Senate Passes Cassidy’s SUPPORT Act to Address Nation’s Opioid & Mental Health Crisis, Now Heads to President’s Desk

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a statement following the U.S. Senate passage of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act, which bolsters prevention, treatment, and recovery services for Americans with substance use disorders and mental illness. Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill with strong bipartisan support. The SUPPORT Reauthorization Act now heads to President Trump's desk for signature.

"The opioid and mental health crisis is tearing apart families," said Dr. Cassidy. "The SUPPORT Act equips communities with vital tools to combat this scourge and save lives. I'm grateful to my colleagues for their work to pass this bill and look forward to it being signed into law."

Before passage, Cassidy spoke on the Senate floor about the SUPPORT Act.

The SUPPORT Act originally passed Congress and was signed into law by President Trump in 2018. The legislation expired on September 30, 2023.

Since arriving to Congress, Cassidy has led multiple efforts to combat the opioid crisis and strengthen mental health resources for families and children. In July, President Trump signed into law Cassidy's HALT Fentanyl Act, which gives law enforcement another tool to combat drug cartels by permanently scheduling fentanyl-related substances (FRS) as Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act. Cassidy also led the reauthorization of historic mental health and substance use disorder programs that were signed into law in 2016 as part of his Mental Health Reform Act.

The SUPPORT Act Reauthorization of 2025:

###

For all news and updates from HELP Republicans, visit our website or Twitter at @GOPHELP