Recognizing the continuing disparities in Black youth mental health access and treatment.

Bill Number

H.Res. 764

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-09-23: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2025-09-27T08:05:43Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This House Resolution (H. Res. 764) aims to formally acknowledge the ongoing crisis of high suicide rates and limited access to mental health care among Black youth in the United States. It highlights alarming statistics, references past efforts like the Congressional Black Caucus's 2019 Task Force report titled "Ring the Alarm: The Crisis of Black Youth Suicide in America", and urges continued federal action to address racial disparities in mental health support. The resolution emphasizes mental health as a non-partisan issue and calls for protecting prior progress while pushing for more resources and awareness.

Key Provisions

The resolution is structured around a series of "Whereas" clauses providing background and context, followed by five specific actions in the "Resolved" section:

• Recognition of disparities: Affirms the persistent gaps in mental health access and treatment for Black youth, noting rising suicide rates (e.g., a 149% increase from 2007 to 2023 for Black adolescents aged 10-17) and lower rates of care compared to other groups.
• Call to the administration: Urges the current executive branch to build on previous administration's initiatives (like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and increased funding) and implement recommendations from the "Ring the Alarm" report, such as boosting research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), funding Black researchers, supporting evidence-based interventions in schools and communities (including faith-based partnerships), promoting best practices, and launching awareness campaigns.
• Community engagement: Stresses the need for open discussions in Black communities to reduce stigma around mental health, encourage help-seeking, and expand educational programs like L.E.T.S. Save Lives (a suicide prevention initiative focused on awareness and conversation).
• Funding increase: Advocates for more federal funding across all mental health programs to tackle the crisis.
• Agency independence: Supports keeping the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)—a federal agency that funds and oversees mental health and substance use services—as an independent entity, rather than merging it into a proposed Administration for a Healthy America (AHA).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This is a non-binding resolution, meaning it expresses the sense of the House of Representatives but does not create, amend, or repeal any laws. It does not introduce enforceable changes but serves as a formal statement to guide future policy, potentially influencing appropriations or executive actions without altering statutes.

Potential Impacts

• On government agencies: Could pressure agencies like NIH, NIMH, and SAMHSA to prioritize Black youth mental health research, funding, and programs, potentially leading to redirected resources or protected independence for SAMHSA. It may also affect federal budgeting by advocating against cuts to school-based mental health services.
• On citizens: Aims to improve mental health outcomes for Black youth by raising awareness, reducing stigma, and expanding access to care, which could lower suicide rates (currently the third leading cause of death for ages 14-18) and support affected families and communities through better interventions and education.
• On international relations: No direct impact, as the resolution focuses on domestic U.S. health policy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Black youth and families: Primary beneficiaries, facing higher suicide risks and barriers to care.
• Mental health providers and researchers: Including Black-led organizations and experts, who could gain funding for studies and interventions.
• Federal agencies: NIH, NIMH, and SAMHSA, targeted for increased resources and policy focus.
• Communities and educators: Schools, faith-based groups, and community organizations involved in prevention programs.
• Congress and policymakers: Members of the Congressional Black Caucus and others, encouraging bipartisan support for mental health initiatives.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: As a simple resolution, it has no force of law and cannot compel action, but it could inform future binding legislation, such as bills increasing NIH funding or protecting SAMHSA's structure.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's role in oversight and expressing policy priorities under Article I, without infringing on executive powers; it indirectly critiques executive decisions (e.g., funding cuts) but remains advisory.
• Political: Promotes mental health as non-partisan, potentially bridging divides by referencing bipartisan progress (e.g., the 988 Lifeline) while criticizing recent reversals under the current administration. It may galvanize advocacy from diverse lawmakers and highlight racial equity in health policy, influencing election-year debates on social services.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

Cosponsors (21)

Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-23: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-09-23: Submitted in House
• 2025-09-23: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Recognizing the continuing disparities in Black youth mental health access and treatment. — issued 2025-09-23 — PDF (4 pages)