[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 177 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2296-E2297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              EMERGENCY ECONOMIC STABILIZATION ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 3, 2008

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the 
inclusion of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health and 
Addition Equity Act in H.R. 1424, and I congratulate my friend and 
colleague, Congressman Jim Ramstad, for this achievement. Without his 
courage and dedication to fairness, this bill would not be before us 
today.
  It is long past time that American families have access to the care 
they need. This bill ends discrimination against patients seeking 
treatment for mental illness or addiction by requiring that benefits 
that are offered for physical health are also available for mental 
health.
  Mental illness left untreated affects all facets of our society and 
costs our economy over $150 billion annually. Mental illness affects 50 
percent of the homeless population in Minnesota, 70 percent of those in 
our juvenile justice system, and those with the highest unemployment 
rates. Health care costs double when diabetes and heart disease 
patients have co-morbid depression, and patients with mental illness 
and substance abuse disorders are often less responsive to treatment. 
In addition, the burden that mental illness places upon the health and 
productivity of our nation has long been underestimated. One in five 
adults and one in ten children have a mental illness. And over one-
third of our returning service members from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer 
from mental health problems.
  We have all been affected in some way--ourselves, a family member, a 
friend or colleague--by mental health or substance abuse.

[[Page E2297]]

This is an issue I hear about in my district a lot, both from those 
inspired by Senator Wellstone's passion for this issue and those 
willing to share their stories to make change.
  We all know the current system is unfair. People should not have to 
forego essential treatment because of cost when care could mean 
improvements to their quality of life and productivity.
  Parents should not end up with an emergency room bill they can't pay 
because they rushed their daughter to the hospital after a suicide 
attempt, or watch their child suffer after being released from a 
residential center because insurance coverage ended--not because his 
treatment was over.
  And our servicemen and women returning from Iraq should not be handed 
a 1-800 number to treat a mental illness.
  As we look to reform our health care system, mental health and 
physical care can no longer be looked at as separate entities. It is 
morally right, and good for both our economy and our health care 
system. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and I yield back my 
time.

                          ____________________