MHA To Congress: Override Presidential Veto of Spending Bill

A Statement from Mental Health America President and CEO, David Shern, Ph.D.

Contact:  Jason Halal, (703) 797-1943 or jhalal@mentalhealthamerica.net

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (November 14, 2007) - Mental Health America and its network of 320 affiliates across the nation are deeply disappointed by President Bush's veto yesterday of the FY 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations bill (HR 3043).  Reflecting the broad range of constituencies and needs represented in this bill, both the House and Senate passed it with overwhelming, bipartisan majorities.

Whereas HR 3043 would increase funding by over $40 million above last year's level for crucial mental health services and supports, the President's budget request called for a nearly 10 percent cut to these critically important programs.

Mental Health America calls on Congress to override the President's veto.  A vote in favor of the veto override is a vote for mental health - for consumer-centered programs, safe schools and healthy students, suicide prevention and for moving research findings to community practice.  These and other human-services programs have for too long been under funded and even threatened with elimination.

Mental Health America strongly urges Congress to override the President's veto and set a path for providing meaningful investments to address the tremendous mental health needs of children, adults and returning service members.

For more information, please visit http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/.