WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Mike Garcia (CA-25) released the following statement after the House passed his bipartisan bill, the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant Reauthorization Act, H.R. 7241. The bill itself was included in H.R. 7666, the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022.

“Recent tragic events, like the shootings in Uvalde, TX and my alma mater Saugus High School, have made it clear that we need to increase and improve mental health services across our country,” said Garcia. “This legislation would provide vital resources to those struggling with mental health illnesses and will save lives. I’m pleased that my bipartisan bill passed the House and proud to help lead this effort to reauthorize mental health service funding across communities.”

Garcia’s legislation would reauthorize funding for the Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG) program that is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

While every state may decide how they spend the funding provided by the MHBG program, the funds must be used to aid adults with serious mental illnesses or children with serious emotional disturbances. MHBG provides states with funding to implement mental health programs with a wide range of flexibilities.