Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA), on behalf of the Health and Oversight Subcommittee Republicans, sent a letter to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The letter to Assistant Secretary and Administrator Delphin-Rittmon, which is the second follow up from the Committee, serves as the final notice before the Committee will be forced to issue a subpoena.

KEY EXCERPTS: 

“[…] SAMHSA still has not yet provided the full accounting for billions of dollars in expenditures as requested.” 

[…] 

“Since SAMHSA apparently is not addressing our requests for expenditure information, we now request documents. The Committee’s document requests are specific and reasonable and seek to get full accountability for SAMHSA funds. Unfortunately, SAMHSA has repeatedly not provided requested information about expenditures, nor have any legal reasons been provided for not yet providing the requested information and documents.” 

The Chairs requested the following documents by November 27, 2023: 

• The most recent copies of each state’s Payment Management System and Federal Financial Report draw-down reports for COVID supplemental funding.
• The most recent copies of Payment Management System and Federal Financial Report draw-down reports for each of the following programs that received COVID-19 supplemental funds: Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs); Suicide Prevention Programs; Project AWARE; Tribal Behavioral Health Grants; Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, & Recovery Services Block Grant; Community Mental Health Services Block Grant; National Childhood Traumatic Stress Network; and Community Based Substance Use Disorder Services
• The most recent copies of each state’s Payment Management System and Federal Financial Report draw-down reports for 9-8-8 crisis care funding. 

CLICK HERE to read the full letter. 

CLICK HERE to read the Chairs’ April 5, 2023, letter on Covid Spending, Suicide Hotline Rollout, Support for Treating Serious Mental Illness, and New Office of Recovery.

CLICK HERE to read the Chairs’ August 10, 2023, follow up letter.