Lynn N. Rivers: “I rise to tell the story of two journeys that end right at the Capitol of the United States. They are similar in some…”

“I rise to tell the story of two journeys that end right at the Capitol of the United States. They are similar in some respects, but tragically different in others. As a young mother, I was diagnosed with manic depressive disease, a serious brain disorder characterized by deep mood swings, and, for me, profound depression. I was lucky. I was able to get treatment, although at one point my medical care consumed over one-half of my family's take-home pay. Every day I take a cocktail of medications to keep my condition in check. Those medications, along with continuing medical care, have given me my life back. Treatment allowed me to attend college and law school. I have served my community with competency and enthusiasm on the board of education, at the State House, and now on the floor of this magnificent building. My journey has a happy ending. The other individual whose journey ended at this building was not as lucky as me. Rusty Weston was an unmedicated schizophrenic. For years, his parents had frantically searched for effective, affordable treatment for him, but they were unsuccessful. Finally, they threw him out because they were afraid of him. When Rusty Weston arrived here at the Capitol, unmedicated, armed, and delusional, he killed two police officers, wounded several other individuals, and terrified the Capitol community. Mr. Speaker, can the case for mental health parity be any clearer?”