Political Quotes

“I thank my colleague from Pennsylvania for yielding and for leading on this incredibly important issue that is before us. I rise in support of Congressman Murphy's bill, H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015. You know this significant piece of legislation aims to address the fact that millions of Americans who suffer from a serious mental illness are going without treatment, as families and caregivers struggle to find support in a disorganized healthcare system. I practiced rehabilitation services for 28 years before I had the privilege and honor in 2009 to come to work on behalf of the citizens of Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District. Part of my career was working acute psychiatric services, working with people that were experiencing some of the most chronic and reoccurring disabling conditions that are out there. Many times the system that we are in only really responded when people were in crisis, but it only responded to the point that the person was no longer a danger to themselves or someone else. The system did not allow for the types of resources to be deployed and the care to be provided to really meet the needs of these individuals to stop the cycle. It was really a privilege and honor to work with many different individuals and many different family members. But I am so excited about this step that we are taking with this bill, and I really encourage leadership. This is a bill whose time is now.…”