E368 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 12, 2008 Donna Eastman for her years of leadership the need for greater ethics scrutiny in Con- H.R. 1424 requires parity with co-payments, and service to the people of Callender. I con- gress argue forcefully for the need for a Fed- deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses, and sider it an honor to represent her in the United eral media shield statute. requires that limits on mental health and ad- States Congress and I wish her the best in her The one, time-tested way of holding the diction care are no more restrictive than those future endeavors. Government accountable is ensuring the free on physical health. This legislation requires f flow of information to the American people. equality in out-of-network care and ensures Threatening reporters or creating an ethics coverage for mental illness and substance re- HONORING TWO-TIME STATE panel of politicians to police politicians will not lated disorders included in the Diagnostic and CHAMPION IOTA LADY BULLDOGS do it. Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM. Congress must enact a Federal media It is time to pass this bill. We have all been HON. CHARLES W. BOUSTANY, JR. shield to ensure that those charged with the affected in some way—ourselves, a family OF LOUISIANA duty of holding Government accountable have member, a friend, or colleague—by mental health or substance abuse. As we look to re- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the freedom and independence to do just that. It is time for the Senate to vote on the Free form our health care system, mental health Wednesday, March 12, 2008 Flow of Information Act. and physical care can no longer be looked at as separate entities. It is morally right and Mr. BOUSTANY. Madam Speaker, I rise f today to congratulate the Iota Lady Bulldogs good for both our economy and our health basketball team, who again finished their sea- PAUL WELLSTONE MENTAL care system. I urge my colleagues to join me son with a state championship alter defeating HEALTH AND ADDICTION EQUITY in voting for this important bill. Capitol 60–49 in strong fashion. ACT OF 2007 f The March 1st win capped the season for SPEECH OF HONORING THE OCCASION OF THE Iota, who finished with an impressive 36–4 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EU- record. Even more remarkable, the Lady Bull- HON. BETTY MCCOLLUM ROPEAN PARLIAMENT dogs competed in the larger Class AAA for the OF MINNESOTA first time. Capitol had previously dominated IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the class with five championships in the past HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY Wednesday, March 5, 2008 OF NEVADA 7 years. Over the course of their career, Iota’s IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES senior class won an impressive 225 games. Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, Madam Speaker, as a member of the I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1424, the Wednesday, March 12, 2008 House Education and Labor Committee, I ap- Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise plaud these student athletes who dem- Equity Act. This legislation is named in tribute today to acknowledge the 50th anniversary of onstrated a strong work ethic, determination, to Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone, whose the creation of the European Parliament. and teamwork. The people of Iota share their work on behalf of the vulnerable was well As chair of the U.S. delegation of the Trans- pride in this team and each of these girls who known and well respected. atlantic Legislators’ Dialogue, I would like to continue to play so admirably. I also rise to thank my colleague from Min- congratulate the European Parliament on its Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues nesota, Congressman JIM RAMSTAD, for con- remarkable evolution. Fifty years ago, it was a join me in congratulating the two-time cham- tinuing Senator Wellstone’s fight on behalf of small assembly with non-elected members, pion Iota Lady Bulldogs for their latest those who the stigma too often attached to the just four official languages, and only consult- achievement. issues of mental health and substance abuse ative powers; today it is a directly elected par- f has left voiceless. Mr. RAMSTAD’s courage in liament with members speaking 23 languages, sharing his experience with substance abuse wide decisionmaking powers over legislation CALLING FOR PASSAGE OF THE and his dedication to passage of this legisla- and budgeting, as well as control and scrutiny FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION ACT tion is the reason we are here today. This bill of the European Commission. The Lisbon will help end the pattern of senseless and im- Treaty, which is currently awaiting ratification, HON. MIKE PENCE moral discrimination against those suffering could enlarge the powers of the European Parliament even further. OF INDIANA from mental illness and put to rest the out- Members of the European Parliament have IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES dated notion that these challenges are less le- gitimate or severe than physical ailments. also broadened their sphere of influence be- Wednesday, March 12, 2008 Mental illness left untreated affects all facets yond domestic European affairs, engaging vig- Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, two recent of our society and costs our economy over orously in our Transatlantic Legislators’ Dia- events make it clear—the time has come for $150 billion annually. Mental illness affects 50 logue. That dialogue has contributed to bring- ing the European Union and the United States Congress to enact a Federal media shield. percent of the homeless population in Min- closer together and continues to be of utmost Yesterday, the House passed legislation to nesota, 70 percent of those in our juvenile jus- importance, enhancing national security and create an independent ethics panel with the tice system, and those with the highest unem- stimulating economic growth on both sides of stated purpose of holding Members of Con- ployment rates. Health care costs double the Atlantic. The Transatlantic Legislators’ Dia- gress accountable to the highest ethical stand- when diabetes and heart disease patients logue has held bi-annual interparliamentary ard. Our Founders would have scoffed at the have co-morbid depression, and patients with meetings since 1972, when a U.S. congres- notion that a political panel, appointed by poli- mental illness and substance abuse disorders sional delegation visited the European Par- ticians, could hold the national legislature ac- are often less responsive to treatment. liament for the first time. Over 60 meetings countable. Our Founders knew the only agen- In addition, the burden that mental illness later, I am proud to have played a role in en- cy in society with the power to hold the na- places upon the health and productivity of our hancing and strengthening the ties between tional government accountable is a free and Nation has long been underestimated. One in the European Union and the United States. independent press. five adults and one in ten children have a As a long-time advocate of transatlantic re- Last year, the House acknowledged this fact mental illness. And over one-third of our re- lations, I was delighted to host our latest inter- and passed the Free Flow of Information Act, turning servicemembers from Iraq and Afghan- parliamentary meeting this past October in Las creating a Federal media shield, with over- istan suffer from mental health problems. Vegas. During our meeting, we discussed a whelming bipartisan support. That bill now The costs of untreated substance abuse are number of important transatlantic issues, in- awaits action by the full Senate. The need for also high for families and our health care sys- cluding regulatory initiatives under the Trans- action by the Senate is also evident with the tem. Studies have shown that 1 in every 5 atlantic Economic Council, the rise of global news that another reporter is facing court Medicaid dollars spent on hospital care is re- anti-Semitism. and foreign policy challenges, sanctions based on her unwillingness to dis- lated to substance abuse; health care costs such as the Middle East, Kosovo, Russia, and close confidential sources. for those dependent on drugs or alcohol is China. Former USA Today reporter Toni Locy is 100 percent higher than those without an ad- I look forward to continuing our transatlantic facing financial ruin as the result of a ruling diction; and the costs to law enforcement and dialogue at the next TLD meeting—in that she must pay fines that will escalate to up to employers are significant. Treatment makes Ljubljana, Slovenia in May—and to continue to $5,000 per day unless she discloses her a difference. A recent study showed that after following the future development of the Euro- confidential sources for stories she wrote treatment, family health care costs dropped 50 pean Union. Fifty years after its birth, the Eu- about the 2001 anthrax attacks. Her case and percent. ropean Parliament is growing stronger each VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:52 Jun 26, 2008 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 J:\CRONLINE\2008BA~2\2008NE~2\E12MR8.REC E12MR8 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE March 12, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E369 year, and I once again congratulate the Par- STACEY ELLIOTT PERSONAL EXPLANATION liament and the European Union as a whole on its achievements. HON. HARRY E. MITCHELL HON. SAM GRAVES OF ARIZONA f OF MISSOURI IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HONORING TERESA KAY-ABA Wednesday, March 12, 2008 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES KENNEDY Mr. MITCHELL. Madam Speaker, due to Wednesday, March 12, 2008 family obligations in Arizona that required my attention, I missed the following votes and had HON.