Additional Republican Cosponsors
Needed for the National Center For Social Work Research Act! August 22, 2003
THE ISSUE AT HAND Page five of Achieving
the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America,
the report issued in July by The President’s New Freedom
Commission on Mental Health, provides language that can
be used in support of the NationalCenter for Social Work
Research Act (S.73/H.R.844). The report states, “New,
relevant research findings must be systematically conveyed
to front-line providers so they can be applied to practice
quickly. The report then states, “Treatment and services
that are based on proven effectiveness and consumer preference—not
just on tradition or outmoded regulations—must be the basis
for reimbursement.” (To view the entire report, see: http://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov/) NASW and the Action
Network for Social Work Education and Research (ANSWER) Coalition
will use this report as we actively seek additional Republican
co-sponsors for the NationalCenter for Social Work Research
Act. Due to the Republican majority in both the Senate and
House, it is imperative that we use reports such as this
one in our efforts to increase the number of Republican co-sponsors. Also,
when speaking to Republican Senate offices, please be
aware that the current
bill language in both versions of the bill says that the
center would be based at the National Institutes of Health
(NIH). However, Sen. Inouye is receptive to the idea of amending
the Senate version of the bill to read that the center would
be placed somewhere else such as the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human
Services. This is because the NIH—which is currently in the
process of merging existing centers and institutes—is unreceptive
to the addition of any new centers. Some Republican Senators
may be more likely to sign on to S.73 if they are aware that
we are flexible regarding the center’s placement. ACTION NEEDED Contact your Senators Contact your Republican
Senators and request that they join Sens. Inouye (D-HI),
Snowe (R-ME), and Mikulski (D-MD) in supporting social work
research by becoming a cosponsor of S.73, the National Center
for Social Work Research Act. NASW and ANSWER are targeting
Republican members of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
(HELP) Committee. It is critical, however, that all Republican
Senators are contacted! Republican Members
of the Senate HELP Committee (to which the bill was referred): Chairman
Gregg (NH), Sen. Frist (TN), Sen. Enzi (WY), Sen. Alexander
(TN), Sen. Bond (MO), Sen. DeWine (OH), Sen. Roberts (KS),
Sen. Sessions (AL), Sen. Ensign (NV), Sen. Graham (SC),
Sen. Warner (VA) Contact your Representative Contact the office
of your Republican Representative and ask that he/she join
Congressman Rodriguez and 40 other co-sponsors in supporting
social work research by becoming a co-sponsor of H.R.844,
the National Center for Social Work Research Act. As in the
Senate, NASW and ANSWER are targeting Republican members
of the Energy and Commerce Committee, but all Republican
Representatives should be contacted! Republican
Members of the Energy and Commerce Committee (to which
the bill
was referred): Chairman
Tauzin (LA), Rep. Bilirakis (FL), Rep. Barton (TX), *Rep.
Upton (MI), Rep. Stearns (FL), Rep. Gillmor (OH), *Rep.
Greenwood (PA), Rep. Cox (CA), Rep. Deal (GA), Rep. Burr
(NC), Rep. Whitfield (KY), Rep. Norwood (GA), Rep. Cubin
(WY), Rep. Shimkus (IL), Rep. Wilson (NM), Rep. Shadegg
(AZ), Rep. Pickering (MI), Rep. Fossella (NY), Rep. Blunt
(MO), Rep. Buyer (IN), Rep. Radanovich (CA), Rep. Bass
(NH), Rep. Pitts (PA), Rep. Bono (CA), Rep. Walden (OR),
Rep. Terry (NE), Rep. Fletcher (KY), Rep. Ferguson (NJ),
Rep. Rogers (MI), Rep. Issa (CA), Rep. Otter (ID) * Already a co-sponsor
of the bill. To view a list of
the current co-sponsors of S.73/H.R.844, please refer to: https://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/answer/legislation/cosponsors.asp To contact your
members of Congress, you may call the Capitol Switchboard
at (202) 225-3121, or find their numbers at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov You may also e-mail
a letter through Congress Web, available on the NASW Web
site: http://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/grassroots/congressweb.asp BACKGROUND The NationalCenter
for Social Work Research Act authorizes the establishment
of a social work research center to support, promote, and
disseminate research on the prevention and treatment of critical
health and social problems. Such a center will provide vital
information that can be used by members of Congress, social
workers, and other professionals to develop effective policies
that address complex social problems. In addition, it
will help the social work profession¾and
other service delivery professions¾provide
even more effective services to the public by building the
knowledge base and consolidating best practices for the delivery
of social work services. A
social work research center would benefit individuals
and families across the
country. Currently, nearly 500,000 professional social
workers deliver crucial mental health and other human services
nationwide through community organizations, health care facilities,
government agencies, research organizations, and educational
institutions. In fact, clinical social workers are the
key group of mental health providers for our military, the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and many community school
systems. Having access to a wide range of information and
research would enable these social workers to assist those
who are in need in a much more effective and efficient manner. For more information,
please contact Ann Bradford, NASW senior government relations
associate, at abradford@naswdc.org or (202) 336-8237.
You may also refer to the ANSWER Web site: http://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/answer/
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