pd06my02 Remarks at a Cinco de Mayo Reception...

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and embarrassment. Stigma leads to isolation and discourages people from 
seeking the treatment they need. Political leaders, health care 
professionals, and all Americans must understand and send this message: 
Mental disability is not a scandal; it is an illness. And like physical 
illness, it is treatable, especially when the treatment comes early.
    Today, new drugs and therapies have vastly improved the outlook for 
millions of Americans with the most serious mental illnesses and for 
millions more with less severe illnesses. The treatment success rates 
for schizophrenia and clinical depression are comparable to those for 
heart disease. That's good news in America, and we must encourage more 
and more Americans to understand and to seek more treatment.
    The second obstacle to quality mental health care is our fragmented 
mental health service delivery system. Mental health centers and 
hospitals, homeless shelters, the justice system, and our schools all 
have contact with individuals suffering from mental disorders. Yet, many 
of these disorders are difficult to diagnose. This makes it even harder 
to provide the mentally ill with the care they need. Many Americans fall 
through the cracks of the current system. Many years and lives are lost 
before help, if it is given at all, is given.
    Consider this example--and for the experts in the field, they will 
confirm this is a story which is oftentimes too true--a 14-year-old boy 
who started experimenting with drugs to ease his severe depression. That 
happens. This former honor student became a drug addict. He dropped out 
of school, was incarcerated 6 times in 16 years. Only 2 years ago, when 
he was 30 years old, did the doctors finally diagnose his condition as 
bipolar disorder, and he began a successful program, a successful long-
term treatment program.
    And to make sure that the cracks are closed, I am honored to 
announce what we call the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. It is 
charged to study the problems and gaps in our current system of 
treatment and to make concrete recommendations for immediate 
improvements that will be implemented, and these will be improvements 
that can be implemented and must be implemented by the Federal 
Government, the State Government, local agencies, as well as public and 
private health care providers.
    To chair the Commission, I've selected Michael Hogan, Dr. Hogan. I 
appreciate your coming, Michael. Dr. Hogan has served as the Director of 
the Ohio Department of Mental Health for more than 10 years and is 
recognized as a leader in this profession. He has been focused, as a 
State official, on how our mental health system works and how it doesn't 
work.
    I look forward to the Commission's findings. I look forward to their 
proposals. I look forward to making progress and fixing the system so 
that Americans do not fall through the cracks.
    The third major obstacle to effective mental health care is the 
often unfair treatment limitations placed on mental health in insurance 
coverage. Many private health insurance plans have developed effective 
programs to identify patients with mental illnesses, and they help them 
get their treatment they need to regain their health.
    But insurance plans too often place greater restrictions on the 
treatment of mental illness than on the treatment of other medical 
illnesses. As a result, some Americans are unable to get effective 
medical treatments that would allow them to function well in their daily 
lives.
    Our health insurance system must treat serious mental illness like 
any other disease. And that was Senator Domenici's message to me at the 
Oval Office. [Laughter] And it was Nancy's message when we had them up 
for dinner. [Laughter] And I want to appreciate the fact that they have 
worked tirelessly on this problem.

[[Page 703]]

    I have a record on this issue. As the Governor of Texas, I signed a 
bill to ensure that patients who critically need mental health are 
treated fairly. Senator Domenici and I share this commitment: Health 
plans should not be allowed to apply unfair treatment limitations or 
financial requirements on mental health benefits.
    It is critical that we provide full--as we provide full mental 
health parity, that we do not significantly run up the cost of health 
care. I'll work with the Senator. I will work with the Speaker. I will 
work with their House and Senate colleagues to reach an agreement on 
mental health parity this year.
    We must work for a welcoming and compassionate society, a society 
where no American is dismissed and no American is forgotten. This is the 
great and hopeful story of our country, and we can write another 
chapter. We must give all Americans who suffer from mental illness the 
treatment and the respect they deserve.
    Thank you all. God bless.

Note: The President spoke at 10:34 a.m. at the Continuing Education 
Center. In his remarks, he referred to Charles G. Curie, Administrator, 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Department of 
Health and Human Services; R. Philip Eaton, interim vice president, 
Health Sciences, University of New Mexico; and Lt. Gov. Walter Bradley 
of New Mexico. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish 
language transcript of these remarks.


<DOC>
[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
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[Page 703-704]
 
Pages 697-742
 
Week Ending Friday, May 3, 2002
 
Executive Order 13263--President's New Freedom Commission on Mental 
Health

April 29, 2002

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, and to improve America's 
mental health service delivery system for individuals with serious 
mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances, it is 
hereby ordered as follows:
    Section 1. Establishment. There is hereby established the 
President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health (Commission).
    Sec. 2. Membership. (a) The Commission's membership shall be 
composed of:
    (i) Not more than fifteen members appointed by the President, 
including providers, payers, administrators, and consumers of mental 
health services and family members of consumers; and
    (ii) Not more than seven ex officio members, four of whom shall be 
designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the 
remaining three of whom shall be designated--one each--by the 
Secretaries of the Departments of Labor, Education, and Veterans 
Affairs.
    (b) The President shall designate a Chair from among the fifteen 
members of the Commission appointed by the President.
    Sec. 3. Mission. The mission of the Commission shall be to conduct a 
comprehensive study of the United States mental health service delivery 
system, including public and private sector providers, and to advise the 
President on methods of improving the system. The Commission's goal 
shall be to recommend improvements to enable adults with serious mental 
illness and children with serious emotional disturbances to live, work, 
learn, and participate fully in their communities. In carrying out its 
mission, the Commission shall, at a minimum:
    (a) Review the current quality and effectiveness of public and 
private providers and Federal, State, and local government involvement 
in the delivery of services to individuals with serious mental illnesses 
and children with serious emotional disturbances, and identify unmet 
needs and barriers to services.
    (b) Identify innovative mental health treatments, services, and 
technologies that are demonstrably effective and can be widely 
replicated in different settings.
    (c) Formulate policy options that could be implemented by public and 
private providers, and Federal, State, and local governments to 
integrate the use of effective treatments and services, improve 
coordination among service providers, and improve community integration 
for adults with serious mental illnesses and children with serious 
emotional disturbances.
    Sec. 4. Principles. In conducting its mission, the Commission shall 
adhere to the following principles:

[[Page 704]]

    (a) The Commission shall focus on the desired outcomes of mental 
health care, which are to attain each individual's maximum level of 
employment, self-care, interpersonal relationships, and community 
participation;
    (b) The Commission shall focus on community-level models of care 
that efficiently coordinate the multiple health and human service 
providers and public and private payers involved in mental health 
treatment and delivery of services;
    (c) The Commission shall focus on those policies that maximize the 
utility of existing resources by increasing cost effectiveness and 
reducing unnecessary and burdensome regulatory barriers;
    (d) The Commission shall consider how mental health research 
findings can be used most effectively to influence the delivery of 
services; and
    (e) The Commission shall follow the principles of Federalism, and 
ensure that its recommendations promote innovation, flexibility, and 
accountability at all levels of government and respect the 
constitutional role of the States and Indian tribes.
    Sec. 5. Administration. (a) The Department of Health and Human 
Services, to the extent permitted by law, shall provide funding and 
administrative support for the Commission.
    (b) To the extent funds are available and as authorized by law for 
persons serving intermittently in Government service (5 U.S.C. 5701-
5707), members of the Commission appointed from among private citizens 
of the United States may be allowed travel expenses while engaged in the 
work of the Commission, including per diem in lieu of subsistence. All 
members of the Commission who are officers or employees of the United 
States shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for 
their services as officers or employees of the United States.
    (c) The Commission shall have a staff headed by an Executive 
Director, who shall be selected by the President. To the extent 
permitted by law, office space, analytical support, and additional staff 
support for the Commission shall be provided by executive branch 
departments and agencies.
    (d) Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, may 
apply to the Commission, any functions of the President under that Act, 
except for those in section 6 of that Act, shall be performed by the 
Department of Health and Human Services, in accordance with the 
guidelines that have been issued by the Administrator of General 
Services.
    Sec. 6. Reports. The Commission shall submit reports to the 
President as follows:
    (a) Interim Report. Within 6 months from the date of this order, an 
interim report shall describe the extent of unmet needs and barriers to 
care within the mental health system and provide examples of community-
based care models with success in coordination of services and providing 
desired outcomes.
    (b) Final Report. The final report will set forth the Commission's 
recommendations, in accordance with its mission as stated in section 3 
of this order. The submission date shall be determined by the Chair in 
consultation with the President.
    Sec. 7. Termination. The Commission shall terminate 1 year from the 
date of this order, unless extended by the President prior to that date.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 April 29, 2002.

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., May 2, 2002]

Note: This Executive order was published in the Federal Register on May 
3.


<DOC>
[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
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[Page 704-709]
 
Pages 697-742
 
Week Ending Friday, May 3, 2002
 
Remarks at a Luncheon for Representative Heather Wilson in Albuquerque

April 29, 2002

    The President. Gosh, thanks for that warm welcome. It's great to be 
back in New Mexico. I'm glad to know my Texas passport is still active. 
[Laughter]
    I'm here because it is very important for the people of New Mexico 
to send Heather Wilson back to the United States Congress. I'm here to 
give my whole-hearted support to her candidacy.

[[Page 705]]

    Before I spend a little time fleshing that out, I want to say 
something about the senior Senator from New Mexico. There's no finer 
American in the United States Senate than Pete Domenici. I'm proud to 
call him friend, and I'm proud to get lectured by him all the time. 
[Laughter] It seems like he's always got important issues on his mind, 
the labs, mental health parity. But he is a great ally and a really fine 
Senator.
    I'm also honored to have served with--been the President at the same 
time that Joe Skeen was the United States Congressman from another 
congressional district here in New Mexico. We're going to miss old Joe, 
but I'm confident he still has my address and willing to give----
    Audience member. [Inaudible]
    The President. That's good. But thank you for your service.
    I want to thank John Dendahl, the party chairman of the Republican 
Party of New Mexico, and all the party leaders who are here. I 
particularly want to say something about the grassroots, the people who 
work the phone banks and lick the envelopes and do all the work 
necessary to keep people like me and Pete and Heather in office. And I 
want to thank you for your loyalty; I want to thank you for your passion 
for our political party; and I want to thank you for the endless hours 
you put on our behalf.
    I want to thank the Lieutenant Governor and all the State officials 
who are here.
    And I want to thank you all for supporting Heather. Here's the way I 
feel: Anytime you find somebody who brings such class and dignity to a 
political office, we as Americans owe our support to her. And Heather 
Wilson brings a lot of class and a lot of dignity.
    You know, in Washington there's a lot of--there can be a lot of 
noise, a lot of shrill voices, people who are--people up there sometimes 
are the ones who like to divide people into camps and call names and 
point fingers. They think that's effective, and it's such a wonderful 
contrast to have the quiet dignity and the competence of Heather Wilson 
in the United States Congress. It is so good and refreshing and good for 
our democracy and good for our country that people like Heather are 
willing to serve. She can get things done for New Mexico.
    The thing I appreciate, Heather, is she is there for the right 
reason, to serve the people, to represent the people of New Mexico. And 
I'm proud of our political party, make no mistake about it, but I'm 
proud of the fact that Heather puts our country first, that she 
understands the importance of our Nation and what it stands for.
    I remember so well going to Griegos Elementary with Heather. She 
said, ``You come to my district. I want you to go, first and foremost, 
to an elementary school.'' Because she understands that when we educate 
our children, the American Dream will be extended to every neighborhood. 
I appreciate that spirit.
    She told me that the day I signed the no-child-left-behind 
legislation, which was a significant piece of educational reform, 
supported both by Heather and by Pete, that she went back to Griegos. 
And it was a fitting place for her to go, because this is a piece of 
legislation which says that America will refuse to condemn any child to 
failure. It is a piece of public--legislation that says to our public 
schools, we'll set high standards for every child--I mean every child--
that we trust the local people to chart the path to excellence, and that 
we refuse to accept a system that simply shuffles children through. And 
the beneficiaries of this type of mentality are going to be the children 
who go to Griegos, and Heather knows that. And I want to thank you for 
your strong support on education reform. It means so much to this part 
of the world, to all our country that we got this legislation done.
    I also appreciate so very much Heather's values. You know, we're 
coming in; I said--I'm trying to get her to talk about issues; she wants 
to talk about Little League baseball. [Laughter] Here I am, trying to 
tell her what's going on the world, which we eventually got to, but the 
first thing on her mind was to let me know that her son and Jay's son is 

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