The House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies has released their appropriations bill for fiscal year 2021. The legislation allocates federal funding to mental and behavioral health programs under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and many other agencies. The vast majority of NBCC’s appropriations priorities fall under the jurisdiction of this bill.
The legislation includes substantial increases for several vitally important mental and behavioral health programs. SAMHSA’s Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) would be granted a $2 million increase over last year’s funding in the bill for a total amount of $16,169,000. The Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program (BHWET) would be increased by $25 million, for a total of $127 million.
NBCC has been working for several months to have these favorable amounts included in the House bill. Our government affairs team will now be turning their attention to the Senate to ensure that similar totals are included in their legislation as well as in the final version of the bill that goes to the president.
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