Pelosi Statement on Mental Health Parity Legislation Being Signed into Law

Contact:Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the Mental Health Parity legislation that was approved by the House and signed into law today:

"Today, the House acted in a bipartisan way to pass the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act with the aim of addressing the challenges felt by Americans on Main Street.

"Among those many challenges is the fact that almost every American family has to grapple with mental illness at some point.

"By including the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act in this essential legislation, we are requiring that illness in the brain be treated just like illness anywhere else in the body for insurance purposes. This is helping to end discrimination against those who seek treatment for mental illness. Simply put, it will save lives.

"We owe a great deal of thanks to the champions of this bipartisan legislation, Congressman Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island and Congressman Jim Ramstad of Minnesota. Through their outstanding work, the Congress has given hope and help to the millions of American families dealing with mental illness and addiction."