The stalemate between the President and Congress over the FY 2008 budget continues with additional vetoes expected when Congress returns from its current holiday recess on December 4. Last week, the House sustained the President's veto of legislation funding labor, health and education programs, by a vote of 277-141, just a few votes short of the 2/3 margin needed to override the veto. Also last week, the House cleared a separate bill funding housing and homelessness programs for FY 2008. The vote was 270-147 - just shy of the margin needed to override an expected Presidential veto.
Contact Congress and urge them to fund critical housing programs, by voting to override the President's veto of the Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill, HR 3074. This legislation includes restoration of proposed funding cuts to a Section 811, a critical housing program for people with serious mental illness and other disabilities and increases for programs to address chronic homelessness.
When Congress returns to Washington on December 4, there will be only three weeks remaining in this year's session to complete work on insurance parity legislation. We cannot allow this historic opportunity to achieve equitable coverage for mental illness treatment to slip away.
With time running short, it is critical for all members of Congress to hear from advocates on the importance of passing mental illness parity legislation before adjournment. This current two week recess affords a crucial opportunity to reach out to both Senators and House members to make clear that it is unacceptable for Congress to adjourn for the year without sending a parity bill to the President for him to sign into law.
The House of Representatives is expected to vote on a motion to override President Bush's veto of the FY 2008 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill (HR 3043). This bill includes the budgets for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - with increases totaling $40 million for FY 2008 for mental illness research and services.
Act now. Call your House member today, at 800-965-4298 or 877- 210-5351! Urge them to support the motion to override the President's veto of the Labor-HHS Appropriations bill. Remind your House member that HR 3043 includes:
November 15 marked the start of the open enrollment period for the Medicare Part D drug benefit for 2008. During the "open season" period for 2008 drug plan enrollment, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to select prescription drug coverage that goes into effect on January 1, 2008. The open season ends December 31.
As the 2008 plan year approaches, NAMI is watching closely to ensure that beneficiaries with serious mental illness, especially low-income dual eligibles, are able to maintain continued access to drug coverage that meets their complex treatment needs. Of particular concern are the 2.1 million dual eligibles and low-income subsidy (LIS) Medicare beneficiaries that are being required to switch to different prescription drug plans (PDPs) on January 1.
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