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Senator Biden for VP - Excellent News for Mental Health Care Advocates!
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by duo | August 22, 2008 at 11:51 pm
608 views | 12 Recommendations | 4 comments
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Senator Biden for VP - Excellent News for Mental Health Advocates!
uploaded by Milieunet
Below is a letter from Senator Biden to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) during his presidential bid:
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December 30, 2007
Dear National Alliance of Mental Illness Membership,
Thank you for the invitation to share information on my mental health positions. Mental health is an important part of one's overall health and deserves to be treated equally and be covered by health insurance.
It is estimated that 26.2 percent of Americans over 18, approximately 57.7 million people, suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. Even though mental disorders are widespread in the population, mental disorders and people suffering from them face great stigmatism and discrimination. We must work to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness, and to create opportunities for people to seek help and treatment for their illness. I believe in investing in research for new methods of prevention and treatment, and working to make sure these innovations are available to patients by guaranteeing that insurance providers must provide full parity for mental health treatment. I was a co-sponsor of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act and I remain committed to the goals of the act as a cosponsor of the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 in this Congress. In addition, I have fought to make sure that Medicare patients pay the same co-payments and deductibles for a mental health issue as they would for a physical injury. As President, I would continue these efforts and work to ensure mental health parity.
I thank you for the opportunity to discuss these issues and look forward to working with your organization to improving the lives of persons living with mental illnesses and their families.
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For additional information on Senator Biden, please see below:
Biden Bio:
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Joseph_Biden
Biden Bio:
http://fora.tv/speaker/Joseph-Biden
Biden on Cuban Prisons: Need to be shut down
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-06-05-biden-close-guantanamo_x.htm?csp=34
Biden on Crime
http://www.joebiden.com/issues/display/crime/
Campaign Issues 2008 " Welfare & Poverty
Identifies multiple issues which America faces today and then proceeds to provide each candidate position in their own ... Withdrawn / Biden on Welfare & Poverty ... abuse, mental illness . . .
Joe Biden on Civil Rights
www.ontheissues.org/2008/Joe_Biden_ Civil_Rights.htm
Joe Biden on Gun Control
www.ontheissues.org/2008/Joe_Biden_Gun_ Control.htm
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I had entertained hopes that Senator Clinton would be Senator Obama’s running mate, however, I believe that Senator Biden is an excellent choice for Vice President for the United States of America. His lengthy and prestigious history in the Senate will compliment Senator Obama’s quest for positive CHANGE!
CONGRATULATIONS, SENATORS!
Mary Neal
Website : http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com
Assistance to the Incarcerated Mentally Ill
Visit online: http://www.care2com/c2c/group/AIMI
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (4)
at 00:34 on August 23rd, 2008
duo, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Yes, this is really a great story, specially now it is in the health channel. I suppose the combination Barack Obama and Joe Biden is good for our health. I agree!
at 06:16 on August 25th, 2008
Thanks for the pictures and the flag, Milieunet. I am pleased the issue is settled as far as who will run with Sen. Obama and that Sen. Biden is a strong supporter for bettering conditions for mentally ill Americans. However, you may be aware that besides advocating for the incarcerated mentally ill, I am a death penalty opponent. I am very disappointed that Sen. Biden supports the death penalty - strongly, it seems. Although the death penalty opponent in me is not pleased, I realize that as a mental health care advocate, we could not have hoped for a better choice than Senator Biden!
In political candidates, as with everything else in life, voters may not be able to find 100% satisfaction. Therefore, it is essential for voters to identify and support the political party and candidates that best represent what they find important. For me, it is also essential that my candidates have a real shot at winning the office he/she is pursuing. This election is much too important to use my vote just to make a political statement. I'll make my statements in blogs and stimulating conversations with my friends. When I go into the booth, it is not merely a statement I want to make -- I want to help effect CHANGE!
Mary
at 07:05 on August 23rd, 2008
duo, I like this story. It's good stuff. Very Nicely done!
at 11:58 on August 25th, 2008
Thanks, Politisite. I appreiciate your comments and flag.
Mary