By Shalini Wickramatilake, MHS

On July 12th, the House of Representatives’ Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (L-HHS) “marked up” and passed their proposed federal funding bill for fiscal year (FY) 2022, which will begin on October 1, 2021, and end on September 30, 2022. The Subcommittee, which is led by Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and “Ranking Member” Tom Cole (R-OK), recommends several funding increases for programs impacting mothers and their families, which are detailed below.

During the “markup” session, Chair DeLauro, who also serves as Chair of the full Appropriations Committee, highlighted the importance of services to address suicidal ideation, substance use, and mental health issues. She also noted the impact of the country’s maternal health crisis on mothers, especially those in communities of color. When describing investments in childcare, Chair DeLauro stated, “We are cultivating a nation that supports working families and nurtures our children.”

The full Appropriations Committee is expected to consider the L-HHS funding bill on July 15th. Once the full Committee releases their report that accompanies the L-HHS bill, further details will be available on other federal programs impacting maternal mental health and related issues.

In addition to further steps in the House, the Senate must also go through the process of marking up and passing their own L-HHS bill. A final FY 2022 L-HHS appropriations bill, or a stopgap measure--a continuing resolution--must be signed into law by the President before October 1, 2021, in order to avoid a government shutdown.

2020 Mom will continue to track federal appropriations for crucial programs that serve moms and address mental health issues.

Here are some of the highlights from the funding bill:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): $9.16 billion (+$3 billion compared to FY 2021)
- Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) Block Grant: $1.582 billion (+$825 million compared to FY 2021) to support mental health service delivery
  - Includes a 10% mental health crisis systems set-aside in the CMHS Block Grant.
- Project AWARE: $155 million (+$48.5 million compared to FY 2021) to support mental health services for youth
- National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative $100 million (+$28 million compared to FY 2021)
- Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: $25 million (+$17 million compared to FY 2021)
- Children’s Mental Health program: $150 million (+$25 million compared to FY 2021)
- Zero Suicide: $26.2 million (+$5 million compared to FY 2021)
- Suicide Lifeline: $113.6 million (+$89.6 million compared to FY 2021) to support the implementation of the Lifeline’s new 988 number.
- Mental Health Crisis Response Partnership Pilot Program: $100 million (+$100 million compared to FY 2021)
- Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant: $2.8 billion (+$1 billion compared to FY 2021)
  - Creates a new 10 percent set-aside within the SAPT Block Grant for recovery support services.
- State Opioid Response (SOR) Grants: $2 billion (+$500 million compared to FY 2021)
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA):
- Maternal and Child Health Block Grant: $869 million (+$156 million compared to FY 2021
- Alliance for Maternal Health Safety Bundles: $14 million (+$5 million compared to FY 2021)
- State Maternal Health Innovation Grants: $53 million (+$30 million above the FY 2021)
- Maternal Mental Health Hotline: $5 million (+$2 million above the FY 2021)
- Pregnancy Medical Home Demonstration: $25 million ($25 million compared to FY 2021)
- Screening and Treatment for Maternal Depression and Related Disorders: $10 million (+$5 million compared to FY 2021)
- Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS): $10 million (+$5 million compared to FY 2021)
Administration for Children and Families (ACF):
- Child Care and Development Block Grant: $7.4 billion (+$1.5 billion compared to FY 2021)
- Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA): $257 million (+$71 million compared to FY 2021)
- Family Violence and Prevention Services Act (FVPSA): $463 million (+$281 million compared to FY 2021)
- Domestic Violence Hotline: $26 million (+$13 million compared to FY 2021)
National Institutes of Health (NIH):
- An increase of $30 million for the Implementing a Maternal Health and Pregnancy
- Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) initiative, to support research on maternal morbidity and mortality
- Office of Research on Women’s Health: $61 million (+$18 million compared to FY 2021)
Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS):
- Office of Minority Health: $76 million (+$14 million compared to FY 2021)
- Office on Women’s Health: $42 million (+$7 million compared to FY 2021)

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