You see, the ACA built off this law by requiring that all individual
market insurance plans cover mental health and substance abuse services
as an ``essential health benefit.''
Thanks to Pete's hard work, millions of Americans no longer have to
fight for mental health benefits or addiction treatment benefits, so
important in the face of today's opioid crisis. Pete taught us that mental illness is exactly that--an illness--and
that those who suffer from any illness deserve equal rights and access
to care. Senator Domenici was also a strong advocate for immigration reform. Back in 2002, he signed on as a cosponsor of the original DREAM Act,
legislation that I introduced to give a path to citizenship to talented
young immigrants who grew up in the country. As the son of an Italian immigrant mother and an Italian-born father
who earned citizenship after his service in WWI, Pete understood
firsthand the immigrant experience. He once said, ``I understand this whole idea of a household with a
father who is American and a mother who is not, but they are living,
working, and getting ahead. I understand that they are just like every
other family in America. There is nothing different. They have the same
love, same hope, same will and same aspirations as those of us who were
born here have.''
Pete didn't just talk; he put his money where his mouth was. In 2006, he voted for the McCain-Kennedy comprehensive immigration
reform bill that included the DREAM Act. It passed the Republican-controlled Senate on a strong bipartisan
vote, but unfortunately, the Republican leadership in the House of
Representatives never brought it to a vote. Senator Domenici's work in the Senate is a great example of the good
that can come from bipartisanship--of what can happen when we start
working together to get something done for the American public.
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