Political Quotes

“I thank Senator Alexander for yielding and for his leadership, and I thank Senator Murray for her leadership. I thank Senator Murphy for his cooperation and collaboration in passing this legislation. I will speak to mental health as Senator, a doctor, a family member, and as a friend of those with mental illness. Because of these different hats, passing comprehensive mental health reform has been a priority since day one. Senator Chris Murphy and I introduced the Mental Health Reform Act in 2015, shortly after arriving in the Senate. Since then, Senators Alexander and ranking member Murray have made mental health reform a priority, and I thank them once more for their vital work to include the provisions the four of us introduced in the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 in the 21st Century Cures Act. In some way, everyone is affected by serious mental illness. This is not a partisan issue. It crosses any division of age, gender, demographics, and certainly political party. If I go to a townhall meeting in Louisiana in an area that is not so wealthy and speak of the need to address mental health, heads nod yes. If I go to another townhall meeting in another area that is very wealthy and mention the need to address mental health, all heads nod yes. Everyone nods their head yes because mental health is an issue in the back of everyone's mind.…”