Washington, DC – Congressman Randy Neugebauer successfully attached legislation to a House appropriations bill that is a win for serious mental health research and for fiscal responsibility.

   “Congress has an obligation to use taxpayer dollars responsibly,” Neugebauer said.  “We have scarce resources that need to be focused on our most pressing mental health issues, such as discovering cures and better treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease and bipolar disorder.”

   Neugebauer’s amendment prohibits the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) from further funding two grants whose research falls outside the mission set by NIMH.  The amendment would not reduce overall research funding.  Rather, it would focus the funding toward serious mental health research.

   One of the studies has been ongoing for nearly 15 years and has received more than $1.5 million to study “Perceptual Bases of Visual Concepts.”  This study examines how pigeons can classify lifelike visual stimuli into natural and artificial categories.

   Now on its fifth year, a second study has spent more than $745,000 to determine how the self-esteem of newlyweds affects their marriage.  According to the NIMH, this study examines how “the activation of felt security affects newlyweds’ capacity to engage in behavioral regulation strategies critical for marital satisfaction.”

   “I am a fan of marriage,” Neugebauer said.  “In fact, I have actively participated in one for 35 years.  However, despite any scientific merits this research may have, it fails to contribute to the effort to find cures for Alzheimer’s, autism, or any other serious mental health disease.”   

   Neugebauer is also concerned that these two grants are being supported at the expense of more important research.

   “Sending millions of dollars to research that falls outside the mission of NIMH is problematic enough,” Neugebauer said.  “However, this problem is compounded when you look at the list of grants that have been rejected over the same time period.  If you look at the list, you will find grant after grant which specifically targets serious mental health diseases, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.”

   The amendment was attached to the FY 2006 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill that passed the House Friday.

   Neugebauer’s amendment was supported by Citizens Against Government Waste, Concerned Women for America, and the Treatment Advocacy Center.

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