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Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007

Floor Speech

Date: March 5, 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Health and Health Care

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Mr. Speaker, right now there are millions of patients and families around this country who are too scared to talk about the mental illness they are dealing with. They are too scared to go and seek treatment for that mental illness.

And there are millions more in this country who are living in denial, thinking they can just wish away their debilitating illness.

The legislation that we are passing today, that States like Connecticut and others around the country have been passing for the past 10 years, it is going to do a lot to get treatment to those who have insurance.

But I think just as importantly, it says this, it puts the full power of the United States Congress behind the effort to lift that veil of shame and secrecy that too often visits families and patients who are living with mental illness. Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Ramstad are true heroes to those families dealing with mental illness today, and on their behalf, I thank them.

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