[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 163 (Thursday, November 29, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2172]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THANK YOU, DR. STEVEN E. HYMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARGE ROUKEMA

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 29, 2001

  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Dr. Steven E. Hyman 
for his outstanding and dedicated, work in the field of mental health 
through research, advocacy, and education. Dr. Hyman, director of the 
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) of the National Institutes 
of Health (NIH), will be leaving to assume his new responsibilities as 
provost of Harvard University on December 10. A leading scholar at the 
intersection of molecular neurobiology and psychiatry, Dr. Hyman will 
be gravely missed.
  I personally regret Dr. Hyman's departure, because he has been very 
helpful to me in my role as co-chair of the House Mental Health Working 
Group. He has shown strong and decisive leadership that has gone far to 
reduce the terrible stigma and discrimination that haunts those with 
mental disorders. As a leading scientist, Dr. Hyman very publicly and 
very often made the case that science has shown us that these disorders 
of the brain are real and they are treatable. As one who has focused on 
this issue for so long, I can tell you how necessary his strong and 
credible voice has been.
  In 1996, Harold Varmus, then-director of the National Institutes of 
Health (NIH), named Dr. Hyman as director of the NIMH, the federal 
agency charged with generating the knowledge needed to understand, 
treat, and prevent mental illness. His tenure has been marked by 
intensified efforts to bring molecular biology, genetics, neuroscience, 
and behavioral science all to bear, in integrated ways, on the 
understanding of mental illness and mental health. Most recently, Dr. 
Hyman has been a prominent voice for the NIH on the psychological 
effects both of the September 11th attacks and bioterrorism.
  Dr. Hyman has been a great help to us here in the House of 
Representatives as we sought to understand mental illnesses and their 
effect on society. However the impact of his service has reached our 
constituents well. I am gratified by every person who tells me that 
they are no longer ashamed or guilty because they or a family member 
suffers from a mental disorder. I have had a long-time interest in the 
issues surrounding mental illnesses and I have valued Dr. Hyman's 
leadership and commitment to encouraging and supporting the basic 
research that will enable us to develop effective new treatments--based 
on an understanding of the disease process itself.
  Dr. Hyman has accomplished much during his tenure at the NIMH and for 
this I am grateful. His success in bringing research on mental 
disorders to the forefront of public consciousness has left an 
important and lasting legacy.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in gratitude for Dr. 
Steven Hyman's dedication. We wish him all the best for the future. Our 
nation looks forward to his continuing contributions to our health and 
well being as he honors the halls of Harvard University.




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