Senate companion to post-disaster mental health resources bill introduced

Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, last week introduced the Senate companion to the Post-Disaster Mental Health Response Act (S. 3677), AHA-supported legislation that would expand the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program to federally-designated emergencies. Under current law, only major disaster areas are eligible for the program, which provides technical assistance and training to state and local mental health providers and grants for short-term counseling services and support. Reps. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass.; Dina Titus, D-Nev.; David McKinley, R-W.Va.; and Peter Meijer, R-Mich., introduced the House bill (H.R. 5703) last year.