WASHINGTON – Coming almost immediately after his months-long absence for treatment for depression, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. is introducing a new bill to support mental health treatment.

The bill would bolster enforcement of violations of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, which requires insurance plans to provide the same level of coverage for mental health as for physical health.

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“I have always been a supporter of mental health care,” said Kean in a statement. “During my time in the New Jersey legislature, I worked to advance mental health parity. I believed in the cause then. I understand it in a far more personal way now. I am proud to help lead this fight in congress.”

However, it’s been a week of criticism of the Republican Congressman from constituents of the 7th congressional district and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, ranging from his initial lack of transparency about his condition to his previous voting record in the New Jersey State House.

Yarrow Willman-Cole of New Jersey Citizen Action says that in 2018, while in Trenton, Kean voted against earned sick leave.

“I think that lawmakers have to be held accountable for how they have voted in their past record,” said Willman-Cole. “That’s something that shows how they’re likely to vote in the future. Of course that can change, and we would love for the Congressman to sign on to let’s say the Healthy  Families Act, which is national legislation that would say everyone does have the ability to not lose their jobs when they’re sick. So that’s a basic thing that everyone should be entitled to and he could get on that bill.”

“No question that going through this gives him a perspective that he did not have,” said Rider University political professor Micah Rasmussen, who says voters in the 7th will ultimately decide his future in congress as he faces democrat Rebecca Bennett in the November election. “It won’t be because of his mental illness voters might make the decision to return him or not return him. It’s a question probably more weighing on their minds on how he handled the crisis.”

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