Supporting the goals and ideals of "Minority Mental Health Awareness Month" and recognizing the disproportionate impacts of mental health conditions and struggles on minority populations and communities.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 619
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-29: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-09T15:05:04Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 619) aims to support the goals and ideals of "Minority Mental Health Awareness Month" by recognizing the disproportionate mental health challenges faced by minority populations and communities in the United States. It highlights statistics on mental health disparities, the effects of racial inequities, discrimination, and barriers to care, while calling for increased awareness, access to culturally sensitive services, and federal action to address these issues.
Key Provisions
The resolution includes a detailed preamble with "Whereas" clauses outlining evidence-based concerns, followed by four main directives for the House of Representatives:
- Recognition of disparities: Acknowledges mental health inequities affecting Black, Indigenous individuals, and people of color, including higher rates of conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder, a mental health condition triggered by traumatic events), and suicide, often linked to racial trauma, discrimination, and socioeconomic factors.
- Call for presidential action: Urges the President to expand mental health care access that accounts for racial, cultural, and social differences unique to minority communities, addressing barriers like stigma, language issues, lack of diverse providers, and insurance gaps.
- Commitment to collaboration: Pledges to partner with relevant executive agencies (such as the Department of Health and Human Services) to tackle the national mental health crisis, including in U.S. territories and federally recognized Tribes.
- Resource allocation: Expresses intent to maximize funding and resources for mental health services nationwide, emphasizing prevention, treatment, and support for affected groups, including pregnant individuals, youth, and essential workers.
The preamble also critiques recent federal actions under the Trump Administration (as of 2025 in the document), such as staff cuts at mental health agencies, cancellation of grants addressing racial disparities, removal of diversity-related language from programs, and reallocation of school mental health funding, arguing these undermine progress.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding resolution, not a law or bill that amends statutes. It introduces no legal changes but serves as a formal statement of congressional intent, potentially influencing future policy without creating enforceable obligations.
Potential Impacts
- On citizens: Could raise public awareness of mental health issues in minority communities, encouraging more people to seek treatment and reducing stigma. It may indirectly improve access to services for groups like Black, Indigenous, Asian American, Pacific Islander, Latinx, and low-income individuals, including youth, pregnant people, and those facing racial trauma or COVID-19-related stress. Economic benefits might include reduced productivity losses (estimated at $100 billion annually from untreated conditions).
- On government agencies: Prompts agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to prioritize culturally informed care, diversity in research, and initiatives like the 988 suicide hotline. It may pressure the executive branch to restore or expand programs cut under recent policies.
- On international relations: Minimal direct impact, though it underscores U.S. commitments to health equity, which could align with global efforts on mental health and discrimination through organizations like the World Health Organization.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Minority communities: Primary beneficiaries, including Black, Indigenous, Asian American, Pacific Islander, Latinx, and other people of color, who face higher rates of mental health conditions, untreated symptoms, and barriers like discrimination, poverty, and limited culturally competent care.
- Mental health providers and organizations: Benefits from calls for more diverse professionals (currently underrepresented) and funding for programs like the Minority Fellowship Program.
- Government entities: Congress, the President, HHS, NIH (National Institutes of Health), and tribal authorities, who are urged to collaborate and allocate resources.
- Vulnerable subgroups: Youth (e.g., higher suicide risks among Black and Asian/Pacific Islander teens), pregnant and postpartum individuals (disproportionate untreated depression), essential workers, and those in the criminal justice system with untreated conditions.
- Researchers and educators: Affected by emphasis on diversified mental health data and school funding for services.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: As a simple resolution, it has no force of law and cannot compel action, but it reinforces existing frameworks like the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and anti-discrimination laws (e.g., under the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits racial bias in health care).
- Constitutional: Aligns with equal protection principles under the 14th Amendment by highlighting racial disparities, without imposing mandates that could raise separation-of-powers concerns.
- Political: Serves as a bipartisan signal (introduced by Democrats but potentially drawing cross-aisle support) on health equity, while critiquing the Trump Administration's policies on diversity and funding, which could fuel partisan debates on federal priorities. It promotes a proactive stance on social issues, potentially influencing appropriations bills or executive orders in future sessions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30]
Cosponsors (13)
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-29: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-07-29: Submitted in House
- 2025-07-29: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Supporting the goals and ideals of "Minority Mental Health Awareness Month" and recognizing the disproportionate impacts of mental health conditions and struggles on minority populations and communities. — issued 2025-07-29 — PDF (7 pages)