Call your Senators today

Call Your Senators Today to Urge Support for Legislation to Expand Mental Health Care Access for Veterans Through Partnerships With Community Providers!

Executive Summary: Last week, the House passed legislation (HR 2874) to improve mental health services for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The National Council urges all members to take advantage of this momentum and contact their Senators to ask them to become co-sponsors of the Veterans Mental Health Outreach and Access Act (S 38) and to thank those who have already signed on as co-sponsors.

Action Needed:

The National Council urges all members to contact their Senators and ask them to co-sponsor the Veterans Mental Health Outreach and Access Act (S 38) or to thank those who have already become co-sponsors.  In addition, we encourage you to raise this issue with your members of Congress when they are at home in the district during the August recess.

You can reach all Congressional offices by calling the Capitol Switchboard. Call 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected with the office you want.

Members of Congress return home to their district for the August recess – August 6 – 31 for the House and August 6 – September 3 for the Senate – this week. The National Council encourages all members to invite their members of Congress to visit your agency during the August recess period.

A flyer, available on the National Council’s website, provides information about how to schedule and prepare for your visits. The National Council urges you to work with your local NAMI chapter in preparing for these visits as well. National Council staff are also available to assist you in your efforts. If you have any questions about the process or the request, please contact Allison Fort at 301.984.6200, ext. 235 or allisonf@nccbh.org.

What should you say?

I am calling to urge the Senator/Representative to become a co-sponsor of the Veterans Mental Health Outreach and Access Act.

Please let the National Council know if you contact a member of the Senate on this issue. Contact Allison Fort at allisonf@nccbh.org to let us know you participated and share the response you received. Thank you!