MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06) introduced legislation to require full back pay for employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) who were unjustly fired and later reinstated. The Reinstating Employee Salaries to Original Rates and Entitlements (RESTORE) Act (H.R.3192) would apply to all VA employees who were terminated and later rehired on or after January 20, 2025.

In January, the President issued an Executive Order calling for significant reductions in the federal workforce in conjunction with the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).” Department communications show that as of March, VA officials had already fired 6,000 employees, and were planning to cut another 80,000 jobs, which would return staffing to 2019 levels. In addition to career civil servants, these actions have mainly targeted probationary employees, who have been in their positions for less than two years or recently received a promotion. As a result, thousands of veterans and federal workers have been terminated across multiple federal agencies, including the VA. These employees were responsible for providing core VA services, including health care, benefits services, housing loans, and burial and memorial services, among others.

This year, Meng invited Luke Graziani, a constituent from Woodside, Queens and a 20-year U.S. Army veteran who was unjustly fired from his job as a public affairs officer at a New York City veterans’ hospital, as her guest to President Trump’s address to Congress in March to stand against the ongoing mass firings of federal employees and veterans. He was among the tens of thousands of federal workers that the Administration has unfairly terminated across the federal government since January. 

“VA employees, like Luke Graziani, take an oath to serve our veterans, regardless of who is in the Oval Office. Without them, veterans would be left without the care and benefits they were promised when they made the commitment to serve and protect our nation,” said Meng. “These dedicated public servants, many of whom are veterans themselves, should never have been fired from their jobs. The RESTORE Act guarantees back pay for thousands of these illegally fired VA employees who have devoted their careers to serving our communities. They are not government waste, nor are the salaries they rely on.”

Graziani was abruptly laid off in February as the Administration began its attempts at sweeping cuts to the federal workforce. Meng had intervened with the VA on his behalf, urging the agency to reinstate him. He was rehired in April after a federal judge ordered the VA and other federal agencies to reinstate probationary workers who were fired. Fortunately, Graziani was reinstated with backpay, but many VA employees haven’t had the same experience, and current federal law doesn’t mandate the Administration provide it in this circumstance. 

Across the country there are about 2.3 million federal workers who serve their communities each day. Approximately 6,000 federal workers live in Meng’s Congressional District alone.

Now introduced in the House, the RESTORE Act must be passed by the House Committee on Veteran Affairs before it can be brought to the floor for a vote.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

UPPER MARLBORO, MD – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) hosted his annual Educators Luncheon in Upper Marlboro recently to honor 17 exceptional educators, teachers, and education professionals in the Fifth District. Honorees included recipients of several leadership awards, including the Washington Post Finalists for the Teacher of the Year and County Educators of the Year Award Winners.

“I am proud to celebrate the outstanding educators and support staff who work hard every day for Marylanders in the Fifth District,” said Congressman Hoyer. “America’s teachers continue to face challenges of today with grace and resilience – as they have done for many years. Despite the Trump Administration’s unprecedented attacks on the Department of Education and higher education, I will continue to fight for the funding needed to ensure all our students – no matter their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability status – receive equal treatment under the law and in the classroom. I thank them for meeting with me to discuss our shared commitment to the next generation of Marylanders.”
 

The following education professionals were honored:

Anne Arundel County
1. Heather Garris, George Arlotto Leadership Award, Principal of the Year (2023-24)

Calvert County
1. Bill Voshell, Calvert County Teacher of the Year (2025)
2. Rebecca Bowen, Washington Post Principal Finalist (2025)  
3. Wendy Badgley, Educational Support Professional of the Year (2025)

Charles County
1. Alison Cheney, Charles County Teacher of the Year (2025)
2. Georgia Green, Washington Post Teacher Finalist (2025)
3. Nicholas Adam, Washington Post Principal Finalist (2025)
4. Melissa Revell, Outstanding Employee of Charles County Public Schools (2025)
5. Melanie Sokol, Outstanding Employee of Charles County Public Schools (2025)

Prince George’s County
1. Lafiya Tunstall, Prince George’s County Teacher of the Year (2025)
2. Kathy Russell, Prince George’s County Teacher of the Year (2024)
3. Dr. Ryan Daniel, National Distinguished Principal (2025), Washington Post Principal of the Year (2024)
4. Lashawn James, Maryland’s Pupil Personnel Worker of the Year (2025)

St. Mary’s County
1. Hunter Martin, Washington Post Teacher Finalist (2025)
2. Dr. Deborah Dennie, Washington Post Principal Finalist (2025)
3. Vivian Johnson, St. Mary’s County Public Schools Educational Support Professional of the Year (2025)
4. Kelly Bridges, Leader of Excellence (2025)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) recently reintroduced the bipartisan Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act, which will expand Medicare coverage for diabetes self-management training services. These services reduce diabetes-related deaths and heart attacks, lead to improved self-care, and lower care costs for hospitals. Congresswoman Schrier is joined in introducing this legislation by Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12). This legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME). 

“I’ve had type 1 diabetes for 40 years and still remember the lessons I learned in 1985 about managing my blood sugars. So I know firsthand the importance of education in navigating this disease. Without a proper understanding of the roles that insulin, food, exercise, medications, and illness have on blood sugar, individuals with diabetes can quickly end up in the hospital,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “We know that self-management training helps people with diabetes live healthy lives, and I am proud to work with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to introduce this important bill and remove barriers to self-management training.”

The Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act will: 

• Allow the initial 10 hours of diabetes self-management training (DSMT) to remain available until fully used.
• Permit DSMT and Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) services to be provided on the same day.
• Exclude DSMT services from Part B cost-sharing and deductible requirements.
• Permit physicians and qualified nonphysician practitioners (e.g., podiatrists, emergency department providers, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or clinical nurse specialists) to refer for DSMT services.
• Establish a Center for Medicare Innovation demonstration program to test the impact of covering virtual DSMT under the Medicare program. 

“By providing diabetes patients with these self-management resources, seniors will be empowered to take control of their own health and well-being, and we can help mitigate the negative impact this disease has on them and their families,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis. “Supporting our seniors in managing chronic conditions like diabetes is not just good policy—it’s a commitment to health, dignity, and independence.”

“The Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES) extends our sincere appreciation to Representatives Kim Schrier, MD, and Gus Bilirakis for leading efforts to expand access to diabetes education and care for Medicare beneficiaries,” said ADCES President Veronica Brady, PhD, RN, FNP-P, BC-ADM, CDCES. “Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) supports people living with diabetes in improving their health outcomes and preventing complications—benefits that can also contribute to lowering overall health care costs.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (CO-01), Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and all Democratic Health subcommittee members called for an urgent hearing with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), amid growing concerns over sweeping disruptions to the agency since the beginning of the second Trump Administration. 

In a letter sent to Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY), the Members requested a hearing to examine “significant staff reductions at the agency, the documented delayed or canceled research activities at NIH, and policy changes that have taken place in the first months of the Trump administration.”

“Congress has a constitutional responsibility to oversee executive actions that fundamentally alter the structure, capacity, and mission of agencies established in statute, in a bipartisan manner. The current trajectory of NIH under the Trump administration is alarming, marked by political interference, anti-science rhetoric, and destabilizing personnel and funding decisions,” the letter reads. 

The Members outlined sweeping and destabilizing changes at NIH since January, including: 

1. Attempting to push out at least 2,500 NIH staff as part of broader HHS-wide staff reductions totaling more than 20,000 employees;
2. Cancelling over 800 research grants—totaling billions of dollars—impacting research into cancer, mental health, rare diseases, infectious disease, and health disparities;
3. Freezing NIH grant-operations and external communications, stalling the agency’s ability to carry out its mission; and
4. Proposing a nearly 40% budget cut to NIH in the Administration’s fiscal year 2026 budget, despite strong bipartisan support for biomedical research.

The letter continues, “It is critical the Energy and Commerce Committee convene a hearing with Director Bhattacharya to examine these actions and assess whether the NIH remains equipped to serve the American people and maintain its leadership in global biomedical research. We are deeply concerned the disruption at NIH and our biomedical research enterprise will have untold costs in terms of lost innovation and treatments and cures for the American people.”

The Members sent the letter following the publication of the “Bethesda Declaration” in which hundreds of current and recently terminated NIH employees expressed deep concerns to Director Bhattacharya about the direction NIH has taken under President Trump. 

Read the Member’s full letter here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a former Division I athlete and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement after a federal judge approved the proposed settlement in the House, Hubbard, and Carter v. National Collegiate Athletic Association lawsuits:
“This settlement is a long overdue acknowledgment of what we’ve known for a long time: amateurism is a relic of the past. This outcome wasn’t the result of college sports executives’ forward thinking or university administrators’ generosity. It happened because athletes stood up, spoke out, and demanded better.”
“For the first time, colleges will be able to pay athletes directly for the use of their name, image, and likeness. That’s not just a step forward – it’s an acknowledgement of the value athletes create. The challenge now lies in how these funds are distributed. Institutions must meet their obligations under Title IX, and we will be watching to ensure they do.”
“With this momentum, athletes can, and must, keep pushing. There’s much more work ahead to strengthen Title IX, ensure NIL rights extend to all college athletes, and center the health and safety of athletes in every conversation about reform. The greatest threat to that progress is misguided intervention by Congress that chokes off the hard-won gains athletes have fought to achieve. If Congress acts, it must focus on the actual challenges facing college athletics – not the balance sheets of powerful conferences.”
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today announced the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $3,452,972 to the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) for a PFAS Compounds Remediation Project, as requested by Congresswoman Dingell in the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations process.

“We know the urgent threat of PFAS too well in Michigan, and this is a problem so many of our communities are facing and working hard to remediate,” Dingell said. “I’m proud to have secured this funding for the Great Lakes Water Authority to establish a project to rapidly respond to, treat, and dispose of PFAS in our local water systems. I will continue to fight in Congress for funds and regulations to end the spread of dangerous forever chemicals.”

“We would like to thank Congresswoman Dingell for her efforts to secure this funding. The PFAS family of forever compounds continue to be an area of concern for water utilities that receive them in their waste streams,” said Suzanne R. Coffey, Chief Executive Officer, Great Lakes Water Authority. “GLWA has worked diligently to identify point sources that contribute these chemicals to mitigate and remove them from our system. This funding will allow us to continue to expand and optimize those efforts.” 

GLWA provides wastewater treatment services to approximately 28% of Michigan’s population, serving 79 communities located in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties. This funding will enable GLWA to establish a demonstration project for the rapid response, remediation, treatment, and disposal of PFAS compound contamination impacts in the Oakwood Sewer District, and to identify and eliminate Emerging Contaminants (i.e., PFAS Compounds) that have been discharged within its system. The project will benefit all communities served by eliminating contaminants from the system and local waterways, and will also benefit communities where PFOA or PFAS contaminants of unknown origin are discovered.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Washington, D.C. —  On Friday, House Democrats’ Litigation and Rapid Response Task Force, remaining steadfast in their commitment to fighting against the Trump Administration’s illegal attacks on the constitutional principle of birthright citizenship, filed an amicus brief in the matter of Trump v. Casa, Inc., which is now before the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Trump Administration filed this appeal to overturn a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the President’s attempt to change the constitutional right to birthright citizenship via executive order. 

The amicus brief–signed by 170 House Democrats–provides overwhelming evidence that President Trump’s Executive Order violates the Constitution and over a century of Supreme Court rulings, as well as laws enacted by Congress. It also signifies the lawmakers’ commitment to defending birthright citizenship, following their amicus briefs filed in State of Washington v. Trump before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and in the Supreme Court cases Trump v. Washington, Trump v. CASA, Inc., and Trump v. New Jersey.

The full brief is available HERE.   

The effort is once again being helmed by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, along with Litigation Task Force Chair Assistant Leader Joe Neguse and Co-Chair, Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin; Representatives Bennie Thompson, Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, and Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement; as well as Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Yvette Clarke, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Adriano Espaillat, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Grace Meng, and Congressional Jewish Caucus (CJC) Co-Chairs Jerry Nadler and Brad Schneider.

See what they had to say below: 

“Donald Trump and Elon Musk are taking a chainsaw to the United States Constitution. Their disgraceful actions on birthright citizenship violate our nation’s laws and are an assault on the American way of life. House Democrats will continue to push back aggressively against them in the courts, in Congress and in our communities. The Supreme Court of the United States must stand on the side of the Constitution and reject this outrageous effort. I am thankful for the leadership of Rep. Raskin, Rep. Thompson, Rep. Jayapal, Rep. Clarke, Rep. Espaillat, Rep. Meng, Rep. Nadler, Rep. Schneider and Assistant Leader Neguse of the Litigation Working Group and Rapid Response Task Force in standing up for the rule of law,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. 

“President Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship is unconstitutional, and as our amicus brief makes clear, House Democrats will continue to vindicate our constitution,” said Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse. 

“Donald Trump’s executive order purporting to eliminate birthright citizenship violates not only the first sentence of the Fourteenth Amendment but decades of Supreme Court interpretation and federal laws enacted by Congress,” said Ranking Member Jamie Raskin. “The Fourteenth Amendment is clear that people born in the United States are American citizens regardless of their parents’ origin or status. A Presidential executive order cannot override the U.S. Constitution to strip millions of Americans born here of their rights and freedoms. We will fight to defend this core principle of Constitutional equality and membership.”

 “We will not allow the Trump administration to redefine what it is to be an American just to fit their extreme anti-immigrant beliefs. Under the Constitution, people born here are United States citizens – no matter who they are, what they look like, or where their families came from. Americans reject what Trump is attempting to do, and the Supreme Court must too,” said Ranking Member Bennie Thompson. 

“Birthright citizenship is a core piece of our Constitution. Ending it through executive order is simply unconstitutional and a dangerous overreach of executive power,” said Ranking Member Pramila Jayapal. “All persons born on U.S. soil are U.S. citizens, that is what our Constitution dictates and is something President Trump cannot undo by waving a pen. As the first immigrant to serve as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, I am proud to be co-leading on this amicus brief to stand up for the immigration laws of this country.”

“Birthright citizenship is enshrined in our Constitution and has been affirmed by the Supreme Court numerous times — including in the landmark United States v. Wong Kim Ark decision. No matter what President Trump says or does, he cannot unilaterally overrule the law of the land by signing a piece of paper. As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I join my colleagues in standing up for American values and against this unconstitutional executive overreach,” said CAPAC Chair Grace Meng.

“Birthright citizenship is a moral imperative in the United States because of its origins. It’s about our collective recovery from the evils of slavery, yes, but it’s also about equal opportunity for every American born in this country,” said CHC Chair Adriano Espaillat. “This brief reminds the Supreme Court of the historical weight of the 14th amendment and of the very real costs that would be imposed by additional legal requirements on all growing families by a spurious reinterpretation of this keystone amendment.”

“Donald Trump is not a king. He cannot dismiss a century and a half of legal and judicial precedent that affirms the plain language of the Fourteenth Amendment of our Constitution with the swipe of a pen. Our Constitution clearly says if you are born here, you are a citizen. I’m hopeful that our highest court will follow the precedent set by its predecessors and send a clear message to the President that his flagrant, illegal overreach will be stopped,” said CJC Co-Chair Brad Schneider.

“Donald Trump’s divisive and xenophobic policies seek to divide and distract us,” said CJC Co-Chair Jerry Nadler. “We are dealing with a President who believes he is not just above the law, but above the U.S. Constitution.  The 14th Amendment is clear that persons born in the United States are U.S. citizens. And yet, President Trump feels compelled to single-handedly change what has been universally understood about the law since the Amendment was adopted in 1868.  All Americans should be disturbed by Trump’s assertion that he can unilaterally change the Constitution at will to suit his purposes.  This represents an assault on our democracy, and we cannot stand idly by and allow the President to disregard fundamental pillars of the Constitution. That is why I am proud as the Congressional Jewish Caucus Co-chair to join my colleagues in leading this effort.” 

Background on the Task Force’s Wins:

The Litigation and Rapid Response Task Force first took the unprecedented step of filing a trial court amicus brief to defend American consumers from predatory lenders and bad actors. They were successful in this case after a federal judge blocked efforts to dismantle the CFPB, citing the group’s argument multiple times throughout the 112-page ruling. The Task Force was also able to effectively prevent the Trump Administration from dismantling the Department of Education, filing another such brief that led to a federal court demanding the immediate rehiring of unlawfully terminated staff. House Democrats have so far filed eight amicus briefs in cases against Administration lawlessness. 

For more information on House Democrats efforts to protect Americans against the unlawful actions of the Trump Administration, visit litigationandresponse.house.gov. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced a federal grant to help two rural Kansas nursing and rehabilitation centers lower their energy costs through solar power. The investments, totaling nearly $200,000, are part of the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which helps small businesses and farms in rural areas make energy-efficient upgrades. Davids was the only member of Kansas’ Congressional Delegation to vote for the Inflation Reduction Act, which supports this program. “High energy bills are one of the biggest costs for Kansas businesses, especially in rural areas,” said Davids. “This funding helps local facilities save thousands of dollars each year—money they can reinvest into their operations and community. I’ll keep working to bring down costs and make smart investments like this across our state.” Recover-Care Richmond, a nursing and rehab facility in Franklin County, received $99,995 to install new solar technology. This is expected to save the facility over $13,000 a year and cover 51 percent of its total energy use. Parkview Heights Nursing & Rehab Center in Anderson County also received $99,995 for new solar technology. This will replace nearly 95,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year — enough to power eight homes — helping the facility save money and reduce its reliance on the grid. Davids has made it a priority to lower energy costs for Kansas businesses and families. Through tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act, which she voted to pass, 3.4 million American families have already saved more than $8 billion on their utility bills. The law also caps the cost of insulin at $35 a month for seniors and finally lets Medicare negotiate for lower prescription drug prices, saving 74,000 Kansans on Medicare up to 79 percent on certain medicines. REAP provides grants and loans to rural small businesses and farms to help them install renewable energy systems or improve energy efficiency. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is part of a broader effort to invest in rural communities across the country.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Representative Sharice Davids’ bipartisan legislation to address the impact of substance use on America’s workforce. The legislation would reauthorize the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery through Effective Employment and Reentry (CAREER) Act, which supports individuals recovering from substance use disorder, ensuring they can reenter the workforce and maintain gainful employment. The bill, originally introduced alongside Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY-06), was passed as part of the bipartisan Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization (SUPPORT) Act.

“Substance use has devastated far too many Kansas families, and we must ensure those recovering from addiction are supported and have access to good-paying jobs,” said Davids. “Today, my colleagues from both sides of the aisle joined me in helping those folks recovering from substance use find employment and live independently. There are so many local organizations who walk alongside our neighbors in recovery, and I’m proud to support them with the CAREER Act.”

Davids’ CAREER Act would reauthorize the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Treatment, Recovery, and Workforce Support Grant Program, which helps determine workforce gaps and coordinate employment and training activities for individuals in recovery. The reauthorization would also increase funding for the program and allow the grants to be used for transportation between work, training, and recovery services. 

“The CAREER Act has played a key role in supporting workforce development, vocational training, and skill-building in our communities,” said Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY-06). “By renewing its authorization, we can make this essential program even more effective, ensuring American workers have what they need to thrive in today’s job market. Given the ongoing battle our nation faces with substance abuse, especially the opioid crisis in Kentucky, it’s crucial that we focus on helping and providing resources to those working towards recovery.”

To ensure a safer and healthier community, Davids has made it a priority to address the opioid and fentanyl epidemic head-on. She hosted multiple summits with law enforcement, health care workers, and education professionals on combating the fentanyl epidemic and has taken a number of legislative actions based on the specific needs of the Kansas Third District, including:

• Securing a nearly $16 million grant to help law enforcement seize illicit drugs like fentanyl, reduce violent crime associated with drug trafficking, and improve data collection.
• Voting to permanently place all fentanyl-related substances into a Schedule I class, labeling the drug with a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use.
• Joining a bipartisan group of lawmakers to request funding for new handheld mass spectrometry trace-level chemical detection devices at domestic ports.
• Urging the FDA to take up expert recommendations and make Narcan, a common naloxone nasal spray, available without a prescription — which they did earlier this year.
• Helping pass a bipartisan bill to create a public awareness campaign about synthetic opioids. This came after meeting with Libby Davis, a Johnson County resident whose son passed away after taking a counterfeit pill that was unknowingly laced with fentanyl.
• Pushing for expanded federal grant opportunities, so law enforcement and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) can easily acquire life-saving naloxone kits.
• Visiting the Port of Long Beach to see how the port uses state-of-the-art technologies to prevent harmful substances — like fentanyl — from entering the country illegally.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Today, during Pride Month, Representative Sharice Davids reintroduced her legislation to improve mental health support for at-risk LGBTQI+ youth. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey of American teenagers found that LGBTQI+ students report significantly worse mental health than other students. Also, nearly 40 percent of gay, lesbian, and bisexual teens said they considered committing suicide in 2023. The Pride in Mental Health Act works to improve physical and mental health in at-risk youth.

“Children here in Kansas and across the country continue to struggle with mental health challenges, but we are failing many of our most vulnerable children on this issue,” said Davids. “My Pride in Mental Health Act takes a comprehensive and data-driven approach to tackling the mental health crisis among LGBTQI+ youth. By increasing access to mental health support for our children and teens, we can save lives.”

Specifically, the Pride in Mental Health Act:

• Increases mental health support for LGBTQI+ youth by updating care standards, developing training for caregivers, identifying school bullying prevention guidelines, and more.
• Protects at-risk youth by commissioning a report on the mental health and mental health care of LGBTQI+ youth in foster care and other federal social services programs.
• Directs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to review and update resources listed on their website that pertain to LGBTQI+ communities.

The Pride in Mental Health Act has been endorsed by the Congressional Equality Caucus, Human Rights Campaign, GLSEN, National Education Association (NEA), Advocates for Trans Equality, PFLAG National, American Psychological Association (APA), Institute for Health Research & Policy at Whitman-Walker, interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), The Trevor Project, Seattle Indian Health Board, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“As someone who faced firsthand the challenges of growing up LGBTQI+ while struggling with their mental health, I know how isolating and overwhelming it can be,” said Representative Ritchie Torres (NY-15). “Across the country, LGBTQI+ youth face alarmingly high rates of depression, suicidal ideation, and disproportionate representation in the foster care system. For too long, we’ve failed to meet their needs with the compassion and support they deserve. That’s why I’m proud to co-lead the Pride in Mental Health Act with Rep. Sharice Davids to confront these disparities head-on and ensure every young LGBTQI+ person has access to the care and support they need to thrive.”

“Young people across the country are struggling right now with unprecedented levels of depression and mental health challenges, and it is felt most acutely among LGBTQ+ youth,” said Congressman Sorensen (IL-17). “It’s important this Pride Month that we help our vulnerable youth access the mental health care, treatment, and resources they need to live happy and healthy lives as their full selves. I’m proud to work with my fellow Equality Caucus Co-Chairs, Reps. Davids and Torres, to address this crisis head-on. With this legislation, we can improve and save lives.”

“On behalf of PFLAGers everywhere, I thank Rep. Davids for introducing this important bill providing tools and accountability to SAMHSA,” said Brian K. Bond, CEO, PFLAG National. “Across races, places, genders, and abilities, all people — including LGBTQ+ youth — deserve to thrive as their authentic selves. This bill will ensure access to and measurement of critical behavioral health services, especially for trans youth who are facing unprecedented attacks by people who are seeking to remove the most basic access to healthcare of all kinds.”

“The LGBTQ+ community faces significant barriers to accessing mental health care,” said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “Ensuring access to early intervention and comprehensive, evidence-based treatment are essential to helping LGBTQ+ individuals with mental health conditions to live well. The Pride in Mental Health Act helps ensure that all individuals affected by mental illness receive the care and support they need and deserve to lead healthy, fulfilling lives within a supportive and inclusive community. NAMI is grateful to Rep. Davids for introducing this legislation and proud to support this important bill.”

“Passing the Pride in Mental Health Act would provide vital resources to support the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people and shine a necessary spotlight on the serious mental health crisis facing our country,” said Mark Henson, Interim Vice President of Advocacy and Government Affairs, The Trevor Project. “The Trevor Project’s research found that 39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, yet half of those who wanted mental health care were not able to get it. It’s clear that we need more resources to end suicide among this high-risk group, and this legislation creates a critical avenue for providing the resources, data, and awareness we need to help LGBTQ+ young people across the country lead the happy, healthy lives they deserve.”

“The reintroduction of the Pride in Mental Health Act is a critical step toward closing the persistent behavioral health gaps experienced by LGBTQ+ youth,” said Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, CEO, American Psychological Association. “Decades of psychological research show that access to affirming, evidence-based care dramatically improves outcomes for LGBTQ+ individuals. This legislation affirms a simple but powerful principle: every young person deserves the support they need to thrive — without fear, stigma, or discrimination. We commend Representative Sharice Davids for her bold leadership and steadfast commitment to the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth.”

“LGBTQ+ youth are growing up in a moment of crisis — where their very existence is being debated in legislatures across the country,” said David Stacy, Vice President for Government Affairs, Human Rights Campaign. “They are not just facing the everyday pressures of adolescence, but also the constant drumbeat of rejection and discrimination. Mental health support from affirming, qualified professionals isn’t just helpful — it’s lifesaving. The Pride in Mental Health Act is a crucial response to this national emergency.”

Davids has focused on improving mental health care since taking office. She visited Tyler’s House KC to help launch their summer mental wellness programming, helped secure funding for mental health programs in Wyandotte and Johnson Counties, and advocated for stronger mental health supports in schools. She also helped acquire grants for local police departments to hire more behavioral health specialists to the force, including the Overland Park Police Department’s new Crisis Action Team. Her legislation to renew federal mental health grant programs for health centers, schools, and law enforcement also passed the U.S. House.