WASHINGTON, March 13, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Senator
Chris Murphy (D-CT) and
Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) were
honored last night by the APA Practice Organization for their
leadership and support promoting mental health. The Practice
Organization awarded Senator Murphy and Representative Chu with the
2018 Outstanding Leadership Award, given annually to members of
Congress in recognition for exceptional work on behalf of
professional psychology. Representative Chu attended the ceremony
and Joe Dunn, Senator Murphy's
policy advisor, accepted the award on the senator's behalf.
Senator Murphy is a champion in leading the fight to reform the
country's mental health system. His bipartisan bill, the Mental
Health Reform Act, introduced with Senator Bill Cassidy, and enacted into
law, require that individuals receive appropriate and
timely mental health services, additional resources for early
intervention measures and appropriate funding for proven
interventions.
"I'm honored and humbled to receive the APA's Outstanding
Leadership Award, and I want to thank, in particular, the
Connecticut Psychological Association," said U.S. Senator
Chris Murphy. "With the APA's
help, we passed a major, nationwide overhaul of America's mental
health system that will help families get the mental health care
they are due. Thanks to the APA for their leadership in pushing
back on the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and for their
continued work to help improve people's lives."
Representative Chu displays strong support for the Medicare
Mental Health Access Act. As a psychologist, Rep. Chu understands
the importance for individuals to receive high quality
access to mental health services. As a strong advocate for
mental health reform, she has fought to protect the Affordable Care
Act and Medicaid.
"I'm privileged to be receiving this recognition from the APA.
As a psychologist myself, I have made mental health a priority in
my time in Congress. That has meant fighting for access to
healthcare for all and promoting efforts to end stigma around
mental health in Asian American and Pacific Islander
communities," said Representative Judy
Chu. But access to care is insufficient without enough
qualified professionals, which is why I've also sought to help more
students afford the graduate education they require through
my POST-GRAD Act. Throughout all of this work, the APA has
been an outstanding ally, and I'm honored to be standing with them
again today."
"Both Senator Murphy and Representative Chu demonstrate strong
leadership in prioritizing the importance of mental health reform.
They have been strong advocates for individuals receiving fair and
appropriate mental health services," said Katherine C. Nordal, PhD, executive director for
professional practice, APA Practice Organization.
Both Senator Murphy and Representative Chu serve on key
committees with jurisdiction over major health programs- the Senate
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP), and House
Ways and Means Committee, respectively.
The APA Practice Organization is an affiliate of the American
Psychological Association, the largest scientific and professional
organization representing psychology in the United States. The Practice Organization,
a 501 c6 organization, promotes and supports practicing
psychologists. www.apapracticecentral.org.
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SOURCE American Psychological Association Practice
Organization