ACTION ALERT!!!
On Monday, October 16, 2006 the PA Senate passed HB
1813 (MH/MR COLA bill).
Last night, the PA House of Representatives unanimously passed H.B.
1813
and sent it to the Governor, and he has indicated that he will veto
it.
CALL THE GOVERNOR TODAY
- (717) 787-2500
URGE HIM TO SIGN H.B.1813
THEN CALL ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, CO-WORKERS
AND FAMILY MEMBERS
AND ASK EACH OF THEM TO CALL
BACKGROUND:
Thursday, October 19, 2006
To: NAMI PA Members and Friends
Subject: HB 1813 Passes - Contact Governor!
VICTORY (AGAIN!!) IN PA LEGISLATURE FOR MH-MR SERVICES
NAMI PA MEMBERS MUST CALL ON GOVERNOR & HIS REGIONAL DIRECTORS
PA HOUSE CONCURS WITH SENATE ON HB 1813
HOUSE OFFERS SUPPORT IN UNANIMOUS VOTE - 195-0
GOVERNOR RENDELL TO ACT SOON
On October 17, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives approved
HB 1813 PN 4619 in a unanimous vote of 195-0.
In concurring with the action of the PA Senate of the previous day,
the House took final action on the bill, sending it to the Governor
for his approval.
In the House debate on the Senate-approved bill, Representative George
Kenney (R-Philadelphia), chief sponsor and architect of HB 1813, spoke
eloquently in requesting approval of the legislation. The bill would
assure that proposed funding for mental health and mental retardation
services would be indexed annually. The most recent version of the
bill and the bill history are available on website of the Pennsylvania
General Assembly at www.legis.state.pa.us by entering bill number
HB 1813
on the site.
In its progress through the legislature in 2006, the bill won overwhelming
support. Only three legislators voted against the bill. On January
24, the House approved H.B. 1813 without amendment in a 194-0 vote.
The bill was amended in the Senate and approved on October 16 in a
46-3 vote. The only legislators to oppose the bill were Senators Jim
Ferlo (D- Allegheny), Vincent Fumo (D- Philadelphia) and Robert Mellow
(D- Lackawanna). On the very next day, the House concurred with the
Senate in a 195-0 vote.
Next, the Governor will sign or veto the bill. The Governor has indicated
that he will veto this bill. That action could come any day now, and
NAMI PA joins PARF and other advocacy organizations in urging all
members and supporters to act immediately:
Phone, e-mail or talk to the Governor and his regional directors (see
below) as soon as possible!
PLEASE USE THE CONTACT POINTS IN YOUR AREA BELOW:
Demand that Gov. Ed Rendell sign HB
1813 and make it a law.
GOVERNOR EDWARD RENDELL
225 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120
Telephonc: (717) 787-2500
Email: governor@state.pa.us
See http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Governor/govmail.html
GOVERNOR’S NORTHEAST OFFICE
JOHN P. BLAKE, DIRECTOR
Oppenheim Building 3rd floor, 409 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, PA
18503
Phone: 570-614-2090; Fax: 570-614-2094
Counties Served; Tioga, Bradford, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming, Lackawanna,
Pike,
Lycoming, Sullivan, Luzerne, Columbia, Montour, Schuylkill, Carbon
and Monroe
GOVERNOR’S SOUTHEAST OFFICE
JOSEPH CERTAINE, DIRECTOR
200 South Broad Street, 11th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: 215-560-2640; Fax: 215-560-3458
Counties Served: Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Northampton,
Montgomery
and Philadelphia
GOVERNOR’S NORTHWEST OFFICE
HOWARD BRUSH, DIRECTOR
Suite 202, 100 State Street, Erie, PA 16507
Phone: 814-878-5719; Fax: 814-455-3709
Counties Served: Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Forest, Clarion,
Jefferson, Elk,
Warren, McKean, Potter, Cameron, Clinton, Clearfield and Centre
GOVERNOR’S SOUTHWEST OFFICE
ALLEN KUKOVICH, DIRECTOR
14th Floor, State Office Bldg., 300 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
15222
Phone: 412-565-5700; Fax: 412-565-2445
Counties Served: Greene, Washington, Fayette, Allegheny, Westmoreland,
Somerset,
Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Armstrong, Indiana, Cambria, Blair, Bedford,
Fulton and
Huntingdon
LANCE SIMMENS - SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE GOVERNOR
Office of the Governor, Main Capitol, Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: (717) 787-2500
Counties Served: Northumberland, Union, Snyder, Mifflin, Juniata,
Perry, Dauphin,
Lebanon, Cumberland, Franklin, Adams, York, Lancaster
