WASHINGTON – In an address to the annual meeting of the Chairman’s Council of the Betty Ford Center, U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad (MN-3rd) announced that he will form a new Congressional caucus to promote awareness of chemical addiction issues and increase support for greater access to treatment.

Ramstad spoke to the Chairman’s Council at the invitation of former First Lady Betty Ford, who attended the meeting with former President Gerald R. Ford.

Ramstad announced the formation of the bipartisan Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus “to educate lawmakers on the problems of addiction and need for expanding treatment access.”

“Last year alone, 3.5 million Americans were denied access to treatment,” said Ramstad, “and this is totally unacceptable.”

Ramstad also called on Congress to pass his treatment parity legislation “to end the discrimination against alcoholics and addicts who need treatment.”

Ramstad, a recovering alcoholic, has been a leader in Congress on addiction issues and recently received the “Betty Ford National Leadership Award” from the National Association for Children of Alcoholics for “his leadership in Congress to promote recovery and bring hope and healing to thousands of children and families.”

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