Committee on Education and Labor Passes Leger Fernández's Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act

Press Release

Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) announced today that the House Committee on Education and Labor passed herCampus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act of 2022 (H.R.6493). The committee passed the bill unanimously.

This legislation will help higher education institutions develop prevention and recovery programs to prevent alcohol and substance use and support students with substance use disorders.

"Overdose and substance use cases continue to grow across our country and we cannot turn a blind eye. I lost two of my brothers to addiction and I want to make sure no other family ever feels the same pain that my family and I experienced. When we lose a loved one to overdose we carry that pain forever and it is always present in our lives," said Rep. Leger Fernández. "As college students begin the next chapter of their lives away from home, they need proven intervention and prevention programs to help steer them towards a healthier lifestyle. We must ensure not one more promising young person is lost to overdose. I thank Chairman Scott and my colleagues who voted to pass my bipartisan bill and I look forward to moving this bill through Congress."

The Congresswoman held meetings with colleges and universities in her district to receive feedback on her bill and discussed its impacts with student community activists and professors as she developed this legislation.

The Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act, as amended during the markup:

Promotes evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies on college campuses.
Encourages integration and collaboration in campus-based health services to address substance use and mental health.
Requires the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services to identify and promote successful programs.
Reauthorizes and revitalizes a grant program to help institutions implement programs.
Requires the Secretary of Education to issue a report to Congress on efforts and best practices from institutions.
Allows grant funds to be used to restore mental health and substance use prevention programs during public health emergencies and natural disasters.

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