Rep. Watson Coleman Responds to Chaos at SAMHSA

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman released a statement following the cancellation and then reinstatement of grants at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Late Tuesday night, RFK, Jr. cancelled every grant at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. By Wednesday afternoon, following general outrage, the Secretary reversed this decision without explanation, concluding a day of chaos caused by the administration.

Those cuts totaled two billion dollars meant to fight substance abuse and mental health disorders. These grants support women with postpartum depression, care for the victims of child sex trafficking, educating young people about overdose prevention, AIDS prevention, providing mental health screenings, funding suicide prevention programs on college campuses, and assistance for people trying to recover. These are critical funds going directly towards real, immediate, and impactful work.

Every family knows and loves someone who has struggled with substance abuse or with mental health challenges.

These issues affect us all.

Seven years ago, I led a taskforce examining the mental health crisis that has impacted every corner of our country and worked with advocates to combat the overdose epidemic. I have spoken to numerous doctors, social workers, and too many parents of children who died by suicide or an overdose.

I’ve seen the pain in the eyes of mothers who have buried their children. The heartbreak of teachers struggling to explain to their students why their classmate is gone and would not be coming back. And the frustration of social workers who don’t have the resources they need to help people in crisis.

The cuts were abruptly announced Tuesday without justification and were subsequently reversed less than 24 hours later without explanation. This series of events showcase the ineptitude of Secretary Kennedy and the overzealous nature of his team. It sows confusion with providers of these services and leaves many concerned about the leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services.

I’m working with my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to put in guardrails to prevent Secretary Kennedy and the extremists in the Trump administration from ever doing this again.