Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Jon Tester (D-MT) say the Seeding Rural Resilience Act will help curb a rising rate of rural suicides.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report the suicide rate is 45 percent higher in rural America.
The act would implement a voluntary stress management training program for major agriculture companies and $3 million to create a public service announcement campaign.
“This is a simple, non-controversial, bipartisan measure,” Grassley said. “That is much needed. I see no reason why the agriculture committee and the full Senate couldn’t approve this bill expeditiously.”
The act has been commended by farming and mental health organizations across the country, including the American Psychological Association, the National Farmers Union, and the American Farm Bureau.
