FEDERAL POLICY
LEGISLATION
CONGRESSIONALÂ
We passed our bipartisan resolution declaring a youth mental health crisis in the United States with specific recommendations for state legislatures unanimously through the US Senate as S.Res.769.
Click here to visit the final bill language.
Our counterpart to S.Res.769 was introduced in the House in 2023 and had over 3 dozen bipartisan cosponsors!
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Our federal youth mental health crisis resolutions have formally acknowledged the struggles of 74 million American youth, creating a foundation for future policy action, though these declarations alone don't directly change conditions without accompanying implementation measures. Click here to learn more about our policy efforts at the state level.
Other legislation that we supported during the 118th Congress (2023-24):
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H.R.3682 - Cady Housh and Gemesha Thomas Student Suicide Prevention Act of 2023
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H.R.2642 - PEER Mental Health Act of 2023
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H.R.3228 / S.1574 - Mental Health in Schools Excellence Program Act of 2023
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S.1236 / H.R.2802 - Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act
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H.R.4054 - Trauma Support and Mental Health in Schools Reauthorization Act of 2023
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H.R.3713 / S.1884 - Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2023
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H.R.4851 - 9–8–8 Implementation Act of 2023
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H.R.4097 - Mental Health Improvement Act
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H.R.4974 - Local 9–8–8 Response Act of 2023
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H.R.1423 - 911 Community Crisis Responders Act of 2023
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H.R.2977 - Behavioral Health Crisis Care Centers Act of 2023
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H.R.5901 / S.2966 - Targeting Emotional and Mental Stability Act of 2023
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H.R.822 - Student Mental Health Helpline Act
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H.R.3669 - Expanding Student Access to Mental Health Services Act
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S.2072 - Supporting Mental Health For Military Children Act
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S.3525 - Supporting All Students Act
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S.3532 - Youth Mental Health Data Act of 2023
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H.R.5740 - Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act
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S.3364 - Kid PROOF Act of 2023
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H.R.3432 - Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2023
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S.3453 - Peer-to-Peer Mental Health Support Act
PRESIDENTIAL ENGAGEMENTS
White House Roundtable on School-based Mental Health (November 2024)
The Youth Power Project organized and hosted a critical discussion with key federal agencies under the Biden Administration including SAMHSA, HHS, OPE, CMS, and DOE focusing on strengthening mental health support in educational settings. This youth-led initiative brought together policymakers and youth advocates to develop actionable strategies for improving accessibility and effectiveness of school-based mental health resources nationwide.
White House Suicide Prevention Roundtable (September 2023)
In collaboration with the White House's Director of the Office of Public Engagement, YPP convened a pivotal roundtable addressing the urgent youth suicide crisis in America. The discussion centered on youth-driven solutions, emphasizing lived experience perspectives and innovative approaches to prevention that have since informed federal policy initiatives.
PETITIONS & LETTERS
Child Sexual Abuse Survivors' Online Protection Petition (March 2023)
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The Youth Power Project led a survivor-centered campaign that gathered over 40,000 signatures advocating for stronger online protections for child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors. This grassroots initiative demanded that Congress more seriously consider the role of algorithms and negligence in exacerbating child abuse online. The petition helped raise awareness about digital safety gaps and directly informed subsequent legislative efforts, including YPP's work on the Stop CSAM Act. The petition was cited in multiple bill analyses and congressional hearings pertaining to platform accountability throughout the 118th Congress.
Youth Testimony to Senate Judiciary Subcommittee (March 2023)
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The Youth Power Project facilitated powerful survivor testimony to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, sharing firsthand accounts of how online platforms enable child sexual exploitation. Led by two 18-year-old survivors, the testimony detailed how predators exploit algorithmic systems and platform design features to target children, while highlighting the near-impossibility for young victims to get harmful content removed. Their personal stories and evidence were specifically referenced during committee questioning and cited in the official hearing record, providing crucial youth perspective that directly influenced the committee's approach to platform accountability legislation.
Open Letter to Presidential Campaigns on Youth Mental Health (October 2024)
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The Youth Power Project organized and published an open letter to both major presidential campaigns demanding greater attention to youth mental health issues on World Mental Health Day. The letter, which garnered hundreds of signatures from young people across 29 states, highlighted the alarming statistic that 49.5% of U.S. adolescents have faced mental health challenges, yet the topic received minimal attention during campaign events and conventions. This youth-led initiative called for both campaigns to commit to addressing the mental health crisis within their first 100 days in office, emphasizing the need for solutions that treat mental health with the same urgency as physical health, combat stigma, increase access for marginalized communities, and expand school-based services.
Youth-Led Petition to Protect Federal Mental Health Funding (Ongoing)
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The Youth Power Project is leading a petition advocating against proposed cuts to critical federal mental health and substance use treatment funding. This ongoing initiative calls on Congress and the incoming administration to preserve essential programs like suicide prevention hotlines, school counseling services, and community intervention initiatives. The petition highlights alarming statistics - including that 49.5% of adolescents have faced mental health challenges and that suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 10-24 - while calling for four key actions: maintaining robust funding, prioritizing treatment over criminalization, ensuring access for vulnerable populations, and protecting peer-to-peer support programs.
Questions? Contact info@youthpowerproject.org