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Breaking: House to Vote Weds on H.R. 2646

7/1/16

* * * ADVISORY * * *

* * * BREAKING * * *

Murphy’s Crisis Mental Health Bill Moves to Floor Next Week

House to Vote Wednesday on H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act

 

For Immediate Release: Friday, July 1, 2016
Contact: Murphy Press, 202.225.2301

(WASHINGTON, DC) – House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy today announced a floor vote for the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act (H.R. 2646) on Wednesday, July 6th, 2016. 

Murphy’s landmark crisis mental health legislation, cosponsored by 205 bipartisan members of Congress, focuses resources where they are most needed, to foster evidence-based care, fix the shortage of psychiatric hospital beds, empower caregivers under HIPAA privacy laws, and help patients get treatment well before their illness spirals into crisis.

“This is a historic moment for families in a mental health crisis and the millions of Americans trapped in our nation’s broken mental health system. With this vote, for the first time, Congress is saying: no more moments of silence; we must have treatment before tragedy; we pledge our unwavering commitment to bringing help and hope to those most in need; and, we declare a new dawn of hope for the care of those with mental illness” said Congressman Murphy. 

The Energy and Commerce Committee took the historic step last month by passing Congressman Murphy's legislation by a unanimous vote of 53-0 and set the stage for Congress to overhaul the failed system for the first time in more than half a century. The existing outdated mental health infrastructure has not kept pace with the science and the knowledge of what mental illness is and how to treat it. 

“Mental illness is not a moral defect, it is not a choice, and it is not a joke. Mental illness is just that, an illness,” said Dr. Murphy. “Psychosis is not ‘non-consensus reality’- it is a symptom of an illness that with appropriate medical treatment is the difference between life and death.”

In the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, Congressman Murphy led the multi-year effort to reform the nation’s failing mental health care system. With endorsements from nearly every major newspaper in the country, the legislation is expected to clear the House floor and head to the Senate. While the fate of the bill in the Senate remains uncertain, Congressman Murphy promised his steadfast commitment to see crisis mental health reforms signed into law to help those with the most serious illness. 

“Finally, to every family member, the tens of thousands who reached out to me, who stepped forward to share their story and be a voice for change, my deepest gratitude for your courageous stand to help families in mental health crisis,” said Murphy.

 

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Murphy Press | Congressman Tim Murphy (PA-18)
2332 Rayburn House Office Building | Washington, DC  20515
(202) 225-2301 | (202) 225-1844 (f)
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