Bill Lee: “Before I discuss this amendment, I would just like to take a minute to offer my and all of our condolences to honor the…”

“Before I discuss this amendment, I would just like to take a minute to offer my and all of our condolences to honor the memory of Congresswoman DeLauro's dear mother, Luisa DeLauro, who passed away at the age of 103 this weekend. As Congresswoman DeLauro always said, her mother was a fearless champion for women's equality, and I hope that tonight we can really think about Congresswoman DeLauro, her family, and her mother, and offer our sincere condolences to her. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment which would shift an additional $5 million away from SAMHSA's existing mental health programs. In the bill under consideration today, SAMHSA's mental health programs, they are already cut by $231 million. That is a 20 percent cut Unfortunately, this amendment would further reduce funding for critical SAMHSA programs such as Mental Health First Aid, Suicide Prevention, and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. We need to be increasing support for mental health services, not robbing Peter to pay Paul by shifting funds from one program to another. Now, by profession, I am a psychiatric social worker, and I founded a community mental health center. Believe me, I personally know the impact and the need, the unmet need, for additional funding for mental health services. As my colleagues and I have noted, the allocations approved by the committee are approximately $5 billion below the nondefense level allowed under the Budget Control Act.…”