Sen. Kelly, Democratic colleagues introduce legislation to address high suicide rates among construction workers

Gila Herald Staff Reports

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues this week to introduce new federal legislation aimed at tackling the high rate of suicide within the construction industry.

The proposed bill, titled the Constructing the Path to Suicide Prevention Act, would authorize a comprehensive study through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to gather data on the distinct suicide risk factors facing construction workers. The findings would then be used to inform future targeted mental health and suicide prevention programming.

According to federal data, the construction industry carries the second-highest risk of suicide among all U.S. workforce sectors. In 2023, nearly 20% of all suicide deaths with a reported industry code were tied to construction—despite construction workers accounting for just 7% of the American workforce.

“Construction workers build America—our homes, our roads, and our communities. With an alarming suicide rate in this industry, they should have the resources to take care of their mental health,” Kelly said. “This bill will help us understand what’s driving those numbers to prevent more deaths.”

If enacted, the CDC study will evaluate specific risk factors influencing trade workers, including employment and financial stability, histories of substance or alcohol use, and accessibility to healthcare coverage, employment benefits, and employee assistance programs. The bill also mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services submit a formal report to Congress detailing federal policy recommendations for jobsite suicide prevention programs.

Joining Kelly in sponsoring the legislation are Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO).

“Work in this industry presents distinct mental health risks, and we owe it to construction workers to find solutions,” Cortez Masto said. “This legislation will give us the tools we need to combat the tragically high rate of suicide among construction workers and work to end the stigma around mental health on the jobsite.”

The legislation builds on Kelly’s previous efforts to expand mental health support systems. In January 2025, Kelly urged the Department of Veterans Affairs to maintain funding for Arizona’s Be Connected Program, a statewide suicide prevention partnership for veterans and military families. He also authored the Brandon Act, enacted as part of the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act, which established self-referral mental health protocols for service members experiencing emergencies.