Heidi Alexander: “I urge a ``no'' vote. Of course, we should help and care about the mental health of children, but the Federal Government…”

“I urge a ``no'' vote. Of course, we should help and care about the mental health of children, but the Federal Government already funds at least 16 programs related to mental health. A new program isn't needed, and the Department of Education is not the best suited agency to administer it. It ought to be in the Department of Health and Human Services. It is unnecessary. The district may use funds already under the education bill and other health programs for this purpose. One of the problems we have as a Congress is we have a good idea and we appropriate and create a new program without realizing there are already 16 other programs there. We should stop that and focus our efforts on existing programs and giving States more flexibility to use that money. I urge a ``no'' vote.”