Mental Health Advocates Rally In Austin
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Mental Health Advocates Rally In Austin
Mental health advocates rallied Wednesday in Austin in support of a bill that includes nearly $90 million for community-based mental health services.
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AUSTIN (March 4, 2009)--Mental health advocates gathered at the state Capitol Wednesday to throw their support behind legislation including $88.3 million to fund community services for mental illness.

The funding would support crisis centers and help for people transitioning from inpatient care, said Robin Peyson, executive director of the National Alliance of Mental Illness Texas, which helped organize the event.

Speakers at the rally said there are 43,000 people with previous mental illnesses who ended up in Texas prisons because of inadequate services.

"I cannot begin to tell you how many prisons we could literally shut down because they're filled with people who have an illness. They did not have a crime record, they needed help and did not get it by the state of Texas," said Democratic Sen. John Whitmire of Houston.

The estimated crowd of more than 300 mental health practitioners, patients and activists from around the state shouted "recovery is possible" then set off through the Capitol to lobby their legislators.

State Capitol Links

Texas House of Representatives Web Site

Texas Senate Web Site

Information About Specific Bills

Texas House Speaker’s Web Site

Texas Lt. Governor’s Web Site

Texas Governor’s Web Site

Legislative Budget Board Web Site

Central Texas State Senators

Sen. Kip Averitt, R-McGregor
(State Sen. District 22 includes: Bosque*, Coryell*, Ellis, Falls*, Hill*, Hood, Johnson, McLennan*, Navarro, Somervell Counties)
Averitt Senate Web Site

Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay
(State Sen. District 24 includes: Bell*, Blanco, Brown, Burnet, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Erath, Gillespie, Hamilton*, Kerr, Kimble, Lampasas*, Llano, McCulloch*, Mason, Menard, Mills*, San Saba*, Taylor Counties)
Fraser Senate Web Site

Sen. Steve Odgen, R-Bryan
(State Sen. District 5 includes: Brazos, Burleson, Freestone*, Grimes, Houston, Lee, Leon*, Limestone*, Madison, Milam*, Robertson, Trinity, Walker, Williamson Counties)
Ogden Senate Web Site

Central Texas State Representatives

Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana
(State Rep. District 8 includes: Anderson, Freestone*, Limestone*, Navarro Counties)
Cook House Web Site

State Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie
(State Rep. District 10 includes: Hill*, Ellis Counties)
Pitts House Web Site

State Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown
(State Rep. District 20 includes: Milam*, Williamson-part, Counties)
Gattis House Web Site

State Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville
(State Rep. District 53 includes: Callahan, Coleman, Concho, Crockett, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, McCulloch*, Mason, Menard, Real, Runnels, San Saba*, Schleicher, Sutton Counties)
Hilderbran House Web Site

Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen
(State Rep. District 54 includes: Bell-part*, Burnet, Lampasas* Counties)
Aycock House Web Site

Rep. Ralph Sheffield, R-Temple
(State Rep. District 55 includes: Bell-part County)
Sheffield House Web Site

Rep. Charles Anderson, R-Waco
(State Rep. District 56 includes: McLennan-part County)
Anderson House Web Site

Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco
(State Rep. District 57 includes: Falls*, Leon*, McLennan-part*, Madison, Robertson Counties)
Dunnam House Web Site

Rep. Rob Orr, R-Burleson
(State Rep. District 58 includes: Bosque*, Johnson Counties)
Orr House Web Site

Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville
(State Rep. District 59 includes: Comanche, Coryell*, Erath, Hamilton*, Mills*, Somervell Counties)
Miller House Web Site
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