Government Relations Action Alert

Call Toll-Free 1-866-PARITY4

Urge Previous U.S. House Parity Supporters to Stand with President Bush and Cosponsor New Parity Legislation

THE ISSUE AT HAND

On April 29, President Bush stood with Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), a longtime parity proponent, and expressed his strong support for passage of mental health parity legislation this Congress. The President, Senator Domenici, and House Republican leaders are attempting to craft a compromise parity bill that all involved can support.

On March 20, 2002, U.S. Representative Marge Roukema introduced H.R. 4066, which is the House companion to S. 543, the Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act, the legislation that passed the Senate unanimously as the Domenici-Wellstone Amendment to H.R. 3061 back in October, 2001.

As of today, H.R. 4066 has only 149 cosponsors-- many more are needed to keep the parity fight strong. We need all 224 U.S. Representatives who have previously expressed support for mental health parity to become co-sponsors of H.R. 4066.

ACTION NEEDED

Please call, FAX, or email Members of the House of Representatives listed below and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 4066, the Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2002.

You can use 1-866-PARITY4 (1-866-727-4894); this toll-free number, established by the Coalition for Fairness in Mental Illness Coverage, will connect you to the U.S. Capitol Switchboard, where you can ask for a Representative's office by name. If you are not sure who your Representative is, the Capitol Switchboard can determine which one by zip code. Once you've been connected to an office, be sure to ask to speak with the "Mental Health Legislative Assistant" and ask him/her if their Representative will cosponsor H.R. 4066, the Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2002.

Making a phone call in support of Mental Health Parity is the most effective grassroots tool; however, you can visit NASW's web site and send a letter on this issue to your Representative through Congress Web.

Take Action Now! http://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/grassroots/congressweb.asp

If you make a phone call, let us know at dallen@naswdc.org

TARGETED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

Listed by state with Republicans shaded