Senator Baldwin Announces Increased Federal Funding for Mental Health Resources for Farmers
Thursday, November 7th, 2019 -- 8:37 AM
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) -U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin announced increased federal funding to provide the nation's farmers with critical support and mental health resources.As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Wisconsin Democrat worked to pass an amendment last week to a Senate bill that will provide $8 million, an increase of $6 million from Fiscal Year 2019. "Our Wisconsin farmers are facing many difficult challenges and we all need to work together to provide them the support they need, including more funding for local mental health resources," said Senator Baldwin.
Last year, Baldwin co-sponsored the so-called FARMERS FIRST Act as a provision in the 2018 farm bill which allocated funds for mental health care for farmers. Reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that farmers and other individuals who work in agriculture experience a high rate of suicide.
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