[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.
____________________