The United States is grappling with a severe mental health crisis, and federal policy is struggling to keep up. More than 130 Americans die by suicide each day, including over 20 veterans. In response, psychedelic-assisted therapies have emerged as a promising option for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, substance use disorders, and generalized anxiety disorder.
Yet many Americans, particularly veterans, are forced to travel abroad to access these potentially lifesaving treatments because they remain largely unavailable domestically. Lawmakers are now pushing to change that.
Representatives Jack Bergman (R-MI) and Lou Correa (D-CA), co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Psychedelics Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus, are calling for a national regulatory framework to safely integrate these therapies into the U.S. healthcare system. Their push comes as the Trump administration has accelerated research and the FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to several psychedelic-based drugs, including psilocybin and MDMA.
Two years ago, the PATH Caucus issued a formal request for information on how to safely and effectively incorporate psychedelic medicine into American healthcare. The responses made clear that psychedelics are not magic bullets, but when administered in a controlled, therapeutic setting, they can be transformative for patients. This has led to a bipartisan consensus that federal policy must evolve to create nationwide standards for their use.
Key recommendations from stakeholders include establishing national standards for service delivery and practitioner credentialing. There is broad agreement that guidance and verification systems must be in place before the anticipated FDA approvals. Additionally, labeling requirements for psychedelic medicines and best practices for "set and setting," crisis response, and pre- and post-session integration support are essential.
Bergman and Correa argue that Congress and federal agencies must address these issues head-on. "It's no longer a matter of if psychedelic-assisted therapies will enter the American health care system, but when," they said. "All attention must focus on how we can integrate them safely and effectively."
The lawmakers emphasize the need for equitable access, ensuring that all Americans suffering from severe mental and physical health challenges can benefit. They also note that federal action is critical to prevent a patchwork of state regulations that could create disparities.
This legislative effort aligns with broader discussions about modernizing federal oversight and congressional priorities ahead of the 2026 midterms. As the FDA moves closer to approvals, the pressure on Congress to act is mounting.
Bergman, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant general, and Correa represent districts in Michigan and California, respectively. Their leadership on the PATH Caucus underscores a growing bipartisan interest in leveraging psychedelic medicine to address the nation's mental health emergency.
