[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 21, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H8218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                FUND ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION PROGRAMS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, this month marks the 16th annual observance 
of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. As we celebrate 
Recovery Month, it is time for Congress to knock down the barriers to 
treatment and recovery for 26 million Americans suffering the ravages 
of alcohol and drug addiction.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a national disgrace that 270,000 Americans were 
denied treatment last year. It is a national tragedy that 150,000 of 
our fellow Americans died last year as a direct result of chemical 
addiction. It is a national crisis that the costs of addiction amount 
to $400 billion a year in increased health care costs, criminal justice 
costs, social service costs, and other related costs.
  And think of the costs that cannot be measured in dollars and cents: 
the costs of human suffering, broken families, shattered dreams and 
destroyed lives. But there is hope. Treatment for alcohol and drug 
addiction works and recovery happens.
  Mr. Speaker, as a grateful recovering alcoholic of 24 years myself, I 
am living proof that treatment does work and that recovery is real. The 
problem is too many people do not have the access to treatment that I 
have.
  That is why Congress must pass the Treat America Act that I have 
authored with my good friend, the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. 
Kennedy), H.R. 1258.
  This treatment parity legislation will give Americans suffering from 
addiction greater access to treatment by prohibiting health insurers 
from placing discriminatory restrictions on treatment.

                              {time}  1715

  Discriminatory barriers, by the way, that do not exist for any other 
disease.
  Chemical dependency treatment parity is not only the right thing to 
do, it is also the cost-effective thing to do. Study after study has 
shown the average premium increase due to full premium parity is less 
than one-half of 1 percent. So in other words, for the price of a cup 
of coffee per day, we could treat 16 million alcoholics and addicts who 
are presently in health plans and being discriminated against. We also 
need to provide greater access to treatment for the 10 million 
alcoholics and drug addicts in the Medicaid program.
  Mr. Speaker, the American Medical Association, the AMA, categorized 
addiction as a disease in 1956. Now, 50 years later, it is long overdue 
for Congress to treat the illness of addiction as the progressive and 
fatal disease it is. It is time to end the discrimination against 
people who need treatment for chemical addiction. It is time for 
Congress to deal with our Nation's number one public health problem.
  It is time for Congress and the President to pass chemical addiction 
treatment parity. With 26 million Americans still suffering, we cannot 
afford to wait. With some 300,000 Americans being denied treatment this 
year, we cannot afford to wait. With 150,000 people dying last year as 
the direct result of addiction, we cannot afford to wait.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me and the gentleman from 
Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy) and thousands of other recovering people in 
recommitting our efforts to pass treatment parity. Also, we need to 
recognize the addiction counselors and treatment professionals 
throughout our great country who have dedicated their lives to helping 
people recover. They are America's unsung heroes.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, let us celebrate ``Recovery Month'' by honoring 
the millions of Americans who are experiencing the promise and 
possibility of recovery, and let us never forget that 26 million 
Americans are still in need of our help.

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