Call Rep. Fred Upton at 202 225 3761 & urge him to pass HR2646

We need everyone to contact Representative Fred Upton, Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and urge him to bring a strong "Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act (HR2646)" to a vote now.

HR2646 is a bipartisan bill proposed by Representatives Tim Murphy, (R., PA) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D., TX), that forces the mental health industry to stop shunning people who are the most seriously mentally ill. Because the bill focuses on helping the most seriously ill, rather than all others, some in the mental health industry are trying to prevent it from passing.

HR2646:

• Creates an Asst. Secretary for Mental Health to coordinate mental health policy and encourages the use of evidence-based practices that help the seriously ill, rather than politically correct and profitable practices that help all others.
•  Encourages states to use Assisted Outpatient Treatment as a more humane and inexpensive alternative to inpatient commitment and incarceration.
• Helps end federal financial discrimination against psychiatric beds so the most seriously ill who need hospitalization aren’t sent to jail instead.
• Allows parents who provide care, housing, case management for mentally ill children out of love, to get the same information from doctors paid providers receive if it’s needed to protect health, safety, and welfare.
• Stops federally funded P&A lawyers from suing against care for our loved ones

Here's why the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act is important 

Rep. Upton is on our side, but those who get federal funds and don’t serve the seriously ill are putting intense pressure on him to not use federal funds for the seriously mentally ill and not to use federal funds for evidence based practices. They want the funds used to "improve behavioral wellness" rather than help the seriously ill. It's outrageous that federal funds are being used to lobby against better care for the seriously ill!

As chair of the Energy and Commerce committee, Rep. Upton can bring the HR2646 to a vote with the important provisions above intact. He needs to hear from you.

Call Representative Fred Upton at 202 225 3761 and urge him to pass a strong HR2646.  

MAKE THE CALL! SPREAD THIS TO FRIENDS, NAMI GROUPS, ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT THE SERIOUSLY ILL. THANK YOU.