I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4382 
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the accessibility 
of addiction and mental health care providers and services for farmers 
and ranchers who have been impacted by severe and persistent drought, 
extreme weather events, instability in the commodities market, misin-
formation targeting consumers, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 27, 2023 
Mr. NEGUSE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study 
on the accessibility of addiction and mental health care 
providers and services for farmers and ranchers who 
have been impacted by severe and persistent drought, 
extreme weather events, instability in the commodities 
market, misinformation targeting consumers, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Agricultural Access 
to Addiction and Mental Health Care Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDING. 
Congress finds that farmers and ranchers face nu-
merous challenges, which can have a significant impact on 
the mental health and well being of such farmers and 
ranchers, including— 
(1) severe and persistent drought; 
(2) extreme weather events; 
(3) instability in the commodities market; and 
(4) misinformation targeting consumers. 
SEC. 3. STUDY ON ACCESSIBILITY OF ADDICTION AND MEN-
TAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND SERV-
ICES FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture, acting through the Director of the National Insti-
tute of Food and Agriculture (in this section referred to 
as the ‘‘Secretary’’), shall conduct a study on the accessi-
bility of addiction and mental health care providers and 
services for farmers and ranchers who have been impacted 
by severe and persistent drought, extreme weather events, 
instability in the commodities market, misinformation tar-
geting consumers, and related factors. 
(b) TOPICS
ADDRESSED.—The study conducted 
under subsection (a) shall include an examination of the 
following: 
(1) The availability and accessibility in rural 
areas of addiction and mental health care providers 
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and services that are trained and dedicated to serve 
the needs of farmers, ranchers, agricultural workers, 
and their family members. 
(2) Barriers and challenges faced by farmers 
and ranchers in accessing addiction and mental 
health care and health and wellness resources, in-
cluding financial, geographic, and cultural barriers. 
(3) Identification of best practices and success-
ful programs at the State and local level that can be 
replicated at the Federal level to addressed addiction 
and mental health care needs in agricultural commu-
nities including the following: 
(A) Hiring and training addiction and 
mental health care professionals with expertise 
in working with agricultural communities. 
(B) Accessing cultural competency training 
for addiction and mental health care profes-
sionals that lack expertise in working with agri-
cultural communities. 
(C) Developing certificate programs for 
paraprofessionals and coaches to offer peer-to- 
peer support programming. 
(D) Researching effective curricula for 
youth and young adults to be offered in rural 
schools. 
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(E) Expanding telehealth and telemedicine 
services to improve access to care in rural 
areas. 
(F) Developing outreach and educational 
programs to reduce stigma and increase aware-
ness of mental health issues among farmers and 
ranchers. 
(G) Enhancing coordination and collabora-
tion between existing mental health providers 
and agricultural organizations. 
(H) Conducting research and evaluation to 
measure the effectiveness of addiction and men-
tal health care services provided to farmers and 
ranchers. 
(4) Recommendations for improving the accessi-
bility of addiction and mental health care for farm-
ers and ranchers. 
(5) The feasibility of providing funding for 6 
reimbursable therapy sessions, by providers that are 
trained and dedicated to serve the needs of farmers, 
ranchers and their family members, through the 
Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network under 
section 7522 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 5936). 
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(c) COLLABORATION AND CONSULTATION.—The Sec-
retary shall collaborate and consult with relevant Federal 
agencies, State departments of agriculture, mental health 
organizations, agricultural organizations, and other stake-
holders in conducting the study. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture 
shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nu-
trition, and Forestry of the Senate a report containing the 
findings of the study under subsection (a). 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027. 
Æ 
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