Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) was a guest speaker and award recipient of the 2015 Federal Legislative Leader Award from the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA) at its Fall Behavioral Healthcare Meeting this afternoon at the Robert Wood Johnson Fitness and Wellness Center in Hamilton.

Smith was honored for his work with autism, veterans and other mental health issues. He was welcomed at the Oct. 15 event by Dr. Debra Wentz, CEO of NJAHMAA, as well as Shauna Moses, associate executive director.

“It is my honor and privilege to present the Federal Legislative Leader Award to Congressman Chris Smith in recognition of the numerous laws he has authored, sponsored and co-sponsored throughout his 35-year career in an effort to prevent suicides among veterans, combat human trafficking and provide assistance to individuals with autism and their families,” Wentz said. “Congressman Smith is the author of more than a dozen laws focused on enhancing health, education and homeless benefits for veterans.”

Some of Smith’s key accomplishments related to mental health and addictions:

• Author of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386)), which provides mental health services in shelters all around the world for traumatized women.

• Prime sponsor of the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act,  (P.L. 107-95) which provides veterans with mental health services including Post-traumatic stress disorder  (PTSD) and substance abuse treatment

• Prime author of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2002, (P.L. 107-135)

• Author of three autism laws: the landmark 2000 Autism Statistics, Surveillance, Research and Epidemiology Act (Title I of the Children’s Health Act, P.L 106-310). the 2011 Combating Autism Reauthorization Act, (Public Law 112-32), and the 2014 Autism CARES Act  (P.L. 113-157)—which combine to build on and expand the critical research, services and supports for families impacted by ASD, and tasks multiple federal agencies with producing a study on the needs of autistic young adults, including mental health services. 

• Smith’s most recent autism law in 2014 authorized $1.3 billion over five years, including $22 million for the Developmental Disabilities Surveillance and Research Program; $48 million for Autism Education, Early Detection, and Intervention, and; $190 million for hundreds of Research Grants at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and for the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.

• Smith has also authored the bill H.R. 1468–the Global Brain Health Act of 2015, to increase research on prevention and treatment of autism, hydrocephalus, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

• Smith is cosponsoring the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015 (HR 2646), comprehensive legislation to address mental illness, including revising prohibitions on federal Medicaid financing for care provided to most patients in mental health and substance use disorder residential treatment facilities larger than 16 beds.

“I am humbled to receive this award from a group whose members so diligently serve some of the most vulnerable members of our society,” Smith said. "Njamhaa has done so much for so many, you are on the front lines of the fight against persistent mental illness. Mental health doesn't get its due attention because you can't always see it.”

Smith noted that even though the federal government operates more than 100 programs intended to address mental illness and spends roughly $130 billion on research and services, there are rising rates of substance abuse and numbers of families struggling to obtain help for their loved ones. “We need a better approach. I am continuing to work to ensure that we take a holistic look at the system and fix its deficiencies,” he said.

The Congressman said there is momentum in Congress to begin the conversation that will produce a final product to revamp and comprehensively improve the government's response to mental illness. “We need to bring the right services to those in need, many of whom now fall through the cracks or are incarcerated,” Smith said.

Earlier this year, Smith also voted for the 21st Century Cures Act, which passed the House and is endorsed by the NJAMHAA. "21st century cures is part of the approach to better helping those with mental illness," Smith said.

NJAMHAA members are comprised of mental healthcare and substance abuse treatment providers who serve New Jersey residents with mental illness. NJAMHAA’s mission is to eliminate stigma and ensure that mental health services are both sought and provided when needed.

In his remarks, Smith commented on yesterday’s human trafficking arrests by federal officials, and the mental anguish victims carry long after they’ve been victimized.

"There is a need to rescue AND address the mental health issues they will carry for a lifetime," Smith said.

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