Providing for Consideration of H.R. 1424, Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007

Floor Speech

Providing for Consideration of H.R. 1424, Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007

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Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for her leadership in bringing the rule to the floor, which will enable us to debate legislation that is very important to many people in America. I thank Mr. Pallone for his leadership on the committee of jurisdiction, a House subcommittee of Energy and Commerce, and I thank Mr. Hastings as well for the opportunity to debate this important issue.

This is a very special day in the Congress of the United States. We are all very proud of our work, but there are some days that really stand out as historic, days that represent breakthroughs for America's families.

Today we are debating an issue that is relevant to the lives of so many people in our country. And we owe a great debt of gratitude to two of our colleagues, Congressman Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island and Congressman Ramstad of Minnesota, for their great knowledge of the issue of mental illness and addiction, for their political astuteness of the political process here, and for their generosity of spirit to share their personal experience with us, to use their knowledge of issues relating to mental illness and addiction to benefit so many people in our country. It is painful, I know, and therefore very courageous of them to do so. And simply said, without their leadership, we would not have this opportunity today. So I am pleased to salute the leadership of Congressman Kennedy and Congressman Ramstad. With this legislation, they have given hope to millions of Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the legislation also because illness of the brain must be treated just like illness anywhere else in the body. The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act is a comprehensive bill to help end discrimination against those who seek treatment for mental illness.

There is no shame in mental illness. The great shame would be if Congress did not take action to ensure that individuals with mental health illnesses and addictions are given the attention, treatment, and resources they need to lead a healthy life.

This is an issue of national significance. Did you know, and I found the figure startling, every year mental illness results in 1.3 billion lost days of work or school; 1.3 billion days. That adds up to more lost productivity for mental illness than arthritis, stroke, heart attack, and cancer combined. Combined. Yet bipartisan and independent research shows that there is no significant cost to insuring mental illness like any other medical disease.

This legislation will be especially relevant for our returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who later become employed in the private sector. This will be potentially life-saving for those brave men and women who served in the National Guard and Reserves but who don't receive VA care for their entire lifetime.

Mr. Speaker, to help remove the stigma against mental illness, for the millions suffering from mental illness and addiction, and because it is the right thing for our Nation, I urge my colleagues to support the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. It is legislation that is long overdue. It gives hope to millions of people in our country and their families.

I urge my colleagues to support the legislation and honor the leadership, the courage, the generosity of spirit of Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Ramstad in making this day possible for us.

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