II 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 3206 

To provide for a study on the accessibility of substance use disorder treatment 

and mental health care providers and services for farmers and ranchers, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 2, 2023 

Mr. BENNET (for himself and Ms. LUMMIS) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

A BILL 

To provide for a study on the accessibility of substance 

use disorder treatment and mental health care providers 

and services for farmers and ranchers, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Agricultural Access 

5 to Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Mental Health 

6 Care Act of 2023’’. 

2 

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1 SEC. 2. STUDY ON ACCESSIBILITY OF SUBSTANCE USE DIS2 ORDER TREATMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH 

3 CARE PROVIDERS AND SERVICES FOR FARM4 ERS AND RANCHERS. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 

6 date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 

7 of the United States shall— 

8 (1) conduct a study on the accessibility of sub9 stance use disorder treatment and mental health 

10 care providers and services for farmers and ranch11 ers; and 

12 (2) submit a report containing the results of 

13 the study conducted under paragraph (1) to— 

14 (A) the Secretary of Agriculture; 

15 (B) the Secretary of Health and Human 

16 Services; 

17 (C) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutri18 tion, and Forestry of the Senate; 

19 (D) the Committee on Health, Education, 

20 Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; 

21 (E) the Committee on Finance of the Sen22 ate; 

23 (F) the Committee on Agriculture of the 

24 House of Representatives; 

25 (G) the Committee on Energy and Com26 merce of the House of Representatives; and 

3 

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1 (H) the Committee on Ways and Means of 

2 the House of Representatives. 

3 (b) TOPICS ADDRESSED.—The study conducted 

4 under subsection (a) shall include an examination of the 

5 following topics: 

6 (1) The availability and accessibility in rural 

7 areas of substance use disorder treatment and men8 tal health care providers and services that are 

9 trained and dedicated to serve the needs of farmers, 

10 ranchers, agricultural workers, and their family 

11 members. 

12 (2) Barriers and challenges faced by farmers 

13 and ranchers in accessing substance use disorder 

14 treatment and mental health care and health and 

15 wellness resources, including financial, geographic, 

16 and cultural barriers. 

17 (3) Identification of best practices and success18 ful programs at the State and local levels that can 

19 be replicated at the Federal level to address sub20 stance use disorder treatment and mental health 

21 care needs in agricultural communities, including the 

22 following: 

23 (A) Hiring and training of substance use 

24 disorder treatment and mental health care proVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 Nov 03, 2023 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3206.IS S3206
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1 fessionals with expertise in working with agri2 cultural communities. 

3 (B) Accessing cultural competency training 

4 for substance use disorder treatment and men5 tal health care professionals that lack expertise 

6 in working with agricultural communities. 

7 (C) Developing certificate programs for 

8 paraprofessionals and coaches to offer peer-to9 peer support programming. 

10 (D) Researching effective curricula for 

11 youth and young adults to be offered in rural 

12 schools. 

13 (E) Expanding telehealth and telemedicine 

14 services to improve access to care in rural 

15 areas. 

16 (F) Developing outreach and educational 

17 programs to reduce stigma and increase aware18 ness of mental health issues among farmers and 

19 ranchers. 

20 (G) Enhancing coordination and collabora21 tion between existing mental health providers 

22 and agricultural organizations. 

23 (H) Conducting research and evaluation to 

24 measure the effectiveness of substance use disVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 Nov 03, 2023 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3206.IS S3206
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1 order treatment and mental health care services 

2 provided to farmers and ranchers. 

3 (4) Utilization of, and best practices among 

4 grantees through, the Farm and Ranch Stress As5 sistance Network under section 7522 of the Food, 

6 Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 

7 5936). 

8 (5) Recommendations for improving the accessi9 bility and utilization of substance use disorder treat10 ment and mental health care for farmers and ranch11 ers. 

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