Senator Leahy has long been a supporter of mental health parity and strongly believes that every American should have the right to high quality, financially and geographically accessible mental health care.  He has routinely cosponsored a critical piece of legislation The Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment , which would end discrimination in health insurance against people in need of mental health care.

During the first session of the 108th Congress, Senator Leahy introduced the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment Act, a bill that would create planning and implementation grants for communities to offer treatment and other services (such as housing, education, or job placement) to mentally ill offenders.  In a bi-partisan showing, the Senate unanimously passed the bill and it was signed into law on October 30, 2004.  In subsequent years Senator Leahy has written to the Appropriations Committee requesting continued funding for this important initiative. 

                                        
                                                             Battling for Mental Health Parity

Despite broad bipartisan support for the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2003, this bill languished for over a year without a vote on the Senate floor.  In the fall of 2003 Senator Leahy joined with more than sixty senators in writing to the Majority Leader, asking that he bring this bill before the full Senate for a vote.  Unfortunately, an agreement still has not been reached that would allow for passage of this bill.  Senator Leahy remains committed to passage of this legislation and will strongly support it when it is reintroduced in the Senate during the 109th Congress. 
 

Statements and Releases About Mental Health

• Press Release - Senate Passes Leahy Bill To Reduce Crime By Treating Mentally Ill Offenders - October 28, 2003
   
• Letter - To Senator Frist Urging Action on S.486, the Senator Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act - October 21, 2003
   
• Statement - Of Senator Patrick Leahy Mentally Ill Offender Treatment And Crime Reduction Act Press Conference - June 5, 2003

Links to Other Mental Health Sites                                         

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
   
• Vermont Department of Health, Division of Mental Health