Excellence in Mental Health (Cong. Rec., June 17, 2021)
Summary
This is S4612 of the Congressional Record, Senate, June 17, 2021, with interleaved columns. A Senator from Louisiana whose name is not printed in the text read calls for disaster supplemental funding for communities still recovering from the 2020 hurricanes and from recent flooding, and the same page includes a tribute to a departing Helsinki Commission staff member. Under the heading Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act of 2021, Ms. Stabenow speaks about the bill with Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri and recalls their 2013 floor statement marking an anniversary, with the views attributed to the speakers.
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“Excellence in Mental Health (Cong. Rec., June 17, 2021).”
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S4612 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 17, 2021
with a gift of taking a complex issue cane season, and 2021 is on us, but my sources to communities throughout
and distilling it in a way that makes it constituents are still suffering from America struggling to recover from
both relevant and accessible. the storms of 2020. There are a lot of hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other
Erika has taught our diplomats at folks in Louisiana who are still hurt- 2020 natural disasters.
the Foreign Service Institute and spo- ing. If you were to fly over Lake President Biden came to Louisiana.
ken at international meetings and at Charles, LA, you would still see blue Once more, he heard from Mayor Nic
universities across the Nation and tarps on roofs of homes damaged a year Hunter, Governor Edwards, and myself
around the world. She displayed her ex- ago. that we could hopefully have some re-
ceptional teaching ability at the De- I took to the Senate floor last month lief. We need programs like community
partment of State’s annual training stressing the need for disaster supple- development block grants, disaster re-
program on Roma rights, and she has mental while Lake Charles and Baton covery, mitigation funding, and U.S.
ensured that Roma civil society groups Rouge at that time were getting hit by Army Corps of Engineer funding for
could also participate. heavy rains and severe flooding. At the southwest coastal Louisiana hurricane
She has actively sought out dialogue time, Lake Charles ended up with 8 to and storm damage risk reduction. We
and collaboration with new colleagues 15 inches of rain in less than 12 hours. need emergency solutions grants and
to help deepen their understanding of It is heartbreaking to see them af- social services block grants to provide
the Helsinki Commission’s role, of the fected once more by a natural disaster. assistance to the thousands of families
challenges the Commission could use-
Baton Rouge got more than 13 inches who have lost their homes due to hurri-
fully seek to address abroad, and of the
of rain overnight, with 15,000 homes canes like those I have been describing.
unique tools at its disposal to do just
and businesses without power the next We are past due moving quickly. If it
that.
Erika is always quick to ask about a morning. All this comes on the heels of happened tomorrow, it still would have
colleague’s well-being or inquire after Hurricanes Laura and Delta and winter not happened quickly, and we have
a family member’s well-being. She has storms which had catastrophic damage gone into another year which could
fostered collegiality among the Com- to livestock, crops, and structures for have similar storms. We need to help
mission’s staff through her unfailing Louisiana farmers. the people of Southwest Louisiana. The
kindness and good nature. In so doing, For those who need a refresher, 2020 region has been pounded. My job is to
she has repeatedly demonstrated how set a record for the most named do all I can to help them get back on
deeply she cares, not just for the work storms—30 in 1 season and 5 of those their feet.
she has dedicated her career to but also named storms hitting Louisiana, which Once more, I call on my colleagues in
for the people whose great privilege it is also a record. Hurricane Laura, a the House and the Senate with a simple
is to call her a colleague and a friend. category 4 hurricane, hit Lake Charles, message: Let’s get a disaster supple-
I will say on a personal basis that I devastated it, and then almost the mental done.
have benefited so much from her exact same place that Laura hit, Delta With that, I yield the floor.
friendship, from her understanding, hit—category 2—6 weeks later. It is un- I suggest the absence of a quorum.
from her strategic thinking, from precedented to have one hurricane fol- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
where we can make a difference. We lowed by another. clerk will call the roll.
know there are a lot of problems NOAA calculates the damage from The senior assistant legislative clerk
around the world. We know we can’t Hurricane Laura at about $19 billion proceeded to call the roll.
settle all the issues. But Erika helped and Delta at $2.9 billion. Laura Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I ask
us focus on areas where we can make a wreaked havoc through devastating unanimous consent that the order for
difference, and thanks to her input, we winds, which reached 150 miles per the quorum call be rescinded.
have made a difference. hour at landfall—the strongest hurri- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
I know I speak on behalf of all Hel- cane to hit my State since 1856. Delta objection, it is so ordered.
sinki Commission members and staff was just rain. In LeBleu Settlement, The Senator from Michigan.
and scores of other individuals—many just northeast of Lake Charles, they f
who may not know her name—and received almost 18 inches.
EXCELLENCE IN MENTAL HEALTH
groups concerned about advancing I may sound like a broken record, but
human rights around the globe and AND ADDICTION TREATMENT
I need to just play this broken record
here at home when I say how we will ACT OF 2021
once more. We cannot allow the impact
miss Erika. of an entire year’s worth of natural dis- Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I am
Henry David Thoreau said: ‘‘Aim asters to go unaddressed. here today and soon on the floor my
above morality. Be not simply good; be Just a few weeks ago, I was in Lake good friend Senator ROY BLUNT of Mis-
good for something.’’ Erika has em- Charles, and I heard incredible frustra- souri will be here as well to talk about
bodied that maxim in her professional tion about rebuilding in the aftermath an issue that we both care very, very
career and in her life. She has made an of these storms—a church still with its passionately about. In fact, on October
enormous difference, and she will con- roof ripped off; homes, as I mentioned, 31, 2013, which I guess it is amazing
tinue to do so. covered with tarps—and stories from how time flies, but in 2013, Senator
I wish her all the best with respect to members of the community who are BLUNT and I stood here on the Senate
her future endeavors. I know we will not back in their homes and, frankly, floor together to mark a very impor-
continue to hear from her. may not even be back in their city be- tant anniversary. It was 50 years to the
Thank you, Erika, for the way you cause there are no homes and there is day after President Kennedy signed
served the Commission, our country, no housing for them to return to. into law the Community Mental Health
and the global community. The people in Lake Charles have an Act—50 years to the day. And, trag-
With that, I suggest the absence of a incredible resilience and an incredible ically, it was the last piece of legisla-
quorum. we-can-do spirit. So you go there, and tion he ever signed, and it was one of
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
people are laughing and they are smil- the most important.
clerk will call the roll.
ing, but then you see that blue tarp, The Community Mental Health Act
The senior assistant legislative clerk
proceeded to call the roll. and you know that this community was groundbreaking; its goal, to pro-
Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I ask will not recover at the way things are vide full funding for comprehensive
unanimous consent that the order for going. I would argue that the weather mental health services in the commu-
events were tragic, but the lack of ac- nity. How important. Unfortunately,
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the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without tion upon recovery is making a tragedy that has yet to fully happen. Instead,
objection, it is so ordered. worse. behavioral health is funded primarily
f In March, my colleague from Oregon, through grants that start and then the
Senator JEFF MERKLEY, and I urged the grant stops. You would never say to
LOUISIANA Biden administration to support a sup- someone who is having a heart attack:
Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, June plemental disaster appropriation to ur- We would love to help you, but we are
marks the start of the Atlantic hurri- gently address and direct Federal re- so sorry the grant ran out. Can you
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June 17, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4613
come back in 6 months? And yet that is ices, outpatient mental health and sub- who really just needs help, and then
what we say to people with mental ill- stance abuse treatment, and immediate they go to the emergency rooms or
ness or a substance abuse disorder. screenings, risk assessments, and diag- other services, and the officer, then,
Every day, multiple times a day, that nosis. And just as important, it re- sits there all day or longer with them
is what people hear. quires care coordination, including or family members waiting, waiting,
These people who need help aren’t ab- partnerships with emergency rooms waiting because there are not the serv-
stractions, they are our moms and dads and law enforcement and veterans or- ices that they need. So with the cer-
and brothers and sisters and sons and ganizations. tified behavioral health centers, we
daughters and friends and, in fact, us. I Ten States, including Missouri and have 63 percent fewer visits to emer-
am so grateful to Members who have Michigan, have been selected for full gency rooms for people who have a sub-
shared their own mental health stories; participation in the program. And stance abuse problem or mental illness.
that includes my friend, Senator TINA startup grants have been extended now Sixty percent less time in jail. We
SMITH, who bravely shared her own to a number of clinics across the coun- are debating a lot these days about the
struggle with depression that so, so try—40 States, plus the District of Co- role of law enforcement and more calls,
many of us have had throughout our lumbia, 300 community clinics being as we definitely need, to have support
lives. funded to get things started so far, and services in the community. Through
We know that with the right support, we have more coming because of the the work of certified community be-
people who live with some kind of a American Rescue Plan. These clinics havioral health clinics in the commu-
mental health challenge can thrive. are already making a huge difference. nities where they exist, there has been
They do. I have often told the story of We just had a hearing in the Finance a 60-percent reduction in folks going to
growing up in Clare, MI, a little rural Committee this week from those jail. Instead, they are getting the help
town, where my dad had struggles and speaking strongly about this model, they need.
was misdiagnosed for years and finally, this being the model for care in the And we have seen almost a 41-percent
finally, finally, correctly diagnosed as community. Just as community health decrease in homelessness—another
being bipolar and getting the support centers are the model of care for phys- major way that people end up on the
and help with medication he needed, ical healthcare, certified community street or in a shelter when what they
and he was able to thrive after that. behavioral health clinics are now the need is help.
And that is what I want to have for model for mental health and addiction Currently, about 1.5 million people
services. are accessing these services, and it is a
every person in Michigan, every family
More than half of these clinics pro- start. We did it originally as a dem-
in Michigan, every family across the
vide same-day services. Now, that may onstration to show that this could ac-
country.
Unfortunately, far too many people not seem like much, but the truth of tually work and make a significant dif-
still struggle to get the support that the matter is—and this has been true ference and actually save community
they need. We certainly have seen that for years in Michigan because of lack resources, in addiction to providing
of funding—they only are able to help people the help that they need and de-
during the COVID–19 pandemic, and it
people with the most severe problems. serve. But we need to do more, and
has gotten much, much worse, unfortu-
So if you want to walk in and connect that is why we are speaking today.
nately, with everything everybody has President Kennedy believed that
had to go through. with somebody and express a concern,
these services should be available to
One CDC report found that last June, you are probably not going to get any
everyone who needs them, and Senator
twice as many people as usual said services—certainly, not that day—
BLUNT and I agree. That is why this
they were experiencing symptoms of under the old system. Now, more than
week we introduced our Excellence in
anxiety and depression—not sur- half of these clinics provide same-day
Mental Health and Addiction Treat-
prising—and 11 percent of Americans services. Nearly all of them offer treat- ment Act of 2021. This legislation will
have reported having serious thoughts ment within a week. Think about expand these high-quality mental
of suicide in the past 30 days—in the someone with a substance abuse issue, health and addiction treatment serv-
past 30 days. And, tragically, 200 Amer- as well as a mental illness. Time is ev- ices across the country. This is the
icans are dying every day due to opioid erything. And if someone is reaching next step for States and communities
overdoses, according to the CDC. And out for help, they need to get that help across the country to be able to have
that is up 34 percent since the pan- right away. the healthcare funding to provide high-
demic started—34 percent. Clearly, we Ninety-five percent of these clinics
quality services that we know work.
need to do more to get people the men- have been engaged in one or more inno- This is going to give every State the
tal health care and the substance abuse vative practices with law enforcement. opportunity to create certified commu-
treatment that they need and that It has actually been incredible to hear nity behavioral health clinics in their
they deserve. what is being done with local law en- communities. Just imagine what that
The good news is, we are well on our forcement. So when the police officers could mean for a veteran who is living
way to ensuring that healthcare above are called to the scene, and it is clearly with post-traumatic stress or a young
the neck will be treated like an issue that may involve mental ill- mom who recently had a baby and is
healthcare below the neck. This is an ness or substance abuse, they are able struggling with postpartum depression
effort that Senator BLUNT and I have to immediately connect up with those or a college student who is working to
now been working on since that day we who can provide those services instead overcome his substance use disorder,
came to the floor in 2013. We are well of having to take somebody to jail stay in school, and earn a degree but
on the way to finally seeing President when they shouldn’t be in jail. And we just needs some help and support to be
Kennedy’s vision become a reality. know that many, many people in many able to make that happen.
Not long ago, Senator BLUNT and I, cases around the country, the majority Right now, only about 11 percent of
as I mentioned before, after that floor of people who are in the jail are people people with substance use disorders get
speech, introduced something called who actually need mental health help help in any given year. Think about
the Excellence in Mental Health Act. It or substance abuse help. And so there that, 11 percent; about 11 percent of
was signed into law in 2014. It created is wonderful collaboration now through those struggling with an addiction are
certified community behavioral health these clinics going on. able to get help in any given year.
clinics, which are funded just like fed- Statistics from the Department of Well, Senator BLUNT and I aren’t going
erally qualified health centers. You Health and Human Services show that
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
to stop until 100 percent of people with
have high standards, the clinic meets people who have received services at substance abuse disorders and other
the standards, and then they get fully clinics—it is amazing numbers. I will mental illnesses are able to access the
funded through the healthcare system. just mention three: sixty-three percent care that they need to thrive.
It requires these clinics to provide a fewer emergency rooms visits. I have This is really an important moment
comprehensive set of services to every- heard from so many police officers because we, over the last several years,
one who walks through the door, in- talking about they are called to the have designed working with various ad-
cluding 24/7, 365 days a year crisis serv- scene, they take someone into custody ministrations now, designed quality
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S4614 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 17, 2021
standards. We have demonstrated that And our Presiding Officer has also care they need to deal with that prob-
providing these services makes a dif- been a leader in this. I want to thank lem.
ference. We have strong support from her for that as well. But I just want to The COVID pandemic added to many
law enforcement. We have strong sup- thank my partner, as I was indicating of those challenges, and, realistically,
port from the healthcare community, before we came down, on the 50th anni- it would, if you think about it. If you
from the mental health and substance versary of President Kennedy’s signing have got a behavioral health issue,
abuse community in a broad way. his last bill. that is not normally going to be helped
It is exciting to see this be something And I am pleased we have been able by isolation, by worrying about
that really is bipartisan. I am so to pick up the torch, and we are going healthcare for yourself or somebody
thrilled we have colleagues on both to get it over the finish line and make you care about, wondering whether you
sides of the aisle who are supporting sure these wonderful services are avail- are going to lose your job or someone
this effort signing on. We have more able across the country. in your family is going to lose their
people signing on every day. That is be- Mr. BLUNT. Thank you. Madam job. None of those things are going to
cause we believe in these clinics. We President. be helpful.
believe in the services and this way of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- The other area that comes into play
providing services. We have seen it for ator from Missouri. there is an addiction issue of any kind.
ourselves, how it can change people’s f If you don’t have a behavioral health
lives and give people the opportunity issue before you have an opioid depend-
to be able to thrive. EXCELLENCE IN MENTAL HEALTH
ency or some other addiction issue, you
When we introduced our original leg- AND ADDICTION TREATMENT ACT
certainly have one after that addiction
islation, I spoke with Malkia Newman, Mr. BLUNT. Madam President, let takes over.
whom I have known for many years. me say, our times got changed today a So all of those things were exacer-
She lived for over 30 years with little bit, and I was trying to finish an- bated by the pandemic. The percentage
undiagnosed and untreated bipolar dis- other thing to get over here and hear of Americans with symptoms of anx-
order. She finally got the treatment in person what Senator STABENOW had iety or depression grew by more than
she needed through the community to say. She has been an incredible lead- 40 percent. Drug overdose deaths in-
mental health system. And what she er in this effort, a great partner. creased by 20 percent between October
has done is truly amazing. We had As she mentioned, we came to the of 2019 and 2020. It was 30 percent. I
Malkia come and speak as a witness for floor the last day of October 2013, think I may have said 20—30 percent.
our healthcare subcommittee hearing which was the 50th anniversary of That was after 3 years of having drug
in Finance that Senator DAINES and I President Kennedy’s signing the Com- overdose deaths headed in a dramati-
did a few weeks ago, and she was amaz- munity Mental Health Act. Well-in- cally different direction, but suddenly
ing. tended, but an awful lot of it just 2020 was the highest year ever for drug
Malkia is team supervisor for the didn’t get done. Facilities were closed overdose deaths.
CNS Healthcare Anti-Stigma Program that maybe were well overdue to be So the challenges of that are great.
in Waterford, MI. She is a peer educa- closed, but the opportunities weren’t We now have 10 States, including both
tor. She is developing and leading pro- put in place to replace them as that act Missouri and Michigan, that went
gramming in Michigan and sharing her had hoped they would be. through a competitive process and be-
expertise all across the country. She is I think we have been in the process of came part of the original Excellence in
an ordained minister, and she is a making big strides toward doing that. Mental Health States.
board member of the Oakland Commu- That was 2013. In 2014, we were able to In all of those States, we have cer-
nity Health Network, where she has get the first pilot project for Excel- tified community behavioral health
served several terms as board chair and lence in Mental Health put into place, clinics that have to meet standards.
vice chair. an eight-State pilot project, where we They have to meet standards of who
Last month, when she testified at our
were looking not only at the impact on staffs that clinic; they have to be avail-
Senate Finance Health Subcommittee
those individuals and families who able 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with
hearing, she said: I am living proof. I
needed to have their behavioral health crisis management as a possibility.
am living proof. I am an advocate, and
issue treated like all other health They can do preventive screenings.
I am proud to speak on behalf of those
issues but also, frankly, looking to see They can determine appropriate care
who have not yet found their voice.
Malkia found her voice. It is time to what impact it had on all their other coordination with other providers, like
make sure that everyone in our com- health issues when your behavioral emergency room departments or vet-
munities has the support they need to health issue is being treated as it erans services.
do the same. should be. All of those things make a dramatic
I am looking forward to working One of the great costs in healthcare difference in people’s lives. People get-
with my friend Senator BLUNT and all is missed appointments. You have got ting help through the clinics often
of our colleagues who have already to believe that almost 20 percent of the have access to primary care treatment
signed on as original cosponsors, and population that has a behavioral as well. I have visited a lot of those
we welcome everyone in this body to health issue is more likely to miss an clinics in our State. I have seen what
join us in moving forward legislation appointment than everybody else, and, happens with these demonstration
that we have demonstrated makes a of course, that costs the whole system, projects. They are enabling more peo-
difference—saving money, saving lives. but it particularly costs them. ple to get the complete healthcare they
It is now time to make these services If you are going to the doctor when need—and, again, including mental
available across the country. you need to, taking the medicine you healthcare and addictive treatment—
I yield the floor. are supposed to take for any kind of quicker, closer to home.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. COR- health issue, eating better, sleeping In new data from the National Coun-
TEZ MASTO). The Senator from Michi- better, feeling better about yourself, cil for Mental Wellbeing, 84 percent of
gan. your health issues are dealt with in a those clinics, the CCBHCs they are
Ms. STABENOW. I just wanted to let different way. calling them—84 percent of them were
my friend Senator BLUNT, whom I have Nearly one in five Americans, accord- able to see clients within the first
been talking about now on the floor—I ing to the NIH, has a behavioral health week. I think 100 percent of them were
just wanted to say, with him here—and problem, but only a fraction of those able to see a client who needed to be
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
I knew he was going to be here shortly, Americans get the care they need. The seen that day, that day. I certainly
but I just want to say again what a real NIH says they have a diagnosable—al- hope that is the goal. I hope nobody
pleasure and honor it has been to part- most one out of five Americans has a goes to a clinic, if professionals believe
ner with my friend Senator BLUNT in diagnosable and almost always treat- you need help right now, who doesn’t
this really major movement to trans- able behavioral health problem. But, get help right now.
form the way we fund community men- certainly, one out of five Americans But 84 percent of the people who
tal health and addiction services. who have that problem don’t get the show up get an appointment within the
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