| This week, the House passed the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, an historic bill that will eliminate discriminatory provisions that make it more difficult and more costly for people with mental illnesses to receive treatment. Approximately 54 million Americans will directly benefit from this long-overdue bill, and hopefully by ensuring equity for costs and treatment limitations will allow more people who need it to seek treatment.  | Majority Leader Hoyer speaks at a rally for Mental
Health Parity with David Wellstone, Rep. Jim Ramstad,
Rep. Patrick Kennedy, Former First Lady Rosalynn
Carter, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. |
Also this week, the House Budget Committee passed a budget resolution that repudiates the President's misguided policies and instead reflects the priorities of the American people.
The Democratic budget is fiscally responsible, putting an end to the President's damaging policies that have created record deficits and debt. Our budget rejects the President's cuts to state and local law enforcement, health care, and veterans, and it invests in areas key to America's future, including education, innovation, energy, and infrastructure. I expect to bring the budget resolution to the Floor next week for a vote.
Also next week, I am hopeful that we will consider legislation modernizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, as well as legislation that will restore the integrity of and bring greater accountability to the ethics enforcement process.
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