[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 23, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S222-S223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Collins, 
        Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. 
        Blumenthal, Mr. Coons, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Stabenow, and Mr. 
        Begich):
  S. 116. A bill to revise and extend provisions under the Garrett Lee 
Smith Memorial Act; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by Senators 
Murkowski, Durbin, Collins, Tom Udall, Murray, Lautenberg, Blumenthal, 
Coons, Klobuchar, and Stabenow in the introduction of the Garrett Lee 
Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization.
  This legislation is named for the son of Senator Gordon Smith, our 
former colleague, who took his own life at the young age of 22. After 
this tragedy, Senator Smith rallied support from members across the 
aisle and in both chambers to prevent other children from doing the 
same with passage of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act in 2004. Since 
then, it has retained its bipartisan support among Members of Congress 
and over 40 member organizations of the Mental Health Liaison Group.

[[Page S223]]

  However, the recent horrific mass shooting in Newtown, CT shows that 
more work must be done to address the mental and behavioral health of 
children and young adults before they hurt themselves and others. 
Indeed, what is so clear now from this terrible tragedy is that we have 
young people who desperately need help. Parents also need help in 
identifying early warning signs of mental illness and accessing the 
appropriate treatment before it is too late.
  The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act authorizes critical resources for 
schools, elementary schools through college where children and young 
adults spend most of their time, to be able to reach at risk youth. 
Currently, this law supports 40 States, 38 tribes and tribal 
organizations, and 85 colleges and universities in their efforts to 
address mental health and prevent suicides among their youth.
  The bill my colleagues and I are introducing today would increase the 
authorized grant level to States, tribes, and college campuses for the 
implementation of proven programs and initiatives designed to address 
mental illness and reduce youth suicide. It will enable more schools to 
offer critical services to students and provide greater flexibility in 
the use of funds, particularly on college campuses.
  Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for adolescents and 
young adults age 10 to 24, up from the third leading cause of death in 
this population just a few years ago, and results in 4,800 lives lost 
each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
Additionally, the CDC reports that 157,000 young adults in this age 
group are treated for self-inflicted injuries annually, often as the 
result of a failed suicide attempt.
  We can play a role in helping these children and their families. I am 
pleased that President Obama and Vice President Biden recognized this 
and included in their Plan to Protect Our Children and Our Communities 
by Reducing Gun Violence a recommendation to increase support for young 
adults ages 16 to 25, a population with high rates of mental illness, 
substance abuse, and suicide that is unlikely to seek help. Indeed, 
passing the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization is one way 
we can better address the mental health needs of this population.
  My colleague, Chairman Harkin, will be holding a hearing on the 
status of the mental health system in our country tomorrow. I look 
forward to continuing to work with him and others to act on the 
President's recommendations to improve mental and behavioral health 
care services, particularly for children and young people. This should 
be something that we do automatically when it comes to the welfare of 
our children but is even more urgently required in the wake of the 
terrible recent tragedies in Connecticut and elsewhere.
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