House Republicans have asked government watchdogs how the federal government manages unused mental health funds, including COVID-19 emergency funds and money provided to launch the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. I'm asking you to investigate.
In a letter sent to the Government Accountability Office on Tuesday, Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee said the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will receive nearly $8 billion in additional funding for COVID-19 relief efforts. He said that the government had disbursed only about half of the amount. Grant Recipients.
Additionally, of the approximately $1 billion in new funding provided to launch the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in 2022, grantees have spent only approximately $300 million. It was only $50 million.
Like many other agencies, SAMHSA received an influx of emergency funding to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Its annual budget authority for fiscal year 2021 was $5.8 billion, but it also received more than $7.8 billion in additional funding through COVID-19 supplemental funding.
Republicans cited statistics from SAMHSA that in 2020, 53 million adults in the United States had a mental illness, about 14 million of whom had a serious mental illness. The agency also warned that mental health concerns are increasing due to the coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 funding and funds to implement the 9-8-8 Hotline were primarily obligated through grants to states and other recipients.
Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) called on GAO to investigate why the funds are taking so long to disburse and the agency's oversight of the funds.
“We have concerns about the nature and pace of use of these funds and SAMHSA's ability to manage and oversee this additional funding,” Rogers and other committee leaders wrote.
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