{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://www.blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ContentRecord_id=8dd40964-e8d5-4c36-91d9-7a275ac3c1a5", "Senators Blunt, Stabenow Join Glenn Close To Urge Congress To Pass Excellence In Mental Health Act", "2013-12-18", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Actress Glenn Close joined U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Debbie Stabenow (Mich.) for a press conference today to urge Congress to pass the bipartisan \u201cExcellence in Mental Health Act,\u201d which was approved by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee last week.  Close is the founder of Bring Change 2 Mind, which works to end the stigma and discrimination against those living with mental illness. The Senators were also joined by mental health advocates, veterans, and law enforcement officials who support the bill. Click here for a high-resolution photo. \u201cApproximately one in four adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder each year nationwide, according to the National Institute of Mental Health,\u201d said Blunt. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a model that works to solve these important problems, and passing this bipartisan provision out of committee is an important step forward. Now is the time for Congress to act.\u201d  \u201cMental health issues touch every family in some way. Our bipartisan bill expands access and improves quality of care so people can get the treatment they need and live healthy, successful lives,\u201d said Stabenow. \u201cWe had a major victory last week, we\u2019ve got tremendous momentum, and we\u2019re going to keep working hard until this bill gets done.\u201d \u201cIt is critical that people come out and talk about mental illness to reduce the stigma surrounding those living with mental illness,\u201d said Close. \u201cThis legislation is so important in the effort to expand access to mental health services and improve the quality of treatment available.\u00a0 With reduced stigma and discrimination, and increased access to quality care, people living with mental illness can get the treatment they need.\u201d\r\nAdditional Background Information: \r\n \r\nLast Thursday, a version of the \u201cExcellence in Mental Health Act,\u201d authored by Blunt and Stabenow, passed in the U.S. Senate Finance Committee as an amendment to the so-called \u2018doc-fix\u2019 legislation (the SGR bill). The amendment will set up demonstration programs across the country to improve mental health care quality and expand access to mental health treatment.\u00a0\u00a0\r\nIn February 2013, Blunt and Stabenow introduced the Excellence in Mental Health Act to help fix the fragmented mental health system by offering current Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) a chance to obtain the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic designation.\u00a0\r\nThe bill establishes criteria for certified community behavioral health clinics to ensure the providers cover a broad range of mental health services \u2013 including 24-hour crisis care, increased integration of physical, mental and substance abuse treatment so they are treated simultaneously rather than separately, and expanded support for families of people living with mental health issues. Certified clinics providing this care could then get reimbursed from the government the same way that traditional health centers can.\u00a0\r\nIn addition to Blunt and Stabenow, the Excellence in Mental Health Act is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of Senators including U.S. Senators Mark Begich (Alaska), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Maria Cantwell (Wash.), Susan Collins (Maine), Chris Coons (Del.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Patrick Leahy (Vt.), Ed Markey (Mass.), Robert Menendez (N.J.), Barbara Mikulski (Md.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Chris Murphy (Conn.), Bill Nelson (Fla.), Jack Reed (R.I.), Jay Rockefeller (W.Va.), Marco Rubio (Fla.), Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), Jon Tester (Mont.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), and Ron Wyden (Ore.).\u00a0\r\nThe Excellence in Mental Health Act is supported by more than 50 mental health organizations, veterans organizations and law enforcement organizations including: the National Association of Police Organizations, National Sheriffs\u2019 Association, American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness, the National Council for Behavioral Healthcare, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Mental Health America, National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and Give An Hour, among many others.\u00a0\r\n \r\nBlunt has also co-sponsored a number of mental health bills in the Senate, including:\u00a0\u00a0\r\n \r\nThe \u201cMental Health First Aid Act of 2013,\u201d which was introduced by U.S. Senators Mark Begich (Alaska) and Kelly Ayotte (N.H). The bill authorizes the launch of a demonstration program to support mental health first aid trainings nationwide to help more Americans identify, understand, and respond to the signs of mental illnesses and addiction disorders.\r\nThe \u201cJustice and Mental Health Collaboration Act,\u201d which was introduced by U.S. Senators Al Franken (Minn.) and Mike Johanns (Neb.). The bipartisan bill would help make communities safer by improving access to mental health services for people in the criminal justice system who need treatment. The bill also focuses on giving law enforcement officers the tools they need to identify and respond to mental health issues, and includes a 5-year reauthorization of the \u201cMentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act\u201d\u00a0(MIOTCRA), continuing support for mental health courts, and crisis intervention teams.\r\nAnd the \u201cMental Health Awareness and Improvement Act of 2013,\u201d which was introduced by U.S. Senators Tom Harkin (Iowa) and Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) and reauthorizes and improves programs related to awareness, prevention, and early identification of mental health conditions.\r\n \r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://www.blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ContentRecord_id=8dd40964-e8d5-4c36-91d9-7a275ac3c1a5"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3528689742088318, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}