{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://www.speaker.gov/press-release/rep-tim-murphy-deliver-weekly-republican-address", "Rep. Tim Murphy to Deliver Weekly Republican Address", "2016-12-21", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Paul Ryan", "R000570", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2014Today, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) announced that Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) will deliver the Weekly Republican Address on Thursday, December 22. In the address, Rep. Murphy will discuss a new law that will bring the most significant reforms to our mental health system in more than a generation. The National Alliance on Mental Illness calls this new law \"a milestone in mental health history.\"\u00a0\n\u201cI can\u2019t think of a better way to end the year than with signing the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act into law. By bringing research, treatments, and cures into the 21st century, we are finally breaking down the wall between physical health and mental health and focusing on delivering treatment before tragedy,\u201d said Rep. Murphy. \u201cThis Christmas, as we gather with our family and loved ones, we can rejoice knowing that hope is on the way to so many families who for too long have lived in the shadows.\u201d\n\t\u201cTim has led the charge on bringing attention and resources to mental health issues, and I can\u2019t think of a better time than Christmas to talk about the importance of giving families the help they need,\u201d said Speaker Ryan. \u201dAs part of the Cures law, this bill will be one of the first steps we take toward a stronger health care system.\u201d\u00a0\nEarlier this week, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette highlighted the years-long journey to the enactment of mental health reform: \u00a0\n\u201cU.S. Rep. Tim Murphy\u2019s crusade to change the nation\u2019s mental health care system began in the days following Adam Lanza\u2019s slaughter of the innocents at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The 20-year-old gunman, who had been diagnosed with multiple psychiatric and physical ailments that went mostly untreated, killed 20 children, his mother and six other adults on Dec. 14, 2012. On Dec. 12, 2013, after a year of research and hearings, Mr. Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, introduced the \u2018Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act.\u2019 Three more years of hearings, meetings and negotiations ensued. Although the bill garnered impressive bipartisan praise and finally sailed through the House in July on a vote of 422-2, by September observers were calling its chances in the Senate \u2018murky.\u2019 Last Tuesday, just one day before the fourth anniversary of Sandy Hook, President Barack Obama signed Mr. Murphy\u2019s legislation \u2014 or an acceptable facsimile of it \u2014 into law.\u201d\nAbout Rep. Tim Murphy: Congressman Tim Murphy was elected in November 2002 to represent Pennsylvania\u2019s 18th Congressional District. In addition to his representational duties in the House of Representatives, Rep. Murphy serves as a Commander in the United States Navy Reserves. The only practicing psychologist in elected federal government, Rep. Murphy relies on his four decades of experience to advocate for meaningful reforms in the U.S. healthcare system. Serving as co-chair of the Mental Health Caucus and a founding member of the GOP Doctors Caucus, he focuses on policies to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for all families.\n\tLearn more about Rep. Murphy by visiting his website, liking his Facebook page, or following him on Twitter.\nNOTE: The Weekly Republican Address will be available starting Thursday, December 22, at 8:00 a.m. ET on speaker.gov.", 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.speaker.gov/press-release/rep-tim-murphy-deliver-weekly-republican-address"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.420078333467245, "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"}