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Legislative Update
109th Congress &
EDC Action Alerts
The 109th Congress has ended. All
bills listed below have expired.
When the 110th Congress begins on January 4,
bills will be
reintroduced and will be assigned new bill numbers.
Thank you for
helping the EDC work with Congress.
In the 110th Congress, we will renew our work on
1) a comprehensive eating disorders bill,
2) the Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity Act, and 3) mental health
parity.
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U.S. House of Representatives:
WORK WITH THE EDC TO PASS
Eating Disorders Awareness, Education,
and Prevention Act of 2005
(H.R. 49)
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The Eating Disorders Awareness, Education,
and Prevention Act of 2005 (H.R. 49) was introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL) and Rep. Ted Strickland (D-OH).
SUMMARY: Eating Disorders
Awareness, Prevention, and Education Act of 2005 - Amends the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the use of innovative
assistance funds for programs to: (1) improve identification of students
with eating disorders; (2) increase awareness of such disorders among
parents and students; and (3) train educators with respect to effective
eating disorder prevention and assistance methods.
Directs the Secretary of Education to carry out a program to
broadcast public service announcements to improve public awareness, and
to promote the identification and prevention, of eating disorders.
Requires the National Center for Education Statistics and the
National Center for Health Statistics to: (1) study the impact eating
disorders have on educational advancement and achievement; (2) report on
current State and local programs to educate youth on the dangers of
eating disorders; and (3) recommend Federal, State, and local measures
that could be undertaken.
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EDC Action Alert:
Sponsor: Rep Biggert, Judy [IL-13]
2) Ask YOUR U.S. Representative to cosponsor the bill and work for its
passage.
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
3) Contact BOTH of your U.S. senators and ask each one to sponsor
a companion bill for
this important legislation. Complete contact information for the U.S. Senate is
online at
www.senate.gov.
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Congressional Record, March 1, 2005:
 IN
SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS WEEK
SPEECH OF THE HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN OF
FLORIDA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2005
* Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I wish to
recognize the efforts of the Eating Disorders Coalition and its affiliated
organizations for promoting awareness regarding the need for education,
prevention, and treatment of eating disorders . They are commemorating the
``National Eating Disorders Awareness Week'' from February 27 to March 5th of
2005, and they have been devoted over the years to educate the community and
offer help and support to our population to promote the well-being of patients
with eating disorders .
* Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa,
bulimia, and binge eating disorder, and impact millions of Americans each year.
The consequences of these disorders could be devastating to the physical and
mental health of those afflicted. Although eating disorders affect mainly
females, males can be affected by these disorders . We need to educate the
general population to recognize the problem and teach them how to seek adequate
help. Prevention should start at an early age, and the best method of prevention
should be education and the promotion of healthy eating habits and self-esteem.
* Please join the efforts of all those who work
hard to fight these serious medical conditions, and recognize the important work
that the Eating Disorders Coalition and its affiliated organizations do on a
daily basis to promote the health of patients with eating disorders .
U.S. House of Representatives:
WORK WITH THE EDC TO PASS
Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2005
(H.R.
1402)
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Background: In 1996, Congress passed the Mental Health Parity Act (P.L.
104-204), which eliminated annual and lifetime dollar limits for mental
healthcare for companies with more than 50 employees. Many employers
have been able to skirt the spirit of the law, however, by placing new
restrictions on mental health benefits, such as additional limits on
outpatient office visits and number of days for inpatient care.
The Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act
(H.R. 1402)
was introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. Patrick
Kennedy (D-RI) and Rep. Jim Ramstad. A companion bill is needed in the
Senate.
SUMMARY: Paul Wellstone Mental
Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2005 - Amends the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act to
prohibit certain employee group health plans or related insurances
providing both medical-surgical and mental health benefits from imposing
mental health treatment limitations or financial requirements unless
comparable limitations and requirements are imposed upon
medical-surgical benefits. States that the foregoing shall not be
construed as requiring a group health plan (or related insurances) to:
(1) provide any mental health benefits; (2) prevent the medical
management of mental health benefits; or (3) require the provision of
specific mental health services, except to the extent that failure to
provide such services would result in a disparity between the coverage
of mental health and medical-surgical benefits.
Exempts specified small employers from such requirements.
Requires that, in the case of a group health plan that offers a
participant or beneficiary two or more benefit package options, the
coverage requirements shall be applied separately with respect to each
such option.
Provides that, in the case of a plan or insurance providing
in-network mental health benefits, out-of-network mental health benefits
need not be provided at parity to medical-surgical benefits, as long as
in-network mental health benefits are provided at parity with
medical-surgical benefits and the plan or insurance provides reasonable
access to in-network providers and facilities.
Requires a General Accounting Office study of such requirements'
effects upon health insurance costs, access, and quality and a cost
estimation of extending such requirements to the treatment of substance
abuse and chemical dependency.
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EDC Action Alert:
1) Thank the sponsor
and cosponsors of "The Paul Wellstone Mental Health
Equitable Treatment Act of 2005"
(HR 1402) for their support, and urge them to
continue to work for its speedy passage.
Sponsor: Rep Patrick Kennedy, [RI-1]
2) Ask YOUR U.S. Representative to cosponsor the bill and work for its
passage.
www.house.gov/writerep
3) Contact BOTH of your U.S. senators and ask each one to sponsor
a companion bill for
this important legislation. Complete contact information for the U.S. Senate is
online at
www.senate.gov.
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U.S. Senate:
WORK WITH THE EDC TO PASS
Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity Act
or the `IMPACT Act'
(S. 1325)
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Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity Act (or the IMPACT Act) -
Amends the Public Health Service Act to address issues of overweight,
obesity, and eating disorders.
 Expands an existing grant program for training for health profession
students to include the treatment of overweight, obesity, and eating
disorders. Creates a grant program for training for health professionals
in such areas.
Creates grant programs at the local level to promote increased
physical activity and improved nutrition (in place of current law, which
provides for grants to promote childhood nutrition and physical
activity). Targets partnerships with businesses, schools, senior
centers, day care facilities and other institutions. Allows the
Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to give priority
in awarding grants to recipients who provide matching contributions.
Permits the Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to
provide technical assistance to grantees.
Allows the Secretary, acting through the National Center for Health
Statistics, to provide for the collection and analysis of certain data,
including data collected as part of the National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey. Permits the Secretary to: (1) make grants to States,
public entities, and nonprofits to further the collection and analysis
of such data; and (2) provide technical assistance to such grantees.
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Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to request that the Institute of
Medicine conduct a study or contract for a study on the food and
nutrition programs run by the Department of Agriculture.
Permits the use of preventive health and health services block grants
for community education programs which promote healthy eating and
exercise habits.
Establishes reporting requirements with regard to: (1) obesity
research; and (2) the national campaign to change children's health
behaviors and reduce obesity.
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EDC Action Alert:
1) Thank the sponsor
and cosponsors of
Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity Act or the `IMPACT Act'
(S. 1325) for their support, and urge them to
continue to work for its speedy passage.
Sponsor: Sen. William H. Frist, [TN]
Cosponsors
Sen Alexander, Lamar [TN] - 6/28/2005
Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM] - 6/28/2005
Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] - 6/28/2005
Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] - 6/28/2005
Sen Corzine, Jon S. [NJ] - 7/11/2005
Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] - 6/28/2005
Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] - 7/27/2005
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] - 5/5/2006
Sen Lugar, Richard G. [IN] - 6/28/2005
Sen Murkowski, Lisa [AK] - 6/28/2005
Sen Murray, Patty [WA] - 7/15/2005
Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] - 7/19/2005
Sen Stevens, Ted [AK] - 6/28/2005
Sen Warner, John [VA] - 7/11/2005
2) Ask both of your U.S. Senators to cosponsor the bill and work for its
passage (if they haven't done so already).
Click here to write your senators.
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