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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
Information About Specific Bills
Texas House Speaker’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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