recognize the Occupational Therapy profession as benefiting people and saving money for all.

Occupational therapists play an increasingly vital role in community mental health, yet the federal government does not recognize occupational therapy as a "mental and behavioral health profession." On behalf of the more than 140,000 occupational therapy practitioners, as well as the American Occupational Therapy Association, we request that you recognize "occupational therapy" as a "mental and behavioral health profession" under bill H.R. 1037.