[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 150 (Thursday, October 4, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H11254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH SECURITY FOR AMERICA'S FAMILIES ACT

  (Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, last April, 33 students 
were killed at Virginia Tech. That tragedy exposed problems with 
Federal laws that are a barrier to schools communicating with parents 
when a student has a serious problem. The Family Educational Rights and 
Privacy Act of 1974 states that students' records cannot be released 
except ``to protect the health and safety of the student and others.''
  Unfortunately, the interpretation of that law is so unclear that 
schools are fearful of being sued.
  The just-released report from the National Association of Attorneys 
General Task Force on Campus Safety calls for an update of the FERPA 
law that would allow for protection from liability if schools make 
good-faith efforts to protect students, faculty and staff.
  That is precisely what my bill, H.R. 2220, offers, a way to allow 
schools to communicate with parents when a student has significant 
mental health problems that increase the risk for suicide, homicide or 
violent acts while we still protect the confidentiality of records.
  I ask that all my colleagues join me and Representative Grace 
Napolitano in cosponsoring our bill, the Mental Health Security for 
Families in Education Act, and work to protect our students.
  Let's take down the walls between parents and schools. Let's take 
action now to save lives tomorrow.

                          ____________________