Rosalynn Carter played many important roles in the Carter White House, even sitting in on cabinet meetings. But only a month or so after the Carter Adminstration began, she became chairperson of the Commission on Mental Health. The commission investigated availability, cost, and shortcomings of mental health services throughout the nation. Recommendations for federal, state, local, and private funding were included in a four-volume report. She testified before Congress and in 1980 the Mental Health Systems Act was passed incorporating many of the Commission's recommedations.