Rep. Lee’s Virtual Peer Support Act Passes out of Committee, Heads to House Floor

WASHINGTON – This week, Rep. Susie Lee's Virtual Peer Support Act was passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee as an amendment to H.R. 7666, the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022 by a bipartisan vote of 55-1. The bill now heads to the House floor for a vote. Rep. Lee (D-NV) introduced the Virtual Peer Support Act with Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) in April of 2021. The modified version of this legislation included in H.R. 7666 would boost the capacity and accessibility of behavioral health support programs by helping service providers expand their in-person and online peer support services.

Peer support programs are evidence-based programs where peer specialists use their own mental health and recovery experience and their state-certified training to offer support, coping skills, and community to others living with mental health conditions. Specifically, the legislation would create a $13 million grant program for eligible organizations to implement and expand peer support programs and build out their online capacity to meet increased need.

"This pandemic has ripped the bandage off our mental health crisis," said Rep. Susie Lee. "Too often, those struggling with mental health issues, especially our first responders and veterans, literally have nowhere to turn to get the counseling they need. We must be innovative in providing access to effective counseling options, which is exactly what my Virtual Peer Support Act does. With the committee's passage of this bill, we're taking another step forward in ensuring every Nevadan can access the care they need. Mental health care is an issue that Republicans and Democrats can agree on. That's why this legislation is making its way to the House floor with strong bipartisan support. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to get this bill across the finish line so that we can expand the capacity of these life-saving peer support programs."

For more information on the Virtual Peer Support Act, click here.

The Virtual Peer Support Act is Endorsed by the following organizations:
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
• Mental Health America (MHA)
• National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI)
• American Nurses Association (ANA)
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
• Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR)
• National Register of Health Service Psychologists
• Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance
• American Association on Health and Disability
• Lakeshore Foundations
• National Association of County Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD)
• National Association for Rural Mental Health (NARMH)
• Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America
• International Society for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses
• JED Foundation
• American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work
• National League for Nursing
• National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
• National Association for Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment (NABITA)
• Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness
• WestCare Foundation
• Oasis Counseling

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