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Melanie Blocker-Stokes

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FW: FANTASTIC NEWS!!!! RUSH BILL PASSES COMMITTEE WITH UNANIMOUS SUPPORT  - Success at last!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:      CONTACT: Toure Muhammad September 27, 2007  (202) 225-4372           toure.muhammad@mail.house.gov  

- or -Sharon Jenkins

(202) 225-4372

RUSH GAINS HISTORIC, UNANIMOUS HOUSE COMMITTEE VOTE FOR POSTPARTUM BILL AND FOUR, CHILD SAFETY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION BILLS THAT HELP WOMEN AND FAMILIES

(Washington, D.C.) –– After six years of determined work and leadership on Capitol Hill,

U. S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush, chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, received a unanimous, bi-partisan vote from the full committee, today, to advance H.R. 20, the Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act.  This bill requires the National Institutes of Health to expand its research efforts with regard to depression during and after pregnancy.   H.R. 20 was originally sponsored by Cong. Rush in light of the tragic death of Chicagoan Melanie Blocker-Stokes, who took her own life after the birth of her first child.  The bill also provides for increased funding to execute a national public awareness campaign.  Resources are also designated for local community health organizations that provide screening, counseling and education to women and families about this treatable illness.

“With this bill, my colleagues and I in this committee, and I believe ultimately in the full House, are saying to this nation that no woman need suffer in shame or silence if she’s confronted with feelings of depression following the birth of a newborn,” said Rush.  “I am very, very proud of the good faith efforts—demonstrated by both Democrats and Republicans—to find common ground so that no mother, like Melanie’s mom, need bury her daughter under conditions that should truly be joyous and life affirming.  I now call on my colleagues in the full House and, eventually, in the Senate to find common ground to pass this legislation.  Our hope is to transform this nation in to one that recognizes that postpartum depression is not a badge of shame but, rather, a hurdle that can be overcome by new mothers with support, counseling and the early intervention of their families and loved ones.”

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Also approved in the full committee, today, were four bills that were considered in Rush’s subcommittee that, combined, address important child safety and consumer protection issues that are vital to America’s families.  Given the continued spate of consumer product recalls, H.R. 2474, also sponsored by Rush, increases the maximum, civil penalty for violations under the Consumer Product Safety Act to $10 million, a provision that has been repeatedly cited by advocates and editorial writers around the country as a long overdue incentive for product manufacturers to comply with existing laws.   This bill, along with H.R. 1699, the Danny Keysar Child Product Safety Notification Act, sponsored by Jan Schakowsky (9^th-IL), strengthens laws governing the recall of assorted children’s products, including cribs.  H.R. 1699 requires that each durable infant and toddler product—high chairs, cribs, and strollers—come with a postage-paid, recall registration card. This will allow the manufacturers to directly contact each parent who bought their product should any problem arise that could put their child at risk.  This parent alert system also includes e-mail notification provisions. “I take great pride in the fact that in spite of the sharp differences many of my colleagues and I have on a range of issues, children’s safety is not one of them,” said Rush who also shepherded two other bills through his subcommittee—H.R. 1721, the “Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act” which requires the installation of pool and spa drains with specified anti-entrapment standards, and H.R. 814, the “Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act,” a bill that requires the CPSC to issue regulations mandating child-resistant closures on all portable gasoline containers.  All f ive bills gained unanimous support, today, from the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

      Following today’s action, these bills now advance to the floor of the House for a full vote before moving to the Senate.

ARCHIVES.....

Read more: http://www.melaniesbattle.org/legislation.html

Learn what YOU can do to ensure that H.R. 20 (the Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act) is scheduled for hearing.

Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act (Introduced in House)

HR 20 IH

108th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 20

To provide for research on, and services for individuals with, postpartum depression and psychosis.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 13, 2003

Mr. RUSH (for himself, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. FATTAH, Ms. LEE, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. OWENS, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. WAXMAN, Mrs. MALONEY, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. OLVER, Mr. ENGEL, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. HINCHEY, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. ISRAEL, Mr. KILDEE, Ms. MCCARTHY of Missouri, Mr. WYNN, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. CARSON of Indiana, Ms. NORTON, Mr. BOEHLERT, Mr. CUMMINGS, Ms. HARMAN, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. DINGELL, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. CASE, Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. STARK, Mr. TIERNEY, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. ETHERIDGE, Mr. NADLER, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. WATT, Mrs. BIGGERT, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. LAHOOD, and Mr. MORAN of Virginia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To provide for research on, and services for individuals with, postpartum depression and psychosis.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds as follows:

(1) Postpartum depression is a devastating mood disorder which strikes many women during and after pregnancy.

(2) Postpartum mood changes are common and can be broken into three subgroups: `baby blues,' which is an extremely common and the less severe form of postpartum depression; postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, which are more severe than baby blues and can occur during pregnancy and anytime within the first year of the infant's birth; and postpartum psychosis, which is the most extreme form of postpartum depression and can occur during pregnancy and up to twelve months after delivery.

(3) `Baby blues' is characterized by mood swings, feelings of being overwhelmed, tearfulness, irritability, poor sleep, mood changes, and a sense of vulnerability.

(4) The symptoms of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders are the worsening and the continuation of the baby blues beyond the first days or weeks after delivery.

(5) The symptoms of postpartum psychosis include losing touch with reality, distorted thinking, delusions, auditory hallucinations, paranoia, hyperactivity, and rapid speech or mania.

(6) Each year over 400,000 women suffer from postpartum mood changes, with baby blues afflicting up to 80 percent of new mothers; postpartum mood and anxiety disorders impairing around 10-20 percent of new mothers; and postpartum psychosis striking 1 in 1,000 new mothers.

(7) The causes of postpartum depression are complex and unknown at this time; however, theories include a steep and rapid drop in hormone levels after childbirth; difficulty during labor or pregnancy; a premature birth; a miscarriage; feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, frustrated or anxious about one's new role as a mother; a lack of support from one's spouse, friends or family; marital strife; stressful events in life such as death of a loved one, financial problems, or physical or mental abuse; a family history of depression or mood disorders; a previous history of major depression or anxiety; or a prior postpartum depression.

(8) Postpartum depression is a treatable disorder if promptly diagnosed by a trained provider and attended to with a personalized regimen of care including social support, therapy, medication, and when necessary hospitalization.

(9) All too often postpartum depression goes undiagnosed or untreated due to the social stigma surrounding depression and mental illness, the myth of motherhood, the new mother's inability to self-diagnose her condition, the new mother's shame or embarrassment over discussing her depression so near to the birth of her child, the lack of understanding in society and the medical community of the complexity of postpartum depression, and economic pressures placed on hospitals and providers.

(10) Untreated, postpartum depression can lead to further depression, substance abuse, loss of employment, divorce and further social alienation, self-destructive behavior, or even suicide.

(11) Untreated, postpartum depression impacts society through its affect on the infant's physical and psychological development, child abuse, neglect or death of the infant or other siblings, and the disruption of the family.

TITLE I--RESEARCH ON POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND PSYCHOSIS

SEC. 101. EXPANSION AND INTENSIFICATION OF ACTIVITIES OF NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH.

(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of NIH and the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (in this section referred to as the `Institute'), shall expand and intensify research and related activities of the Institute with respect to postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis (in this section referred to as `postpartum conditions').

(b) COORDINATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTES- The Director of the Institute shall coordinate the activities of the Director under subsection (a) with similar activities conducted by the other national research institutes and agencies of the National Institutes of Health to the extent that such Institutes and agencies have responsibilities that are related to postpartum conditions.

(c) PROGRAMS FOR POSTPARTUM CONDITIONS- In carrying out subsection (a), the Director of the Institute shall conduct or support research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and to find a cure for, postpartum conditions. Activities under such subsection shall include conducting and supporting the following:

(1) Basic research concerning the etiology and causes of the conditions.

(2) Epidemiological studies to address the frequency and natural history of the conditions and the differences among racial and ethnic groups with respect to the conditions.

(3) The development of improved diagnostic techniques.

(4) Clinical research for the development and evaluation of new treatments, including new biological agents.

(5) Information and education programs for health care professionals and the public.

(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2004 through 2006.

TITLE II--DELIVERY OF SERVICES REGARDING POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND PSYCHOSIS

SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM OF GRANTS.

(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this title referred to as the `Secretary') shall in accordance with this title make grants to provide for projects for the establishment, operation, and coordination of effective and cost-efficient systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis (referred to in this section as a `postpartum condition) and their families.

(b) RECIPIENTS OF GRANTS- A grant under subsection (a) may be made to an entity only if the entity is a public or nonprofit private entity, which may include a State or local government; a public or nonprofit private hospital, community-based organization, hospice, ambulatory care facility, community health center, migrant health center, or homeless health center; or other appropriate public or nonprofit private entity.

(c) CERTAIN ACTIVITIES- To the extent practicable and appropriate, the Secretary shall ensure that projects under subsection (a) provide services for the diagnosis and management of postpartum conditions. Activities that the Secretary may authorize for such projects may also include the following:

(1) Delivering or enhancing outpatient and home-based health and support services, including case management, screening and comprehensive treatment services for individuals with or at risk for postpartum conditions; and delivering or enhancing support services for their families.

(2) Delivering or enhancing inpatient care management services that ensure the well being of the mother and family and the future development of the infant.

(3) Improving the quality, availability, and organization of health care and support services (including transportation services, attendant care, homemaker services, day or respite care, and providing counseling on financial assistance and insurance) for individuals with postpartum conditions and support services for their families.

(d) INTEGRATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS- To the extent practicable and appropriate, the Secretary shall integrate the program under this title with other grant programs carried out by the Secretary, including the program under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act.

SEC. 202. CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.

A grant may be made under section 201 only if the applicant involved makes the following agreements:

(1) Not more than 5 percent of the grant will be used for administration, accounting, reporting, and program oversight functions.

(2) The grant will be used to supplement and not supplant funds from other sources related to the treatment of postpartum conditions.

(3) The applicant will abide by any limitations deemed appropriate by the Secretary on any charges to individuals receiving services pursuant to the grant. As deemed appropriate by the Secretary, such limitations on charges may vary based on the financial circumstances of the individual receiving services.

(4) The grant will not be expended to make payment for services authorized under section 201(a) to the extent that payment has been made, or can reasonably be expected to be made, with respect to such services--

(A) under any State compensation program, under an insurance policy, or under any Federal or State health benefits program; or

(B) by an entity that provides health services on a prepaid basis.

(5) The applicant will, at each site at which the applicant provides services under section 201(a), post a conspicuous notice informing individuals who receive the services of any Federal policies that apply to the applicant with respect to the imposition of charges on such individuals.

SEC. 203. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

The Secretary may provide technical assistance to assist entities in complying with the requirements of this title in order to make such entities eligible to receive grants under section 201.

SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

For the purpose of carrying out this title, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2004 through 2006.

Learn what YOU can do to ensure that H.R. 846 (the Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act) is scheduled for hearing.

Home | What is PPD? | Getting help for PPD | PPD EVENTS | Useful PPD Links | PPD in the News | PPDIL Donations  Membership | Committee | IL Proclamation | Bill Alert | Melanie Stokes | Clemency Cases | Downloads

CONTACT
PPDIL HELPLINE: 847-205-4455
3400 Dundee Road, Ste 245, Northbrook IL 60062
Email: Dr. Sarah Allen

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