Cassidy Targets U.S. Mexico Border, Mental Health Reform (Audio)

As candidates for the U.S. presidency criss-cross the country for support among voters, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy is traveling the country to research the issues being debated.

Cassidy spoke with Rob and Bernie on Acadiana's Morning News today to discuss a couple of those contentious topics that he has recently delved into in his position in Washington.

The Republican senator recently visited sites near the U.S./Mexico border to see for himself what are the issues facing illegal drug and firearm traffic from one nation to another.

For solutions to issues surrounding our porous border with Mexico, Cassidy said our country needs better intelligence and better control of the Mexican cartels from their government.

"There is no one simple solution, said Cassidy, who suggests a multi-faceted approach to border security. "Through it all, you begin to control the flow of drugs and contraband."

Another issue that Cassidy has remained on the forefront of is mental healthcare reform.

In March the Senate Health Committee advanced a package of bills designed to repair the nation's ailing mental health system.

Among that legislation is a bill, authored by Cassidy and U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn),  that is receiving strong bipartisan support.

Among current mental health reform bills, is legislation championed by Cassidy that aims to focus government spending to particular agencies that address mental health issues, rather than shallowly spread it around among a broad contingent to health organizations.

The bill also aims to increase the number of providers and support agencies available to those who experience mental health issues.