[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 109 (Tuesday, July 22, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9699-S9700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO LINDA FLATT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to my fellow Nevadan, 
Linda Flatt, from Henderson, NV.

[[Page S9700]]

Linda is a living example of how a person can turn her grief into 
action and help others.
  On June 29, 1993, Linda's son Paul took his own life. He was 25 years 
old. In addition to having to accept the loss of her son, Linda had to 
accept the way she lost him.
  First, Linda attended suicide survivors meetings. She transformed 
herself from being a victim to a survivor. She could have stopped there 
but she did not.
  Even when she was able to accept her son's suicide, Linda realized it 
affected other people. All she had to do was look at her own family. 
Paul had left behind many relatives and friends. Unfortunately, for 
every family like Linda's, there are many more in Nevada and 
nationwide.
  Linda educated herself about the problem of suicide. Eventually she 
linked up with the Suicide Prevention Action Network and came to 
Washington for a National Awareness Event. This marked the beginning of 
Linda Flatt's transformation from suicide survivor to community 
activist.
  Since 1998, Linda Flatt has made it her business, as a private 
citizen, to educate people in Nevada about suicide. She has not just 
told them it is a problem; she has told them there is a solution. 
Prevention is the solution.
  On the national front, we have developed a strategy for suicide 
prevention. But Nevada, which had the highest rate of suicide in the 
country until this year, did not. Linda Flatt did not think that was 
right.
  Linda took the national model, and started presenting it to the 
Nevada Legislature. She learned about State government and the 
legislative process. She contacted the press and the media. She lined 
up witnesses for hearings. She proposed resolutions and budgets. And 
finally, this year, the Nevada Legislature passed SB 49, which creates 
a State Office of Suicide Prevention in Nevada.
  On behalf of the citizens of the State of Nevada, I wish to thank 
Linda Flatt for her tireless efforts and unwavering faith. To say that 
Linda Flatt is a model citizen does not really do her justice. She has 
already made a difference in the lives of countless people and will, no 
doubt, continue to do so. I feel great pride in knowing and recognizing 
the accomplishments of Linda Flatt.

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