[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 145 (Tuesday, October 13, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H10808-H10809]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             MENTAL ILLNESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to bring recognition to the 
important topic of mental illness. In fact, during this month of 
October, our Nation is disposed to do our best to raise awareness about 
the tragic lack of proper care for those among us who are suffering 
daily from the most severe mental illnesses.
  More than 5 million of our fellow citizens suffer from these 
debilitating, severe mental illnesses. Unfortunately, far too many 
people are not receiving the proper diagnosis, treatment, or strong 
community care they need to lead quality and stable lives in our 
country.
  The current practice of psychiatric care in our country has spawned 
growing homelessness, neglect, as well as violence since 
deinstitutionalization of patients occurred over two decades ago with 
no community follow-up.
  I am working with several women members, the gentlewoman from New 
Jersey (Mrs. Roukema), the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) of 
California, such a leader in this effort, who is here with us this 
evening, and the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson).
  All of us are trying very hard to establish a House working group on 
serious mental illness. This House working group would be responsible 
for examining the State of our mental health system, especially those 
who are not being adequately treated with resulting neglect and even 
violence.

[[Page H10809]]

  We had an example of that here in our own Capitol with the tragic 
slaying of two of our officers, Gibson and Chestnut, less than 2 months 
ago.
  This group would hold hearings and gather testimony about what 
America can do. This week, we are also introducing a sense of Congress 
resolution regarding the seriousness of mental illness and the need for 
Congress to establish this working group.
  We intend to reintroduce this resolution in the next Congress and ask 
the Women's Caucus of this House to help us spearhead our efforts.
  I urge all Members to support the establishment of this House working 
group on mental illness as well as our sense of Congress resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I am more than pleased to yield to the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Capps), our very capable and caring colleague.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), for yielding to me.
  As she mentioned, just 2 months ago, this Nation and this Congress 
were stunned by the tragic shootings of Officers Chestnut and Gibson. 
We still grieve their deaths today.
  Out of that tragedy, an opportunity has presented itself to us to 
finally acknowledge the sad realities of mental illness, which for so 
long have been swept under the national rug.
  Health professionals agree that chronic conditions such as 
schizophrenia are best addressed through community-based treatment. 
Such programs provide outreach to people who are in danger of falling 
through the cracks of our mental health system.
  Last week, I was able to attend a briefing by the National Alliance 
for the Mentally Ill, and I heard about a program of asserting 
community treatment called PACT.
  PACT involves individualized services, psychiatric, social, nursing, 
and vocation rehabilitation. It has been tremendously successful for 
those who have not responded to traditional methods of treatment. But 
only six States offer PACT statewide. This is simply not enough. These 
are wonderful, proven programs just waiting to be replicated.
  It is time for our whole country to face the challenges of mental 
illness, including treatment, housing, and employment. We must educate 
ourselves and take the steps to respond. Out of tragedy can come hope. 
I am pleased to be working with my colleagues, the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) and others to bring this to our attention and to work 
on it.

                              {time}  1930

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Capps) for taking time to join us this evening and 
also to say if we could put some of the partisanship aside, and we 
intend to do that in this working group, we can do so much for America.
  It seems to me that too much effort is wasted here in Washington in 
trying to find out why we are different from one another rather than 
what we can do to work together on important issues like this that 
affect millions and millions and millions of our fellow citizens.
  I would also note that the energy for this comes largely from the 
women in this body. It would be so easy for the leadership of this 
institution to make this happen with merely a snap of the fingers and 
yet it has not. That says a lot about this institution, but it also 
says a lot about the women here who on a bipartisan basis are trying to 
do what is right for this country.
  We know that with persistence and with goodwill and with 
bipartisanship, we can achieve real, lasting changes for the better for 
people in our country who suffer every day under these extremely 
difficult diseases; their families, their communities. We know, we 
understand what needs to be done.
  I also want to acknowledge the leadership in past years, First Lady 
Rosalyn Carter who came to this Congress and testified when it was not 
so popular to do so over 20 years ago, and also Tipper Gore, the wife 
of the vice president, who has also been supportive of our efforts.

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