without fear of loss of licensure, loss of income, or other meaningful career
setbacks associated with the stigma of getting the help they need.
Once again, we deeply appreciate your continued commitment to the doctors, nurses, and all health care professionals
who continue to serve our communities every day. When we take care of our health workforce, we ensure that patients
have optimal care and support and that our health care systems can thrive. Thank you for standing up to protect those
who care for all of us, and we stand ready to work with you to help secure swift reauthorization of this critical law.
Sincerely,
American College of Emergency Physicians
American Academy of Dermatology Association
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Neurology
American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
American Academy of PAs
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
American Association of Orthopaedic SurgeonsAmerican College of Cardiology
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American College of Physicians

American College of Radiology
American College of Rheumatology
American College of Surgeons
American Dental Association
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
American Medical Association
American Nurses Association
American Occupational Therapy Association
American Organization for Nursing Leadership
American Osteopathic Association
American Physical Therapy Association
American Psychiatric Association
American Society for Radiation Oncology
American Society of Anesthesiologists
American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
American Society of Transplant Surgeons
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
American Urological Association
AMGA
Association for Clinical Oncology
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
Caregiver Action Network
Children's Hospital Association
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation
Emergency Nurses Association
Federation of State Physician Health Programs
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association
Intealth
Johnson & Johnson
Moral Injury of Healthcare
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
National Black Nurses Association
National Hispanic Health Foundation
National Hispanic Medical Association
National League for Nursing
National Minority Quality ForumPBI Education
Renal Physicians Association
Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions
Society for Vascular Surgery
Society of Gynecologic Oncology
Society of Surgical Economics
The Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas DC-MD-VA chapter
The Society of Thoracic SurgeonsThrive Global Foundation