[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 172 (Wednesday, December 12, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13076-S13077]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              POST TERRORISM MENTAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT ACT

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 236, S. 1729.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will state the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1729) to provide assistance with respect to the 
     mental health needs of individuals affected by the terrorist 
     attacks of September 11, 2001.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.


                           Amendment No. 2503

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I understand that Senators Kennedy and 
Warner have a substitute amendment at the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid], for Mr. Kennedy, for 
     himself, Mr. Warner, Mr. Frist, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Wellstone, 
     Ms. Collins, Mrs. Murray, and Mr. Domenici, proposes an 
     amendment numbered 2503.

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that further 
reading of the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

            (Purpose: To provide for a complete substitute)

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Post Terrorism Mental Health 
     Improvement Act''.

     SEC. 2. PLANNING AND TRAINING GRANTS.

       Section 520A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     290bb-32) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in paragraph (2), by inserting before the semicolon the 
     following: ``, including the training of mental health 
     professionals with respect to evidence-based practices in the 
     treatment of individuals who are victims of a disaster'';
       (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (C) in paragraph (4), by striking the period and inserting 
     a semicolon; and
       (D) by inserting after paragraph (4), the following:
       ``(5) the development of coordinated response plans for 
     responding to the mental health needs (including the response 
     efforts of private organizations) that arise from a disaster, 
     including the development and expansion of the 2-1-1 or other 
     universal hotline as appropriate; and
       ``(6) the establishment of a mental health disaster 
     response clearinghouse.'';
       (2) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (h); and
       (3) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
       ``(f) State Comments.--With respect to a State or local 
     public entity that submits an application for assistance 
     under this section and that intends to use such assistance as 
     provided for in subsection (a)(5), such entity shall provide 
     notice of such application to the chief executive officer of 
     the State, the State mental health department, and the State 
     office responsible for emergency preparedness who shall 
     consult with providers and organizations serving public 
     safety officials and others involved in responding to the 
     crisis, and provide such officer, department and office with 
     the opportunity to comment on such application.
       ``(g) Definition.--For purposes of subsection (a)(2) ,the 
     term `mental health professional' includes psychiatrists, 
     psychologists, clinical psychiatric nurse specialists, mental 
     health counselors, marriage and family therapists, clinical 
     social workers, pastoral counselors, school psychologists, 
     licensed professional counselors, school guidance counselors, 
     and any other individual practicing in a mental health 
     profession that is licensed or regulated by a State 
     agency.''.

     SEC. 3. GRANTS TO DIRECTLY AFFECTED AREAS TO ADDRESS LONG-
                   TERM NEEDS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') shall 
     award grants to eligible State and local governments and 
     other public entities to enable such entities to respond to 
     the long-term mental health needs arising from the terrorist 
     attacks of September 11, 2001.
       (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
     subsection (a) an entity shall--
       (1) be a State or local government or other public entity 
     that is located in an area that is directly affected (as 
     determined by the Secretary) by the terrorist attacks of 
     September 11, 2001; and
       (2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at 
     such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
     the Secretary may require.
       (c) Use of Funds.--A grantee shall use amounts received 
     under a grant under subsection (a)--
       (1) to carry out activities to locate individuals who may 
     be affected by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 
     and in need of mental health services;
       (2) to provide treatment for those individuals identified 
     under paragraph (1) who are suffering from a serious 
     psychiatric illness as a result of such terrorist attack, 
     including paying the costs of necessary medications; and
       (3) to carry out other activities determined appropriate by 
     the Secretary.
       (d) Supplement Not Supplant.--Amounts expended for 
     treatments under subsection (c)(2) shall be used to 
     supplement and not supplant amounts otherwise made available 
     for such treatments (including medications) under any other 
     Federal, State, or local program or under any health 
     insurance coverage.
       (e) Use of Private Entities and Existing Providers.--To the 
     extent appropriate, a grantee under subsection (a) shall--
       (1) enter into contracts with private, nonprofit entities 
     to carry out activities under the grant; and
       (2) to the extent feasible, utilize providers that are 
     already serving the affected population, including providers 
     used by public safety officials.
       (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may 
     be necessary in each of fiscal years 2002 through 2005.

     SEC. 4. RESEARCH.

       Part A of title II of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 202 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 229. RESEARCH.

       ``Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary 
     may waive any restriction on the amount of supplemental 
     funding that may be provided to any disaster-related 
     scientific research project that is funded by the 
     Secretary.''.

     SEC. 5. CHILDREN WHO EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE-RELATED STRESS.

       (a) In General.--Section 582(f) of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290hh-1(f)) is amended by striking 
     ``2002 and 2003'' and inserting ``2002 through 2005''.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     the program established under section 582 of the Public 
     Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290hh-1) should be fully 
     funded.

  Mr. KENNEDY. Madam President, mental illnesses inflicted by tragedies 
like the assault on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon are a 
serious problem. Every American family is at risk, whether a loved one 
worked at the World Trade Center or the Pentagon, or whether the family 
simply watched the attack on television from a continent away. Studies 
of other disasters teach us that the most vulnerable are those who are 
most directly affected, but even those less directly touched by these 
tragedies are vulnerable.
  The hearing on September 26 made it clear that Congress has an 
obligation to assure that these mental health needs are met and that we 
are better prepared for the mental health consequences of future 
tragedies. Our witnesses, as well as other experts in the field, 
identified four key needs: better advance planning and preparedness, 
training of mental health professionals to treat the specific mental 
health needs arising from disasters, resources to identify and treat 
those who will suffer long-term mental health problems as a result of 
the September 11 attack, research on how to improve our responses to 
the needs of disaster victims.
  The legislation passed through the Senate today by unanimous consent 
intended to meet all four of these needs. This help is essential for 
the individuals and families who were injured or lost a loved one, for 
the brave public safety officers who put their lives on the line trying 
to rescue or recover victims, and for the many other Americans of all 
ages in communities across the country who have suffered psychological 
trauma as the result of these

[[Page S13077]]

attacks. The bill was developed in close collaboration with Senator 
Warner. Senator Frist, Senator Clinton, Senator Wellstone, and Senator 
Gregg made important contributions and I thank them for their efforts.
  It is my hope that it will be approved by the House, and that it will 
be followed by an adequate allocation of funds to help all those who 
need it.
  Mr. WARNER. Madam President, yesterday marked the three month 
anniversary of one of the most tragic days in American history. While 
the loathsome, cowardly acts of terrorism that took place on September 
11, 2001 have deeply wounded our country, they have not, and never 
will, dull the spirit and resolve of the American people.
  My thoughts and prayers continue to be with those who lost loved ones 
on that horrific day. And, I continue to express my deepest 
appreciation to the thousands of individuals who stepped up on the face 
of danger to assist in the devastating aftermath at the Pentagon, the 
World Trade Center, and at the Pennsylvania crash site.
  The Congress has come together, speaking with a unified bipartisan 
voice, on several pieces of legislation. Members of Congress have 
joined together in support of our President and his determination to 
punish the perpetrators of these attacks. We have joined together on 
legislation to help law enforcement prevent additional acts of 
terrorism and to help law enforcement bring terrorists to justice. We 
have also come together to provide additional resources to bolster our 
public health infrastructure to better prepare this country in the 
event of a more widespread biological attack.
  I rise today to express my gratitude for my colleagues' willingness 
to work in a bipartisan fashion on yet another piece of legislation in 
response to the September 11 attacks. On November 27, 2001, the Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee reported out legislation to 
provide assistance with the mental health needs of individuals affected 
by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
  Today, I am pleased to report that this legislation, which I worked 
so closely on with Senators Kennedy, Frist, and Gregg, has passed the 
Senate by unanimous consent.
  The legislation has three main components. First, it authorizes the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide grants to areas that 
are directly affected by the attacks of September 11, 2001, such as 
Northern Virginia and New York City. Grants can be used by State and 
local governments to respond to the long-term mental health needs 
arising from that disaster, particularly for the treatment of those 
individuals who do not have mental health insurance coverage or who are 
under-insured.
  Second, the bill permits the Secretary to provide grants for training 
mental health professionals in the treatment of certain disorders, such 
as post traumatic stress disorder, that may result from disasters.
  Finally, the legislation permits the Secretary to make grants to 
States and localities to develop a coordinated mental health response 
plan in the event of a future disaster.
  While the extent of the long term mental health consequences of 
September 11, 2001 are not entirely known, the needs are certain to be 
serious. This legislation makes it clear that Congress is committed to 
meeting the essential mental health needs of the individuals and 
families who were injured or killed in the terrorist attacks on this 
great Nation.
  I thank my colleagues for their support of this legislation.
  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment 
be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; the 
bill, as amended, be read the third time and passed, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action, and that 
any statements related to the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 2503) was agreed to.
  The bill (S. 1729), as amended, was read the third time and passed.

                          ____________________