Press Releases
Congresswoman Escobar Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Act to Strengthen Mental Health Access for Service Members
El Paso, Texas,
April 1, 2026
Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) joined a bipartisan group of Members of Congress, led by Representative Gil Cisneros (CA-31), in co-sponsoring the Brandon Act Training and Protocol Act, legislation to strengthen implementation of critical mental health protections for U.S. service members. The legislation builds on the Brandon Act, which was enacted following the tragic death of U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Caserta, who died by suicide in 2018 after repeatedly being denied access to mental health care. The law ensures that service members can confidentially request mental health support through their chain of command at any time and for any reason. While the Brandon Act is currently law, many service members do not know they have the rights to seek help. The Brandon Act Training and Protocol Act addresses these implementation challenges by requiring the Department of Defense to incorporate Brandon Act training into annual training requirements and to proactively promote awareness across the military.
“The Brandon Act was an important step forward, but a law only works if people know it exists and leaders are trained to carry it out. This bipartisan legislation will help ensure that every service member understands their rights and can access care when they need it, without barriers, stigma, or delay,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “Military families understand the importance of timely and accessible mental health care. By strengthening awareness and accountability, this legislation will help ensure service members across the services can get the support they need.”
The Brandon Act Training and Protocol Act reflects a bipartisan commitment to supporting the wellbeing of our service members and ensuring that the policies designed to protect them are fully implemented and effective.
You can learn more about the Brandon Act here and the Brandon Act Training and Protocol Act here.
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