Take Action! to visit Capitol Hill this month

The people behind the Take Action! Tour have announced plans for their third visit to Capitol Hill to urge policymakers to emphasize mental health issues. The group, including founder and Hopeless Records boss, Louis Posen, previously visited the Hill in 2006 and in 2005.

Also in attendance will be Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Howard
Berman (D-CA), Youth America Hotline Spokesperson and Miss New
Mexico 2006 Ane Romero, as well as Ronnie Winter, lead singer for The Red
Jumpsuit Apparatus- the headliners of the 2007 Take Action! Tour.

The group will present a press
conference on Capitol Hill in room 1334 Longworth House Office Building,
highlighting the kickoff of the 6th Annual Take Action! Tour, as well as to
advocate for passage of The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction
Equity Act, and for full funding of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act.

The press conference will call for passage of The Paul Wellstone Mental
Health and Addiction Equity Act and to advocate full funding of the suicide
prevention programs contained within the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act.
The Paul Wellstone Mental Health Act, named after the late Senator who
championed the cause, is aimed at ensuring that health plans offer fair
coverage for mental health and addiction care. The bill had majority
support in past Congresses but was blocked from consideration by House
leadership.

The new House leaders have promised Congressmen Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and
Jim Ramstad (R-MN) that t hey will bring the bill up for a vote.