Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I'm convinced that the most widespread and most impactful health issue and problem which we face today is in the area of mental health and mental illness. The numbers of individuals affected are so great until it is more than difficult to get a handle on them, and that is one of the reasons that I rise in support of H.R. 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Representatives Kennedy and Ramstad for their leadership in introducing this legislation and shepherding it to the floor.

When we consider the numbers of people who suffer from drug addiction, whose lives are filled with anxiety, depression, fear, and uncertainty, we can readily see that more attention must be paid to our mental health needs. When we see the numbers of people living in shelters, halfway houses, and in many instances under viaducts, abandoned cars, and in the streets, when we see the numbers of people who make up the criminally ill, who hurt, injure, maim and sometimes kill other people because they've never been able to shake their demons who disrupt and plague their lives because they've had no mental health attention or treatment, Mr. Speaker, it is clear to me that this is an idea whose time has come.

I urge passage of this legislation.

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