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Vote On Rep. Murphy's Mental Health Bill Expected Next Week

PITTSBURGH (NewsRadio 1020 KDKA) - Rep. Tim Murphy has been working on his Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act since December 2012. When Congress reconvenes next week, it could finally be up for a vote.

Murphy tells the "KDKA Morning News" he started working on the bill shortly after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary.

"It's amazing a bill of this importance that focus on saving many lives takes this long to pass," he said.

According to Murphy's website, the bill, "fixes the nation's broken mental health system by focusing programs and resources on psychiatric care for patients & families most in need of services."

Murphy says Congress' inaction on his bill is "incredibly frustrating...I know members of Congress talk about this and we have our moment of silence, those come easy, but it's the moments of action that has been difficult."

Murphy says the "thousands and thousands and thousands" of letters and phone calls to members of Congress from people who want to see action on mental health are what have kept his bill at the forefront.

Murphy adds he has had to change the bill somewhat to get people to support it but,"there is a lot in this bill that makes it one of the most substantive mental health reform bills in at least half a century."

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