"Health & Medical News"

Addiction recovery and parity advocate Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) is reconsidering his decision to retire at the end of his current term in Congress, Roll Call reported Dec. 19.

Ramstad,?  a rare Republican moderate in the House of Representatives, announced his intention to retire in September, but has been pressured by GOP leaders — who fear the loss of his seat to the Democrats — to run for a 10th term in Congress. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, praised Ramstad’s ability to work with Democratic and GOP colleagues and said he would be “delighted” if Ramstad ran again.

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Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.), a nine-term member of Congress and longtime supporter of addiction treatment and recovery issues, has announced that he will retire at the end of his current two-year term in office, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported Sept. 17.

Ramstad, himself a recovering alcoholic, said he was “burned out” but also expressed his desire to see addiction and mental-health parity legislation passed in Congress before he leaves office next year.

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