Political Quotes

“I thank Congresswoman Plaskett for yielding and for her continued leadership in advancing equity and access for all Americans. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to speak about something that is far too often ignored in our communities, especially the African American community: mental health. Before starting my career in public office, I obtained a master's in counseling and worked as a mental health professional. As someone with real-life experiences, I can tell you that mental health challenges are more common than anyone thinks and that the only path forward is to be open and honest about it so more people can get the help and support they need to be healthy and thriving. According to recent surveys, African Americans are 20 percent more likely to experience psychological distress than White Americans, but just 25 percent will seek care compared to 40 percent of White Americans. Clearly, stigma around mental health and therapy remain a significant barrier to connecting those in need with care. We can all agree that Americans, no matter where they live or what they look like, should have access to affordable and accessible mental health services. However, this was not the case until 2010, with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, which moved mental healthcare from a nice-to-have to essential care--what it always should have been considered. Defining mental healthcare as essential healthcare was a major step forward.…”