Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) reintroduced the Agricultural Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Mental Health Care Act to require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the barriers that farming and ranching communities face to access mental and behavioral health care services.
“Colorado’s farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers face uncertainty from forces beyond their control, and Congress needs to do more to help them access the mental and behavioral health care they need,” said Bennet. “This bill will help us understand the barriers they face and improve access to care for Americans in rural communities across the country.”
“Wyoming farmers and ranchers work hard to feed the Cowboy State, often at a great personal cost,” said Lummis. “I am grateful for the tireless efforts of our nation’s producers, and it’s important that we ensure they have access to mental health care services. We owe it to those who fuel America to support their well-being.”
Volatile commodity prices, increased input costs, more frequent wildfires, severe drought, and other extreme weather events significantly affect farmers’ and ranchers’ mental health. According to the National Rural Health Association, the rate of suicide among farmers is three and a half times greater than the general population. A Morning Consult poll found that during 2021, most farmers, workers, and rural adults reported experiencing more stress and mental health challenges compared to the prior year.
Despite the demonstrated need for substance use disorder treatment and mental health care, many rural communities face barriers to accessing these services. The senators’ legislation would require the GAO to study the availability and accessibility of substance use treatment and mental health care providers trained to serve the needs of farmers, ranchers, agricultural workers, and their families. The study would also assess the barriers they face to accessing care and successful programs at the state and local levels that can be replicated at the federal level.
“Colorado Farm Bureau is pleased to see the 2025 introduction of Senator Bennet’s Agricultural Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Mental Health Care Act,” said Carlyle Currier, President, Colorado Farm Bureau. “The study proposed is imperative for understanding the barriers our farmers and ranchers face when it comes to accessing culturally competent care in rural America. We thank Senators Bennet and Lummis for their commitment to improving access to mental health services throughout our rural communities.”
“The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) thanks Senators Bennet and Lummis for their efforts to examine the accessibility of mental health and substance use disorder providers for the agricultural community. As we see rural areas grappling with rising behavioral health concerns and a lack of providers, it is key to understand where there are gaps in and barriers to access, particularly for these invaluable members of rural communities,” said Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer, National Rural Health Association.
“Agriculture is both a career and lifestyle, but with so many factors that impact success often being out a farmer’s or rancher’s control, they face a high risk of injury, poor mental health, and increased rates of substance misuse,” said Chad Franke, President, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. “We thank Senators Michael Bennet and Cynthia Lummis for sponsoring this important study. It will help inform our policymakers about these unique challenges, allowing them to make sound investments within our rural communities to create access to resources and support systems, like our AgWell program. Working together, we can ensure that everyone engaged in agriculture feels valued, connected, and healthy.”
“In so many of our rural and frontier counties, farmers and ranchers are the backbone of local economies and communities,” said Michelle Mills, CEO, Colorado Rural Health Center. “In a volatile industry and especially in uncertain economic times, the mental health impacts on agricultural workers can be immense. Yet despite their importance, rural communities often face more obstacles to mental healthcare access. That’s why the Colorado Rural Health Center fully supports any efforts to study the root causes and solutions to this growing problem.”
Bennet is a leading voice in Congress seeking bipartisan action on our nation’s ongoing mental and behavioral health crisis. In 2024, Bennet and U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) passed their resolution designating May 29th as “Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day.” In 2023, Bennet and U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced legislation to help rural communities expand access to mental health care for seniors, improve recruitment of mental and behavioral health providers, and maintain the mental health care workforce. Earlier that year, Bennet and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced legislation to expand access to mental and behavioral health care for Americans with Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medicaid plans. In 2022, Bennet introduced legislation to support the holistic health of patients with both mental and physical health conditions. In 2021, Bennet released ‘A Bold Vision for America’s Mental Well-being,’ a whitepaper with U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) to build bipartisan consensus on redesigning our nation’s mental health care system and reevaluating federal funding for this effort.
The text of the bill is available HERE. A summary of the bill is available HERE.