Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.), a leading advocate for addiction recovery, has been elected as a member of the board of directors of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, the group announced.

CASA chairman and CEO Joseph Califano Jr. called Ramstad "an outstanding and tenacious leader in the effort to obtain parity in health insurance reimbursement for substance abuse and mental health," adding, "With Representative Ramstad's support we hope to begin a cultural change potent enough to prompt a revolution in the way our government addresses substance abuse and addiction."

Ramstad, himself a recovering addict, co-chairs the Congressional Addiction Treatment and Recovery Caucus and serves as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, including its health and oversight subcommittees. In the past, he has been honored for his work by NAADAC, the National Mental Health Association, and the National Association of Police Organizations, among others.