(January 26, 2026) LEBANON BOROUGH, NJ - Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) announced today that he successfully worked to restore federal funding for vital substance abuse and mental health treatment services after New Jersey organizations raised concerns about the potential loss of key grants. Following outreach from local nonprofits, Congressman Kean and his team engaged directly with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to seek clarification and advocate for continued support. Those efforts helped lead to the reversal of a decision that would have placed thousands of grants at risk.

"Here in New Jersey, our local nonprofits are on the front lines every day, providing vital support to those struggling with drug addiction and mental health challenges," said Congressman Kean. "After hearing directly from impacted organizations, my team immediately engaged with SAMHSA to elevate their concerns and seek clarity. I am pleased those efforts were successful and this critical funding will remain intact. As we continue to confront the real impacts of substance abuse and mental health conditions, I remain committed to protecting access to essential support services for those who need them in our community."

"The unexpected termination of SAMHSA grant funding would have significantly disrupted prevention and mental health infrastructure that nonprofits have spent years building in our community," said Lesley Gabel, Executive Director of One Voice of Hunterdon. "We are extremely grateful for the immediate support and effective advocacy provided by Congressman Kean's office at a moment when critical programs that families depend on were being threatened overnight. Without this intervention, our community would have been left without essential support, placing an unmanageable strain on already limited local resources."