Political Quotes

“first of all, while Senator Blunt and Senator Stabenow are still on the floor, I want to thank both of them for their extraordinary leadership on this mental health issue. I am so pleased that the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act includes robust provisions to deal with community mental health. I have worked with Senator Stabenow on the Senate Finance Committee. I know her passion on this issue. We have put together bipartisan working groups that are dealing with a lot of different issues in regards to mental health. A lot of that has to do with pediatric mental health, which is very much engaged in the bill that we have before us today. And a lot of those provisions have been incorporated into the legislation before us. But what you have done on these certified behavioral health centers to be able to have the pilot programs and now to be able to expand them to more communities, to have a 24/7 facility that is available that is included in this legislation, that is going to make a real difference in people's lives. So I just really want to thank both of you for your tremendous contributions on this issue. Senator Stabenow, I want you to know, through the Chair, I agree with you in regards to Senator Blunt. We are going to miss his personal presence here on the U.S. Senate floor, but we know that we will be able to continue on having his friendship and counsel on so many issues that have affected us.…”