Senate Committee clears bipartisan legislation expanding access to mental health services following an emergency declaration

Key Takeaways

On March 30, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee unanimously advanced the bipartisan Post Disaster Mental Health Response Act (S.3677) sponsored by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio). The bill would expand federally funded mental health and trauma support services provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for survivors and first responders following an emergency declaration.

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Center for Mental Health Services (CMS), FEMA’s Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) provides grants to state and local governments for mental health assistance and training activities following a disaster. However, this assistance is only currently available for state and local governments that experience a major disaster declaration, not an emergency declaration. S. 3677 would expand this assistant to emergency declarations, which have increased significantly over the last decade with more than 4,000 emergency declarations in 37 states, leaving many without the assistance they need.

The bill now heads to the full Senate for a vote.

NACo has endorsed the legislation and will continue to advocate for its final passage, as it would ensure counties have the resources necessary to address the mental health needs of our residents and first responders.