[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 587 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 587

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to 
the seriousness of the national problems associated with mental illness 
and with respect to congressional intent to establish a mental illness 
                              task force.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 8, 1998

   Mrs. Roukema (for herself and Ms. Kaptur) submitted the following 
      resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to 
the seriousness of the national problems associated with mental illness 
and with respect to congressional intent to establish a mental illness 
                              task force.

Whereas mental illness is not a character flaw, but a tangible and treatable 
        illness as real as hypertension, cancer, or heart disease;
Whereas great strides are being made in the diagnosis and treatment of mental 
        illness;
Whereas there remain gaping holes in the network of Federal, State, and local 
        services designed to identify and treat individuals with mental illness;
Whereas, more and more, America is witnessing violence resulting from untreated 
        mental illness and a failed policy of deinstitutionalization without any 
        proper community follow-up;
Whereas, all too often, we hear of situations where an individual with a mental 
        disorder has not received adequate treatment and has reacted violently 
        and endangered himself or herself or, tragically, has taken the life of 
        another;
Whereas one such situation occurred at the Capitol when Officer J.J. Chestnut 
        and Special Agent John Gibson tragically lost their lives;
Whereas last year alone, over 1,000 homicides were directly attributable to 
        improperly treated mental illnesses;
Whereas, although the treatment of the mentally ill is primarily a function of 
        the States, there is a significant sharing of costs between the Federal 
        Government and the States for such treatment, and there are some joint 
        responsibilities of the Federal Government and the States for such 
        treatment;
Whereas it is necessary to conduct an in-depth analysis of the effectiveness of 
        mental health block grants and of the Federal prison costs attributed to 
        mental illness; and
Whereas it is also necessary to conduct an in-depth analysis of issues relating 
        to reciprocity between the States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
a temporary task force or advisory committee on mental illness should 
be established that would be responsible for probing the serious 
dimensions of the national problems associated with mental illness, 
including determining the extent to which individuals with mental 
illness are not receiving proper treatment and the extent to which 
violence is resulting from the lack of such treatment.
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