Sen. Ossoff Pushing to Expand Mental Health Resources for Farmers

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is working across the aisle to expand mental health resources for Georgia farmers.

Today, Sen. Ossoff is launching a push to pass the bipartisan Farmers First Act, legislation he co-sponsored that aims to expand mental health resources for Georgia farmers.

The bipartisan bill would reauthorize the national Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) for Fiscal Years 24-28 and would boost funding for each fiscal year. This bill would also expand program funding eligibility to support crisis lines.

"Georgia farmers face immense pressures, from the demands of their work to the devastating impacts of natural disasters," said Sen. Ossoff. "I'm working to bring Republicans and Democrats together to help our farmers get the support they need to recover, rebuild, and thrive."

The bipartisan bill was first introduced in the Senate by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) and in the House by Representatives Randy Feenstra (R-IA-04) and Jim Costa (D-CA-21).

Sen. Ossoff continues working to support mental health resources for Georgians.

In January, Sen. Ossoff introduced the Military Families Mental Health Services Act. This bill authorizes the Department of Defense to waive cost-sharing requirements for the first three outpatient mental health visits for certain beneficiaries of TRICARE Select and TRICARE Prime each year.

In 2023, Sen. Ossoff's bipartisan bill to expand access to counseling and mental health services for Georgia's military families passed the Senate as part of last year's National Defense Authorization Act.

Click here to read the Farmers First Act of 2023.

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