GOVERNMENT RELATIONS ACTION ALERT

House and Senate Co-Sponsors Needed Now for Mental Health Parity Legislation, S. 543 and H.R. 162

BACKGROUND

The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 will sunset on September 30, 2001 unless Congress takes swift action as the original legislation was only authorized for five years.

THE ISSUE AT HAND

Republican and Democratic cosponsors are needed for both S. 543 and H.R. 162 to demonstrate bipartisan support for the concept of mental health parity.

TIMING

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee marked up S. 543 on August 1, 2001 and voted it out of committee unanimously. NASW is hopeful that the Senate will take up this bill soon as the 1996 Act will expire on September 30^th. Although the House has yet to take action on H.R. 162, if the Senate passes S. 543 before the end of September, the House would likely discuss the matter given the time constraints.

ACTION NEEDED

NASW needs its members to contact their Representatives and Senators immediately and ask them to co-sponsor this critical legislation. A draft letter has been posted on Congress Web for NASW members to email, fax, or mail to their Members of Congress. Your advocacy on this issue is vital to the maintenance and expansion of mental health parity.

TAKE ACTION NOW

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