[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 10268-10271]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            WELLSTONE MENTAL HEALTH EQUITABLE TREATMENT ACT

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, this past Saturday, thousands of people 
in Sioux Falls, SD, and 35 other cities across America, took part in 
walks to raise public awareness of mental health. The walks were 
sponsored by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.
  In Sioux Falls, more than 300 people dodged rain showers to walk 
through Falls Park. They were different ages, with different 
backgrounds. But most shared at least one important distinction: They, 
or someone close to them, has a mental illness.
  The same is true of nearly all Americans. A 1999 report by the 
Surgeon General found that more than 50 million Americans--one in 
five--suffer from mental illness each year. Many Members of this 
Senate--Republicans and Democrats--have spoken bravely and movingly 
about how mental illness has devastated their own parents, children or 
siblings.
  No Senator who is with us today has demonstrated greater leadership 
on issues involving mental health than our distinguished colleague from 
New Mexico, Senator Domenici. He knows--from watching a daughter he 
loves very much struggle with schizophrenia--that mental illnesses 
don't affect just one person; they affect whole families.
  Senator Domenici also knows about the stigma attached to mental 
illness, and the discrimination and suffering that people with mental 
health problems suffer as a result of that stigma.
  Almost a decade ago, this proud conservative Republican found a proud 
liberal Democratic ally in the Senate. Like Pete Domenici, Paul 
Wellstone had seen someone he loved battle a serious mental illness. In 
Paul's case, it was his older brother. Pete Domenici and Paul Wellstone 
were an ``odd couple.'' But they were fiercely united in their 
determination to end discrimination against people with mental illness.
  In 1996--thanks to their leadership--Congress passed the Mental 
Health Parity Act. The law--for the first time--prevented private 
health insurance plans that offer mental health coverage from setting 
annual or lifetime limits that are lower than those set for other 
illnesses. It was an important step forward. But it left a loophole. It 
allowed companies to set much higher deductibles and co-payments for 
mental health coverage. It also allowed insurers to set lower limits 
for outpatient visits or the number of days of inpatient treatment for 
mental illness. As a result, effective, affordable mental health 
treatment remains unaffordable for millions of Americans who need it.
  The General Accounting Office estimates that nearly 90 percent of the 
Nation's health plans engage in legal discrimination based on mental 
health diagnoses. The results can be devastating: unemployment, broken 
homes, shattered lives, poverty, poor school performance--even suicide.
  In 2000, Senator Domenici and Senator Wellstone introduced a new 
bill--the Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act--to close the 
loopholes. It is a modest proposal. It does not require employers to 
provide health insurance. It does not require employers that provide 
health insurance to offer mental health coverage. It simply says that, 
for employers that choose to offer mental health benefits, insurers 
cannot provide more restrictive coverage for mental health benefits 
than they do for other medical and surgical benefits.
  In late Fall 2001, the Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act was 
unanimously added to the Senate version of the FY 2002 Labor HHS 
Appropriations bill. But it was stripped out of the final conference 
report at the insistence of the White House and the House Republican 
leadership.
  More than two years ago, in April 2002, President Bush traveled to 
New Mexico with Senator Domenici and announced that he supports ``full 
mental health parity.'' After listening to families talk about their 
mental health horror stories, the President said, ``Americans with 
mental illness deserve our understanding and they deserve excellent 
care. They deserve a health care system that treats their illness with 
the same urgency as physical illness.''
  Months later, in late October 2002, Paul Wellstone died in a plane 
crash, along with his wife, Sheila, their daughter, Marcia, and four 
others. At a memorial service for them in Washington, Senator Domenici 
delivered a beautiful eulogy to his friend; he announced that he was 
renaming the bill ``The Senator Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable 
Treatment Act,'' and vowed to pass it.
  Despite having 69 Senate co-sponsors, more than a year-and-a-half 
after it was re-introduced in this Congress, the Wellstone bill--S. 
486--remains stuck in the HELP Committee.
  Wellstone Action, the grassroots organization frmed by Paul and 
Sheila Wellstone's two sons to continue their parents' work, has set 
passage of the Wellstone mental health bill as its only legislative 
goal this year. Over the last several months, Wellstone Action members 
have sent more than 32,000 faxes and letters to Congress asking us to 
pass the Wellstone bill.
  Bernie Cameron is one of these letter writers. She lives in 
Deerfield, NH. Her brother Joe was diagnosed with schizophrenia 50 
years ago, when he was just 12. By the age of 14, Joe was living in a 
State hospital for children. He has spent a total of only about 5 years 
outside of institutions since then.
  Bernie Cameron's parents were both Portuguese immigrants who came to 
this country when they were 16 years old. Her father worked as a 
furniture refinisher. Her mother worked at a shoe store. They had 6 
children and never had much money. They visited Joe at least three 
times a week.
  ``Can you imagine visiting your child in a place that smells of 
urine, where people are screaming,'' Bernie asks. ``It was so 
frustrating to them that they couldn't afford a better place for Joe.''
  The powerful medications Joe was prescribed gave him tremors and 
other health problems.
  In 1983, after Joe's father died, his mother sold the family home. 
With the proceeds of the sale, the family sent Joe to McLean's, a very 
good private psychiatric hospital in Boston. He was then in his late 
40s. The hospital

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changed Joe's medication, which finally brought his seizures under 
control. But, after a year, they told his family there was nothing else 
they could do that would make a real difference in the quality of his 
life; too much time had been lost.
  Before Joe got sick, he was a straight A student. Today, he lives in 
a sheltered halfway house. He still has flashes of unusual intellect 
and wit. When that happens, his sister wonders, ``If we could have 
gotten him into a place like McLean's early on, would it have made a 
difference?''
  Bernie Cameron calls her brother's story ``a perfect illustration of 
the 2-tier health care system in this country.'' If you have insurance 
and your illness involves a part of your body other than your brain, 
you get health care. But if your brain is affected--even if you have 
insurance--there's a good chance you won't get the health care you 
need.
  A new poll by the Coalition for Fairness in Mental Health Coverage 
shows that 83 percent of Americans surveyed support mental health 
parity in insurance. When asked whether they would support parity if it 
raised the premiums one percent--the high-end cost estimated for the 
Wellstone bill--66 percent of Americans continued to say yes.
  The Wellstone bill, as I said, has 69 co-sponsors in the Senate, and 
245 co-sponsors in the House. It is also supported by more than 360 
national organizations.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the complete list be 
printed in the Record at the close of my remarks.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (See exhibit 1.)
  Mr. DASCHLE. Yet the Wellstone bill remains stuck in the HELP 
Committee because of fierce opposition from the insurance industry and 
its allies.
  Opponents of mental health parity claim it will drive up the cost of 
health coverage, which will result in more people losing their 
insurance.
  Let me be clear. Their claims are not true. They are scare tactics. 
We have heard them all before.
  To begin with, small businesses with fewer than 50 employees would be 
totally exempt.
  In addition, two highly respected organizations have analyzed the 
Wellstone bill. The private accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers 
predicts it would increase health insurance premiums by 1 percent. That 
is it, 1 percent. That works out to $1.32 per month.
  The Congressional Budget Office predicts an even smaller average 
increase, nine-tenths of 1 percent. I think most families would think 
that is a pretty good deal.
  Senators Domenici and Wellstone modeled their bill on the mental 
health parity provisions in the Federal Employees Health Benefits 
Program. According to the Office of Personnel Management, those 
provisions have increased FEHB premiums only 1.3 percent, and that 
includes treatment for substance abuse which is not part of the 
Wellstone bill.
  Even these very small cost estimates are probably high because they 
do not factor in the cost savings resulting from parity.
  The National Institute of Mental Health estimates the cost of 
untreated mental illness, including criminal justice and social welfare 
costs, at about $300 billion a year.
  A 1999 Surgeon General report on mental illness estimates the direct 
business costs of lack of parity at $70 billion a year, mostly in 
reduced productivity and increased use of sick leave.
  By comparison, when workers with depression were treated with 
prescription medications, medical costs declined by $882 per employee 
per year, and absenteeism dropped by 9 days, according to a study 
published in the Health Economics journal.
  Why single out people with mental illness to hold down health care 
costs? Why not deny treatment for heart disease or diabetes or cancer? 
Psychiatric treatment does cost money, but so do heart surgeries, 
kidney dialysis, and chemotherapy.
  Health insurers are using incorrect and outdated ideas about the 
nature and causes of mental illness to deny millions of Americans 
essential health care and maximize their profits.
  Thirty-four States already have mental health parity laws on the 
books, but the laws vary widely. Many cover only a handful of 
illnesses, and they cannot cover large, multistate employers or 
employers who self-insure. Only a Federal law can guarantee real mental 
health parity for all Americans.
  Last October, on the first anniversary of the plane crash that killed 
Paul and Sheila, their daughter Marcia and four others, I asked 
unanimous consent that the Senate take up and pass the Wellstone Mental 
Health Equitable Treatment Act. It would have been a perfect tribute to 
Paul.
  The Republican leadership blocked that request, but they gave us 
their word that the Senate would consider the Wellstone mental health 
bill early this year. We are now closing in on the Memorial Day recess. 
Time is fast running out on this Congress, too. We have been waiting 
months now to see a proposed amendment from Senator Gregg and the scope 
of the bill.
  On June 10, people are coming to Washington from all over America for 
a mental health rally to urge passage of the Wellstone bill.
  Two years ago in New Mexico, the President said he would work with 
Congress to help press a mental health parity bill. The true test of 
the President's leadership is not what the President says; it is his 
ability to convince Republican leaders in the House and Senate to allow 
votes on the bill.
  Congress can pass this bill quickly, if the President will help. We 
cannot do this alone; we need his help. What we cannot do is allow 
mental health benefits to be a luxury only for the very wealthy or the 
very fortunate.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, before the Senator yields the floor, I would 
like to ask him a question through the Chair.
  I am happy to hear the statement of the Senator from South Dakota 
about the need for mental health parity. One part of me is sad because 
when he mentions the name of Paul Wellstone, that presents to me a void 
in my life because it seems only yesterday he was back here walking 
around with his microphone.
  He was a champion of many causes. He worked so hard because he knew I 
was interested in the subject of suicide and what causes it and how we 
can prevent it.
  Even though I know how important this issue is, and we have to do 
something about it, I feel--like, I am sure, a lot of his friends who 
served in the Senate with him--a real void whenever his name is 
mentioned because he truly was one of the most remarkable people I have 
met in my life.
  I applaud and compliment the leader for his statement on mental 
health parity. For this man, it is long overdue to recognize him being 
a great Senator.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Nevada for his 
eloquent comments regarding our deceased colleague. I share his 
admiration for our departed colleague. He was a man who had passion, 
conviction, and yet a good sense of humor that allowed that passion and 
conviction to be embraced by even those who may not have agreed with 
him on every issue. But his passion about mental health, his conviction 
that it was the right thing for us to do, to pass mental health parity, 
lasts way beyond his life. It is not only in tribute to Paul, but I 
think in recognition of the appropriateness of his conviction and his 
passion that we remind our colleagues of the debt we owe to him and to 
our country in passing meaningful legislation at long last to address 
this embarrassment and this extraordinary deficiency in society today.
  I again thank the Senator from Nevada and yield the floor.

                               Exhibit 1

366 Organizations Supporting the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable 
                             Treatment Act

       Advocates for Youth, Alaska State Medical Association, 
     Alliance for Aging Research, Alliance for Children and 
     Families, Alliance For Mental Health Consumers Rights, 
     Alzheimer's Association, American Academy of

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     Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Academy of Cosmetic 
     Surgery, American Academy of Family Physicians, American 
     Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Ophthalmology, 
     American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 
     American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Physical 
     Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Academy of Physician 
     Assistants, American Academy of Psyciatry and the Law, 
     American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Association for 
     Geriatric Psychiatry, American Association for Marriage and 
     Family Therapy, American Association for Psychosocial 
     Rehabilitation.
       American Association for Thoracic Surgery, American 
     Association of Children's Residential Centers, American 
     Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American 
     Association of Pastoral Counselors, American Association of 
     Practicing Psychiatrists, American Association of School 
     Administrators, American Association of Suicidology, American 
     Association on Mental Retardation, American Board of 
     Examiners in Clinical Social Work, American College of 
     Cardiology, American College of Chest Physicians, American 
     College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Medical 
     Genetics, American College of Mental Health Administration, 
     American College of Nurse-Midwives, American College of 
     Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of 
     Occupational and Environmental Medicine, American College of 
     Osteopathic Family Physicians, American College of 
     Osteopathic Surgeons, American College of Physicians.
       American College of Preventive Medicine, American College 
     of Radiology Association, American College of Surgeons, 
     American Congress of Community Supports and Employment 
     Services (ACCSES), American Counseling Association, American 
     Diabetes Association, American Family Foundation, American 
     Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, American 
     Federation of Teachers, American Foundation for Suicide 
     Prevention, American Gastroenterological Association, 
     American Geriatrics Society, American Group Psychotherapy 
     Association, American Heart Association, American Hospice 
     Foundation, American Hospital Association, American Humane 
     Association, American Jail Association, American Managed 
     Behavioral Healthcare Association (AMBHA), American Medical 
     Association.
       American Medical Directors Association, American Medical 
     Group Association, American Medical Rehabilitation Providers 
     Association, American Medical Student Association, American 
     Mental Health Counselors Association, American Music Therapy 
     Association, American Network of Community Options and 
     Resources, American Nurses Association, American Occupational 
     Therapy Association, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle 
     Society, American Orthopsychiatric Association, American 
     Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, American Osteopathic 
     Association, American Pediatric Society, American Political 
     Science Association, American Psychiatric Association, 
     American Psychiatric Nurses Association, American 
     Psychoanalytic Association, American Psychological 
     Association, American Psychotherapy Association.
       American Public Health Association, American School 
     Counselor Association, American School Health Association, 
     American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry, American Society 
     for Clinical Pathology, American Society of Addiction 
     Medicine, American Society of Anesthesiologists, American 
     Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Clinical 
     Pharmacology, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American 
     Therapeutic Recreation Association, American Thoracic 
     Society, America's Health Together, Anna Westin Foundation, 
     Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc., Anxiety 
     Disorders Association of America, Arizona Medical 
     Association, Arkansas Medical Society, Association for the 
     Advancement of Psychology, Association for Ambulatory 
     Behavioral Healthcare.
       Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., 
     Association for Science in Autism Treatment, Association of 
     American Medical Colleges, Association of Asian Pacific 
     Community Health Organizations, Association of Jewish Aging 
     Services of North America, Association of Jewish Family & 
     Children's Agencies, Association of Maternal and Child Health 
     Programs, Association of Medical School Pediatric Department 
     Chairs, Association of Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgeons, 
     Association of University Centers on Disabilities, 
     Association to Benefit Children, Attention Deficit Disorders 
     Association, Autism Society of America, Barbara Schneider 
     Foundation, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Brain 
     Injury Association of America, Inc., California Medical 
     Association, Camp Fire USA, The Carter Center, Catholic 
     Charities USA.
       Center for the Advancement of Health, Center for Women 
     Policy Studies, Center on Disability and Health, Center on 
     Juvenile and Criminal Justice, Central Conference of American 
     Rabbis, Chicago Public Schools, Child & Adolescent Bipolar 
     Foundation, Child Neurology Society, Children and Adults with 
     Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Children's Defense 
     Fund, Children's Healthcare Is a Legal Duty, Children's 
     Hospital Boston, Child Welfare League of America, Christopher 
     Reeve Paralysis Foundation, Church of the Brethren Washington 
     Office, Clinical Social Work Federation, Coalition for 
     Juvenile Justice, College of Psychiatric and Neurologic 
     Pharmacists, Colorado Medical Society, Commission on Social 
     Action of Reform Judaism.
       Connecticut State Medical Society, Corporation for the 
     Advancement of Psychiatry, Council for Exceptional Children, 
     Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation, 
     Council on Social Work Education, County of Santa Clara, CA, 
     Cure Autism Now, Dads and Daughters, Depression and Bipolar 
     Support Alliance, Disability Rights Education and Defense 
     Fund, Inc., Disability Service Providers of America, Disabled 
     American Veterans, Division for Learning Disabilities (DLD) 
     of the Council for Exceptional Children, Easter Seals, Eating 
     Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action, Employee 
     Assistance Professionals Association, Epilepsy Foundation, 
     Families For Depression Awareness, Families USA, Family 
     Violence Prevention Fund, Family Voices, Federation of 
     American Hospitals.
       Federation of Behavioral, Psychological & Cognitive 
     Sciences, Federation of Families for Children's Mental 
     Health, Florida Medical Association, Freedom From Fear, 
     Friends Committee on National Legislation (Quaker), Harvard 
     Eating Disorders Center, Hawaii Medical Association, Human 
     Rights Campaign, Idaho Medical Association, Illinois State 
     Medical Society, Inclusion Research Institute, Indiana State 
     Medical Association, Institute for the Advancement of Social 
     Work Research, International Association of Jewish Vocational 
     Services, International Association of Psychosocial 
     Rehabilitation Services, International Community Corrections 
     Association, International Dyslexia Association, 
     International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses, 
     International Spinal Injection Society, Iowa Medical Society.
       Iris Alliance Fund, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan 
     Chicago, Johnson Institute, Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma 
     and Immunology, Kentucky Medical Association, Kids Project, 
     Kristen Watt Foundation for Eating Disorder Awareness, Latino 
     Behavioral Health Association, Learning Disabilities 
     Association of America, Legal Action Center, Louisiana State 
     Medical Society, Lutheran Ofc. for Governmental Affairs, 
     Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Lutheran Services in 
     America, Maine Medical Association, Massachusetts Medical 
     Society, MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society, Medical 
     Association of Georgia, Medical Association of the State of 
     Alabama, Medical Group Management Association, Medical 
     Society of Delaware.
       Medical Society of the District of Columbia, Medical 
     Society of New Jersey, Medical Society of the State of New 
     York, Medical Society of Virginia, Medicare Rights Center, 
     MentalHealth AMERICA, Inc., Michigan State Medical Society, 
     Minnesota Medical Association, Mississippi State Medical 
     Association, Missouri State Medical Association, Montana 
     Medical Association, NAADAC, The Association for Addiction 
     Professionals, National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the 
     Good Shepherd, National Alliance for Austism Research, 
     National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, National Alliance for 
     Research on Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders, National 
     Alliance to End Homelessness, National Asian American Pacific 
     Islander Mental Health Association, National Asian Women's 
     Health Organizations, National Assembly of Health and Human 
     Service Organizations.
       National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 
     (NAACP), National Association for the Advancement of 
     Orthotics & Prosthetics, National Association for Children's 
     Behavioral Health, National Association for the Dually 
     Diagnosed, National Association for Medical Direction of 
     Respiratory Care, National Association for Rural Mental 
     Health, National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and 
     Associated Disorders--ANAD, National Association of Case 
     Management, National Association of Children's Hospitals, 
     National Association of Community Health Centers, National 
     Association of Counties, National Association of County 
     Behavioral Health Directors, National Association of County 
     and City Health Officials, National Association of 
     Development Disabilities Councils, National Association of 
     Mental Health Planning & Advisory Councils, National 
     Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National 
     Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems, National 
     Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, National 
     Association of School Nurses, National Association of School 
     Psychologists.
       National Association of Social Workers, National 
     Association of State Directors of Special Education, National 
     Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, 
     National Center for Policy Research for Women & Families, 
     National Center on Institutions and Alternatives, National 
     Coalition Against Domestic Violence, National Coalition for 
     the Homeless, National Coalition of Mental Health Consumers 
     and Professionals, National Committee to Preserve Social 
     Security and Medicare, National Council for Community 
     Behavioral Healthcare, National

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     Council of Jewish Women, National Council of La Raza, 
     National Council on the Aging, National Council on Alcoholism 
     and Drug Dependence, National Council on Family Relations, 
     National Council on Problem Gambling, National Council on 
     Suicide Prevention, National Down Syndrome Congress, National 
     Down Syndrome Society, National Eating Disorders Association.
       National Educational Alliance for Borderline Personality 
     Disorder, National Education Association, National Exchange 
     Club Foundation, National Foundation for Depressive Illness, 
     National Health Council, National Health Law Program, 
     National Hispanic Medical Association, National Hopeline 
     Network, National Housing Conference, National Latino 
     Behavioral Health Association, National Law Center on 
     Homelessness & Poverty, National Leadership on African 
     American Behavioral Health, National League of Cities, 
     National Medical Association, National Mental Health 
     Association, National Mental Health Awareness Campaign, 
     National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse, 
     National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Network for 
     Youth, National Organization for Rare Disorders.
       National Organization of People of Color Against Suicide, 
     National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, National 
     Osteoporosis Foundation, National Partnership for Women and 
     Families, National PTA, National Recreation and Park 
     Association, National Rural Health Association, National 
     Schizophrenia Foundation, National Senior Citizens Law 
     Center, National Therapeutic Recreation Society, National 
     Treatment and Research Advancements Association for 
     Personality Disorder, Native American Counseling Inc., 
     Nebraska Medical Association, NETWORK, a Catholic Social 
     Justice Lobby, Nevada State Medical Association, New 
     Hampshire Medical Society, New Mexico Medical Society, NISH 
     (National Industries for the Severely Handicapped), North 
     american Association of Masters in Psychology, North Carolina 
     Medical Society.
       North Dakota Medical Association, Obsessive Compulsive 
     Foundation, Office & Professional Employees International 
     Union, Ohio State Medical Association, Oklahoma State Medical 
     Association, Older Adult Consumer Mental Health Alliance, 
     Oregon Medical Association, Organization of Student Social 
     Workers, Partnership for Recovery, Pennsylvania Medical 
     Society, People For the American Way, People With 
     Disabilities Foundation, Physicians for Social 
     Responsibility, Presbyterian Church (USA), Washington Office, 
     Prevent Child Abuse America, Rebecca Project for Human 
     Rights, Renfrew Center Foundation, Rhode Island Medical 
     Society, Samaritans Suicide Prevention Center, School Social 
     Work Association of America.
       Screening for Mental Health, Inc., Service Employees 
     International Union, Shaken Baby Alliance, Sjogren's Syndrome 
     Foundation, Society for Adolescent Medicine, Society for 
     Pediatric Research, Society for Personality Assessment, 
     Society for Public Health Education, Society for Research on 
     Child Development, Society for Social Work Research, Society 
     for Women's Health Research, Society of American 
     Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, Society of Medical 
     Consultants to Armed Forces, Society of Professors of Child 
     and Adolescent Psychiatry, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, 
     South Carolina Medical Association, South Dakota State 
     Medical Association, STOP IT NOW!, Suicide Awareness Voice of 
     Education, Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, Tennessee 
     Medical Association.
       Texas Medical Association, The Arc of the United States, 
     Title II Community AIDS National Network, Tourette Syndrome 
     Association, Treatment and Research Advancements Association 
     for Personality Disorder, Union of American Hebrew 
     Congregations, Unitarian Universalist Association of 
     Congregations, United Cerebral Palsy Association, United 
     Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministry, United Jewish 
     Communities, United Methodist General Board of Church and 
     Society, Utah Medical Association, Vermont Medical Society, 
     Volunteers of America, Washington State Medical Association, 
     Wellstone Action, West Virginia State Medical Association, 
     Wisconsin Medical Society, Working Assets, Women of Reform 
     Judaism, Wyoming Medical Society, Yellow Ribbon Suicide 
     Prevention Program, Youth Law Center.

                          ____________________