Politics. On Point.

Amid mass shootings and other acts of violence, thought to be spawned by mental health crises, the White House has announced measures to support those with mental health issues through H.R. 7666,  The Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022 . Taking a mental break is okay. States the Office of Management and Budget, " Our nation faces an unprecedented mental health crisis among people of all ages, one that has been exacerbated by the pandemic and continuing acts of mass violence.  At the same time, more than one million Americans have lost their lives to drug overdoses over the past two decades, devastating their families, our communities, and nation as a whole." H.R. 7666 reauthorizes critical programs to deliver and support mental health and substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery services, including those focused on people experiencing homelessness, underage drinking, and jail diversion programs.  A full statement can be found here .

Civil Rights Advocates, Law Enforcement, and Leaders Across the Country Applaud President Biden’s Executive Order to Enhance Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices SEE ALSO :  Pastors call for accountability, police reform in wake of  Patrick Lyoya  murder . Two years ago, the murder of  George Floyd  exposed for many what Black and Brown communities have long known and experienced—that we must do more to ensure that our Nation lives up to its founding promise of fair and impartial justice for all under the law. The murder sparked one of the largest social movements this country has ever seen, with calls from all corners to acknowledge the challenges in our criminal justice system and in our institutions more broadly.   The President strongly supported the House-passed George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and repeatedly urged the Senate to pass meaningful police reform legislation that includes accountability when law enforcement officers violate their oaths. Un

After meeting with law makers on Capitol Hill, actor Matthew McConaughey took to the podium during Tuesday's White House briefing to make an impassioned, public plea.  McConaughey joined Garnell Whitfield , the son of  Ruth Whitfield  who died during the Buffalo, New York Tops grocery store massacre in May, as well as other families of gun violence.                                                                                             McConaughey remarks on Uvalde school massacre. " My mother mattered ", said Whitfield as he asked lawmakers what they are doing to save lives. "You're elected to protect us and protect our way of life", said Whitfield. Watch, and listen (at the1:08 mark) as McConaughey (a native of Uvalde, Texas) talks about the mass shooting at a Uvalde middle school that took the lives of 19 young students and two teachers, and why he says  now is the time for gun reform. "We have a life preservation problem on our hands",