On Sept. 19, Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-NY., introduced the CTE Student Mental Health and Wellness Act. This legislation would make area career and technical education schools eligible for mental health and substance use disorder services grants provided by the Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention grant program. Notably, institutions of higher education already have access to GLS grant dollars, and this bill would expand the list of covered institutions eligible to receive GLS grant dollars to include CTEs. Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., joined Rep. Langworthy in introducing the legislation.

Rep. Langworthy stated, “Western New York and the Southern Tier are proud to have so many hardworking men and women pursuing a technical career education, but despite them being a vital part of our workforce, too many of these students face mental health challenges without access to the same federal resources available to others—this legislation will change that. I’m proud to lead this bill to ensure our CTE students have the tools they need to navigate mental health and substance abuse challenges, keeping them on track for new careers where they can continue to build their own futures and the future of our nation.”

“ABC is committed to creating a safe and healthy industry for the millions of people who make construction their career. By providing the current and future workforce access to resources to improve total human health, employers and workforce development providers can equip workers with the tools they need to prioritize mental health and protect their emotional well-being. ABC's commitment to advancing total human health is why ABC strongly supports the CTE Student Mental Health and Wellness Act,” said Kristen Swearingen, ABC vice president of legislative & political affairs. “It is vital that CTE schools have access to the same resources as other institutions of higher education to help workers enjoy the abundance life has to offer through their careers and beyond.”

ABC is joined by 13 other organizations in supporting the CTE Student Mental Health and Wellness Act.