WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congresswoman Lois Capps’s comments on The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, H.R. 1424, as prepared for delivery.

Thank you Rep. Kennedy and Rep. Ramstad for highlighting this critical issue.

 The Paul Wellstone Mental Health And Addiction Equity Act is common sense legislation that is long over due.

We have to work to bring the issue of mental health out of the shadows and into the public dialogue.  We can’t continue to bury our heads in the ground and hope that instances of mental illness go away or cure themselves.  We wouldn’t treat a broken limb or cancer by ignoring it and we can’t continue ignoring mental illness by treating it as a second class ailment in terms of health care coverage.

Mental illness is such a pressing public health concern in our country.  And as a public health nurse all my life, I have always been very troubled that the government and insurance companies have not treated it as so.  Too often only the lucky few who can afford quality mental health care are able to access it.

This legislation finally brings the issue of mental health out of the shadows. No longer does mental health parity have to be just a talking point or a dream.  This year we will make it a reality.

I am thrilled to be serving in Congress when we finally will establish parity for mental health.  There should be no difference in the way we provide care for mental illness than any other physical illness.  And nobody should feel that their mental health is less important to take care of any more.

Thank you again, and I look forward to continuing to work together to achieve mental health parity this year!

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Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.