House reshapes approach to mental health, addiction

WASHINGTON — House lawmakers are restructuring their bipartisan task forces dedicated to combating the drug epidemic and expect the chamber to consider behavioral health legislation this year, members told CQ Roll Call.

The push is spearheaded by four lawmakers in an effort to broaden the scope of legislative efforts beyond opioids to include all forms of addiction and mental health.

More than 86,000 individuals died from drug overdoses in the 12-month period ending in July 2020, the highest ever recorded in a year, according to preliminary Centers for Disease Control data. A separate American Medical Association brief found that more than 40 states reported increases in opioid-related deaths during the pandemic.

At the same time, CDC data has shown sharp increases in individuals experiencing mental health symptoms. Local data has shown spikes in suicides, and children's advocates worry that the pandemic will have lasting effects on kids' mental and social health.

House lawmakers are pivoting to a more holistic approach to behavioral health and addiction policy. The newly formed Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force will be led by Reps. Ann Mclane Kuster, D-N.H., Brian Fitzpatrick, R-PA., David Trone, D-MD., and Jaime Herrera Beutler, Rwash.

“I definitely expect that we will be working with our leadership both on the [Energy and Commerce] committee and House leadership to have another round of bills,” said Kuster.

Kuster said Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer had indicated legislation could move in September. A senior Democratic aide said that while there are no calendar announcements yet, leadership supports prioritizing the efforts during the 117th Congress.

Trone said Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Hoyer “are very, very excited and understand completely what's happening. We've talked about it extensively.”

“We're going to get extremely good support from leadership,” he said, noting he also had encouraging conversations with House Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa Delauro, Dconn., and House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders.

Trone said he expects “hearings that kind of highlight what has happened with COVID and what is the next emergency,” and called Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., and ranking member Cathy Mcmorris Rodgers, R-wash., “excellent supporters.”