Washington, D.C.— Today, Representatives Lucy McBath (GA-06), Terri Sewell (AL-07), and Salud Carbajal (CA-24) are pushing for U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon to reinstate $1 billion in mental health grant programs established under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) to help stop school shootings.

The Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program and the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program—both expanded through the BSCA—are active in 49 states and have played a critical role in helping schools recruit, train, and retain mental health professionals to address the growing youth mental health crisis.

“As you know, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) was signed into law following the murder of nineteen students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24th, 2022. It passed the U.S. House of Representatives 234-193 and the U.S Senate in a vote of 65-33, showing strong support for the bill from both parties,” the members write. 

“It is unacceptable for these grants to be discontinued for arbitrary political reasons while gun violence continues to be the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the United States. Students, teachers, and families across the country deserve better,” the members continue. “We demand that these grants be immediately reinstated and that you commit to implementing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act as Congress intended.”

A full copy of the letter to Secretary McMahon can be found here.