Press
Bush on Mental Health Parity
April 29, 2004
The Issue at Hand
The time for passing parity is now! Despite a bipartisan record
of 69 cosponsors in the Senate and 245 in the House of Representatives,
Congress has failed to move on the “Senator Paul Wellstone
Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act” ( S.
486 / H.R.
953 ). In fact, two years have gone by since President
Bush expressed support for full mental health parity legislation.
During this time, more than 360 organizations have joined a
mental health coalition to pass parity and end insurance discrimination
against those suffering from mental disorders.
The mental health coalition is urging Congress to take up,
and pass, the landmark legislation ¾ but it is also
critical that President Bush rejoin the campaign for mental
health parity. On April 29, 2002, President Bush appeared at
the University of New Mexico with Sen. Pete Domenici, and pledged
to work with Congress to pass parity (that year). The President
stated, “We must give all Americans who suffer from mental
illness the treatment and the respect, they deserve.” But despite
the broad support for parity legislation, it remains stalled
in the committee process. Thus, we cannot let April 29 pass
without notice this year, as this is an important opportunity
to generate more momentum for parity.
Action Needed
Call or e-mail the President, to encourage him to push Congress
to pass the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment
Act.
Message : “I
am asking President Bush to urge Congress to make mental health
parity legislation [S. 486] a top priority for passage now.
Two years have gone by since the President declared his support
for full mental health parity. Parity is a fair and affordable
solution to insurance discrimination that will save lives and
families. Despite a majority in the House and Senate cosponsoring
the “Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act,” Congress
has failed to act. Please press Congress to pass this bill.
As November approaches, this issue is extremely important to
me as a voter.”
Background
The President's 2002 speech at the University of New Mexico
is located at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/04/20020429-1.html
In the Senate, the Wellstone Act, S.
486 , introduced by Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM)
and Edward Kennedy (D-MA), has 69 cosponsors. The companion
House bill, H.R.
9 53 , introduced by Reps. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)
and Jim Ramstad (R-MN), has 245 cosponsors. More than 360
national organizations support the legislation ( see
list ). With broad support already in place, our national
grassroots mobilization effort can awaken national leaders
to the imperatives of passing this critical legislation.
For more information, please contact Jim Finley, NASW Government
Relations Department, at: jfinley@naswdc.org |
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