Hats off to U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow for receiving the 2022 NAMI Michigan I. B. Sendi Lifetime Achievement award.

The award, presented by NAMI Michigan and New Oakland Family Centers, recognizes a “career of outstanding public service that has included an extraordinary commitment to the cause of mental health care and awareness.”

The Lansing Democrat said receiving the award, announced last week, was extraordinarily meaningful to her.

“I have been passionate about creating health care parity between mental health and physical health care my entire career. I am heartened by the progress we have made in addressing the stigma around mental health and in getting people the help they need in the community,” Stabenow said in a statement.

Quietly and with little fanfare, Stabenow has carved out over the years what can easily be described as a distinguished senatorial career. And considering the hyper-partisan times in which she has served, her service is even more laudable.

On her commitment to mental health, while a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, Stabenow chaired the institution’s Mental Health Committee for five years and wrote the Children’s Mental Health Act.

And she played a key role in the 2010 Affordable Care Act, authoring the provision that requires all plans in states’ health insurance marketplaces to offer mental health and substance abuse services at the same level as other health services.

Certainly there are many other contributions we could note.

Congratulations to Sen. Stabenow on work well completed and an honor well deserved