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| Six senators, congressmen recognized as Legislators of the Year The National Council also named six US Congressmen and Senators as Legislators of the Year: Rep. Eliot Engel (D-New York), Sen. Al Franken (D-Minnesota), Rep. Doris Matsui (D-California), Sen. Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Rep. Sue Myrick (R-North Carolina). A nationally-recognized leader on health care, Stabenow has worked tirelessly to integrate services for people with mental health and substance use disorders into the broader health care system. She led efforts during debate on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to apply the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 to the health insurance exchanges. She sponsored the ENHANCED Act, later included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to establish national centers of excellence for the treatment of depressive and bipolar disorders. She also introduced the Medicaid Services Restoration Act of 2009 to provide vital protections for providers of therapeutic foster care and rehabilitative services. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Stabenow worked to provide access to affordable and high-quality health care for all Americans and fought to reduce health care costs and promote the use of innovative technology in the health care system. The six US Congressmen and Senators will be named Legislators of the Year for their efforts to raise awareness of the critical need for better health coverage for mental health and addiction treatments. These actions include: Engel’s leadership last year to protect and expand the behavioral health safety net by helping to establish federal status for community behavioral health organizations; Franken’s emergence as a strong advocate of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act and working to ensure implementation of the law; Matsui’s help with drafting several bills to help people living with mental health and addiction disorders and other vulnerable populations; Menendez’s introduction last year of the Melanie Blocker Stokes Mom’s Opportunity to Access Health, Education, Research and Support for Postpartum Depression Act to help the millions of women and families affected by postpartum depression nationwide; Murkowski’s efforts last year to co-sponsor the Community Mental Health Services Improvement Act to expand and improve the behavioral health workforce; and Myrick’s expertise as a family member of someone with serious mental illnesses to work to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness and to promote access to treatment for affected individuals. |
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