Modernize Schools and Address the Student Mental Health Crisis

Submitted on: May 17, 2022

Education and Labor Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative:

On behalf of our 3 million members and the 50 million students they serve, we urge you to address the pressing need to modernize America’s public school facilities and address the mental health crisis among students. Specifically, during the May 18 markup session, we urge you to support the:

Reopen and Rebuild America’s Schools Act (H.R. 604)—This bill would create a $100 billion grant program and $30 billion tax-credit bond program targeting high-poverty schools whose facilities pose health and safety risks to students and educators. It would also provide the means for such schools to operate safely in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. America spends more on public school facilities than any part of our infrastructure except roads and highways, yet many of our 100,000 public school buildings are poorly equipped or in poor physical condition—so poor it undermines student learning. The federal government, however, remains noticeably absent from any meaningful investment in this area.
Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act (H.R. 5407)—This bill would promote positive mental health among college students and encourage comprehensive planning on college campuses to prevent suicide and other mental health crises.
Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act (H.R. 6493)—This bill would promote evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies on college campuses. It would also encourage integration and collaboration among campus-based health services to address substance use and mental health.
Mental Health Matters Act (H.R. 7780)—This bill would promote the use of evidence-based mental health, social-emotional, and behavioral health interventions for young children enrolled in early education programs like Head Start. It would also create a grant program to increase the number of school-based mental health services providers.