The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act. Congressman Bill Flores (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding passage of the bill:
“There is an urgent need to reform our nation’s broken mental health system. Our nation has failed to recognize the challenges of mental health or has relied on our prison systems to deal with individuals suffering from addiction and mental illness. Sadly, much of our nation’s violence is carried out by individuals who are suffering from some form of untreated mental illness. Thus, addressing our nation’s mental health crisis is paramount to the safety of our communities. With today’s strong bipartisan passage of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, we are aiding those who suffer from mental illness by refocusing resources, reforming grant programs and removing barriers to mental health care. This will help ensure that those who suffer from mental illness are receiving the care they need before their illness reaches crisis level. By enacting these effective and fiscally responsible reforms, we are helping the millions of Americans and their families who are struggling with the impact of severe mental health disorders.”
Congressman Bill Flores represents the 17th District of Texas and is an entrepreneur, former energy executive, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
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