[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 12, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E363-E364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     PAUL WELLSTONE MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION EQUITY ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. DIANA DEGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 5, 2008

  Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to have the following letters 
of support for H.R. 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and 
Addiction Equity Act of 2008, submitted for the Record on the floor 
debate of this bill.

                            American Correctional Association,

                                Alexandria, VA, February 29, 2008.
     Hon. Patrick J. Kennedy,
     Cannon HOB,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Kennedy: On behalf of the American 
     Correctional Association and our 18,000 members I'd like to 
     express our full support for your bill, H.R. 1424, the Paul 
     Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007.
       The health care system in our country has neglected the 
     mentally ill long enough and it must change. We in criminal 
     justice and more specifically the corrections profession know 
     first-hand the effect inadequate mental health care has on 
     our communities. Jails and prisons have become defacto mental 
     health hospitals wherein a high prevalence of mental health 
     problems and addiction among inmates is common and recidivism 
     rates are high.

[[Page E364]]

       A report issued by the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of 
     Justice Statistics in September 2006 revealed that more than 
     half of all prison and jail inmates had a mental health 
     problem. BJS also reported that more than two-fifths of state 
     inmates and more than half of jail inmates showed symptoms of 
     mania, 23% of state prisoners and 30% of jail inmates suffer 
     from depression and that 15% of state prisoners and 24% of 
     jail inmates met the criteria for psychotic disorders. 24% of 
     state prisoners and 19% of jail inmates suffered from 
     substance dependence or abuse and an estimated 42% of inmates 
     in state prisons and nearly half of those in local jails were 
     found to have both a mental health problem and a substance 
     dependence or abuse problem.
       Without proper care and treatment in a mental hospital, 
     these individuals will never recover or be healthy again nor 
     will they ever be able to live a normal life. Most likely 
     they will continue to recidivate, crowd our facilities, drive 
     up costs throughout the entire criminal justice system and 
     cause harm to others and unto themselves. Quite simply, 
     correctional facilities are not equipped and corrections 
     personnel are not trained to handle the mentally ill 
     individuals.
       We appreciate your leadership on this issue and offer you 
     our full support for H.R. 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental 
     Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Gary D. Maynard,
                                                        President.
                                  ____
                                  
         National Associaiton of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated 
           Disorders,
                                 Highland Park, IL, March 3, 2008.
     Re the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act 
         of 2007.

     Hon. Patrick J. Kennedy and Hon. Jim Ramstad,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representatives Kennedy and Ramstad: I am writing on 
     behalf of ANAD, the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa 
     and Associated Disorders, to urge House Members to vote YES 
     on your bill H.R. 1424, the Paul Welistone Mental Health & 
     Addiction Equity Act. ANAD is the nation's oldest 
     organization dedicated to alleviating the problems of eating 
     disorders, with an active membership composed of 
     professionals, sufferers, and their families.
       More than 8 million Americans suffering from eating 
     disorders who face overwhelming obstacles to health insurance 
     coverage for mental health treatment fully embrace the 
     passage of this legislation. Eating disorders kill. Anorexia 
     nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. 
     By closing the loopholes in the 1996 federal parity law and 
     requiring equity in eating disorders coverage, treatment, and 
     financial requirements, this legislation will greatly assist 
     Americans with these potentially deadly illnesses without a 
     costly burden to employers.
       ANAD hopes that passage of your strong bipartisan bill will 
     hasten the completion of negotiations with the Senate on a 
     bill that will cover the full range of mental illnesses and 
     become law this year. Further delay is unacceptable, 
     especially for those whose lives are in peril.
       We thank you for your leadership on this important issue.
           Sincerely,
                                             Vivian Hanson Meehan,
     President.
                                  ____


                                                 Easter Seals,

                                    Washington, DC, March 3, 2008.
       Dear Representative: Easter Seals urges you to vote to 
     support the passage of H.R. 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental 
     Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007. Access to mental 
     health services is essential for anyone to live a healthy 
     life.
       Mental health disorders are the second leading cause of 
     disability and premature death in the United States and are 
     often experienced by people with disabilities. Many health 
     insurance plans set cost limits on mental health treatment, 
     but do not impose similar cost limits on other medical and 
     surgical benefits. It is critical that access to mental 
     health services be on par with access to services for other 
     medical conditions. Breaking down barriers to accessing 
     mental health services improves the lives of people with 
     disabilities, strengthens families and saves lives.
       We look forward to continuing to work with you as the 
     process moves forward Thank you for considering our views.
           Sincerely,
                                               Katherine Beh Neas,
     Vice President, Government Relations.
                                  ____

                                                 Service Employees


                                          International Union,

                                    Washington, DC, March 4, 2008.
       Dear Representative: The Service Employees International 
     Union (SEIU) urges you to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1424, the Paul 
     Wellston Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. Millions of 
     American families are touched by mental illness and substance 
     abuse disorders, and our workplaces are less productive when 
     mental illness is untreated and stigmatized. H.R. 1424 would 
     require that group health plans cover mental illness on the 
     same terms that it provides for medical and surgical 
     coverage. There is a growing body of evidence that supports 
     the effectiveness of various treatments for people suffering 
     from mental illness and substance abuse disorders. High co-
     pays and deductibles can discourage access to treatment, and 
     arbitrary limits can result in discontinued therapies that 
     would otherwise be effective. Better screening and early 
     treatment is often the most cost-effective treatment. It is 
     time to pass H.R. 1424 and give new hope and treatment to 
     millions of patients and families struggling with mental 
     illness.
       Votes on this legislation will he added to the SEW 
     scorecard found at www.seiu.org. If you have any questions, 
     please contact Ann Kempski. Deputy Director of Legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Anna Burger,
     International Secretary-Treasurer.
                                  ____



                                    Autism Society of America,

                                      Bethesda, MD, March 2, 2008.
     Hon. Patrick Kennedy,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Kennedy: On behalf of the Autism Society 
     of America, we write in strong support of the Paul Wellstone 
     Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007. This 
     legislation will go a long way to end discrimination by 
     private health insurers by mandating parity in the treatment 
     of mental health coverage.
       Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically 
     appears during the first three years of life and affects a 
     person's ability to communicate and interact with others. 
     Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a 
     ``spectrum disorder'' that affects individuals differently 
     and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for 
     autism, nor is there a single treatment.
       While there is no single treatment for autism, intensive, 
     sustained special education programs and behavior therapy 
     does improve the function of children with autism, allowing 
     them to increase their communication skills and learn. 
     Individuals with autism often benefit from mental health 
     treatments including the prescribing of medication and 
     counseling. Beyond these, there are new treatments and 
     interventions on the horizon, and it is important that 
     individuals with autism can access breakthrough therapies.
       Your legislation provides equal treatment of mental health 
     insurance benefits compared to medical and surgical benefits 
     specifically with respect to cost sharing requirements, 
     financial requirements, and treatment limitations. Many 
     individuals with autism have co-morbid mental illnesses and 
     would greatly benefit from enactment of this legislation.
       ASA, the nation's leading grassroots autism organization, 
     exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. On 
     behalf of our 200,000 members and supporters across the 
     nation, we thank you for your leadership on this issue, and 
     strongly support you in your efforts.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Lee Grossman,
                                                President and CEO.

     

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