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Mental Health Bills Congress Convenes for 'Lame Duck' Session Bazelon Center for MH Law November 17, 2004 Just two weeks after the election, lawmakers are shaking off dust from the campaign trail and have returned to the nation's capital to take care of unfinished business, including passage of federal spending bills and reauthorization of the special education law. Members of Congress returned to Washington this week for what is expected to be a short 'lame duck' session to complete work on nine must-pass federal spending bills, including fiscal year 2005 funding for critical mental health programs and services. Lawmakers are also expected to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of legislation to reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Mental Health Funding When the new fiscal year began Oct. 1, Congress had approved only four of the 13 mandatory appropriations bills that fund the federal government. The full House and the Senate Appropriations Committee have approved versions of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (Labor/HHS/Education) appropriations bill, which sets funding levels for programs within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Before recessing for the elections, lawmakers passed a resolution to keep federal programs operating at last year's funding levels, but that resolution expires November 20. Many Congress watchers believe that the remaining appropriations bills,including the Labor/HHS/Education spending bill, will be combined into an omnibus spending bill for lawmakers to consider. The full House approved $20 million for State Incentive Transformation Grants (SIGs) within the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) at SAMHSA. The Senate Appropriations Committee's mark-up set SIGs funding at $44 million. Advocates believe that full funding for SIGs at $44 million_an important first step in helping states begin to address unmet mental health needs of children and adults in the public mental health system_must be part of the final omnibus spending bill. Other important programs that require increases from FY 2004 levels include: $7 million for the jail diversion program that funds community programs designed to divert offenders with mental illnesses from the criminal justice system into community-based mental health treatment; $5 million for the seniors mental health program; $1.4 million for the protection and advocacy system for people with mental disorders; $5.5 million for the PATH program that provides outreach and services to individuals who are homeless or at risk of being homeless; $3.6 million for the children's mental health program providing comprehensive systems of care for children with severe emotional disturbance; $1.4 million for the mental health block grant; and $2 million for the consumer-run technical assistance centers. Advocates are also attempting to obtain additional FY 2005 funding for the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act (P.L. 108-355) and the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (P.L. 108-732), both of which President Bush recently signed into law. Take Action Urge these key appropriators to fully fund the SIGs at $44 million, the level requested by the President and approved by the Senate committee. Let these lawmakers know that SIGs funding should not come at the expense of any other CMHS discretionary spending or formulary grant program. Please note: Because many Congressional offices do not respond to e-mail from people outside their Congressional districts, you should only use e-mail if you are represented by one of these lawmakers. The Honorable Arlen Specter (R-PA) Chairman, Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee Phone: (215) 597-7200 The Honorable Ralph Regula (R-OH) Chairman, House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee Phone: (202) 225-3876 The Honorable Tom Harkin (D-IA) Ranking Member, Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee Phone: (202) 224-3254 The Honorable David Obey (D-WI) Ranking Member, House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee Phone: (202) 225-3365 Special Education Conferees have been chosen to reconcile the differences between the House (H.R. 1350) and Senate (S. 1248) versions of the bill reauthorizing IDEA and will meet Nov. 17 in an attempt to complete work on the bill. At issue are critical safeguards for children with mental, emotional and behavioral disorders at risk of being excluded from school for violations of school conduct codes. The House bill would dramatically alter IDEA's current discipline standards, allowing schools to expel children with disabilities at will if they violate school conduct codes. Such exclusion would put students with disabilities at increased risk of school failure, dropping out and contact with the juvenile justice system. In contrast, the Senate bill more appropriately encourages the use of positive behavioral supports and interventions to help address school conduct problems. School-wide positive behavioral supports have been shown to be an effective way of reducing and preventing disruptive behavior. Take Action Urge the conferees listed below to support the Senate bill_s language on positive behavioral supports and reject the House bill_s weakening of protections for children with disabilities from arbitrary school exclusion. House Republicans Rep. John Boehner (OH), Chairman, (202) 225-6205 or by e-mail Rep. Michael Castle (DE), (202) 225-4165 or by e-mail Rep. Vernon Ehlers (MI), (202) 225-3831 or by e-mail Rep. Ric Keller (FL), (202) 225-2176 or by e-mail Rep. Joe Wilson (SC), (202) 225-2452 or by e-mail Rep. Joe Barton (TX), (202) 225-2002 or by e-mail Rep. Michael Bilirakis (FL), (202) 225-5755 or by e-mail Rep. James Sensenbrenner (WI), (202) 225-5101 or by e-mail Rep. Lamar Smith (TX), (202) 225-4236 or by e-mail Democrats Rep. George Miller (CA), (202) 225-2095 or by e-mail Rep. Lynn Woolsey (CA), (202) 225-5161 or by e-mail Rep. Major Owens (NY), (202) 225-6231 or by e-mail Rep. John Dingell (MI), (202) 225-4071 or by e-mail Rep. John Conyers (MI), (202) 225-5126 or by e-mail Senate Republicans Senator Judd Gregg (NH), (202) 224-3324 or by e-mail Senator Bill Frist (TN), (202) 224-3344 or by e-mail Senator Michael Enzi (WY), (202) 224-3424 or by e-mail Senator Lamar Alexander (TN), (202) 224-4944 or by e-mail Senator Kit Bond (MO), (202) 224-5721 or by e-mail Senator Michael DeWine (OH), (202) 224-2315 or by e-mail Senator Pat Roberts (KS), (202) 224-4774 or by e-mail Senator Jeff Sessions (AL), (202) 224-4124 or by e-mail Senator John Ensign (NV), (702) 388-6605 or by e-mail Senator Lindsey Graham (SC), (864) 250-1417 or by e-mail Senator John Warner (VA), (202) 224-2023 or by e-mail Democrats Senator Edward Kennedy (MA), (202) 224-4543 or by e-mail Senator Christopher Dodd (CT), (202) 224-2823 or by e-mail Senator Tom Harkin (IA), (202) 224-3254 or by e-mail Senator Barbara Mikulski (MD), (202) 224-4654 or by e-mail Senator Jeff Bingaman (NM), (202) 224-5521 or by e-mail Senator Patty Murray (WA), (202) 224-2621 Senator Jack Reed (RI), (202) 224-4642 or by e-mail Senator John Edwards (NC), (202) 224-3154 or by e-mail Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY), (202) 224-4451 or by e-mail Independents Senator James Jeffords (VT), (202) 224-5141 or by e-mail
This 'Mental Health E-News' posting is a service of the New York Ass'n of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, a statewide coalition of people who use and/or provide community mental health services dedicated to improving services and social conditions for people with psychiatric disabilities by promoting their recovery, rehabilitation and rights. To join our list, please click on the E-News Subscription button. Last Updated on 11/22/04 webmaster@namiscc.org |
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