PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 4176, LGBTQI+ DATA INCLUSION ACT; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5585, ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY-HEALTH ACT; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R...
Michael C. Burgess (Republican, TX) \u2014 2022-6-22

. Madam , I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and such time as I may consume. prgtoken Madam , today's rule provides for consideration of three bills: H.R. 7666, the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act; H.R. 5585, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health Act; and H.R. 4176, the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act. prgtoken Two of these bills represent the progress that can be achieved when we work together on legislation that is important to the American people. It underscores what can happen when we work together, regardless of party ideology. I do recognize the hard work that the members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce put into the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022. prgtoken This package is the first major effort put forth to address our Nation's mental health crisis since the lockdowns began for coronavirus. Following COVID-19 and the pandemic, we have seen a tremendous increase in the youth mental health conditions, suicides, and overdose deaths exacerbating the mental health crisis we already faced prior to the pandemic. prgtoken This bill maintains the flexibility for States to make funding decisions that best addresses the needs of their communities. The spending in this bill--and this is important--the spending in this bill is fully offset and targets funding toward the treatment of serious mental health conditions instead of generalized wellness programs that may not have an impact. prgtoken Included in this package is the Into the Light for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Act of 2022. That is actually a bill that I introduced with Representatives Yvette Clarke, Jaime Herrera Beutler, Young Kim, and Doris Matsui. Our bill authorizes and funds existing programs to help those impacted by maternal mental health conditions. Substance use disorders and mental health conditions are among the top leading causes of death for women who are pregnant and recently pregnant. prgtoken When I was a resident at Parkland Hospital in the 1970s, the top three causes of maternal mortality: hemorrhage, preeclampsia, or hypertension. Now, the preeminent causes are suicide and drug overdose--entirely preventable causes of maternal mortality. This bill will help us address that. So I am very encouraged to see that move across the finish line. prgtoken I also supported an amendment by Representative Drew Ferguson to include the Behavioral Health Interventions Guidelines Act--he likes to call it the BIG Act. Representative Ferguson and I actually introduced that as a standalone bill, but this amendment was made in order during the Committee on Rules yesterday. prgtoken The BIG Act passed the House last year with broad support. It requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to develop best practices for schools to establish behavioral health intervention teams. prgtoken I hear