[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 24, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING BRYAN BILL

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 24, 2015

  Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today 
to remember the life, legacy and love of Bryan Bill, a man who touched 
everyone he met throughout his life.
  Bryan was born and raised in San Rafael, California and loved his 
time in the beautiful Golden state. It was there, from a very young 
age, that Bryan developed an intense curiosity, explosive creativity 
and strong artistic inclination. His mother Cheryl vividly recalls: 
``From the time he was a little boy he could draw beautifully, he 
became more inventive--there was never a time when he wasn't 
sketching.'' It was clear that Bryan was a talented, exceptional 
individual.
  Still, like any child, Bryan had his obstacles. Parents, Cheryl and 
Bill, were told that their 7 year old son had behavioral problems, and 
like any loving parents they sought to remedy the situation. Bryan 
began regularly seeing a child psychologist. It wasn't until an obscure 
car pulled up along their house and dropped off their son, that Bill 
and Cheryl began to really worry--Bryan was 12 years old and drunk.
  Bryan would go on to achieve so much during his life. As a graphic 
designer he was always developing innovative ways to reach an audience 
and craft a new project, but his specialty was cartooning--he just had 
a knack for it. I remember my conversations with him: he had this 
comedic humor; he was charming, daring and a witty conversationalist. 
If you talked to anyone who met Bryan they would tell you he had an 
incredible zest for life and his exuberant joy could light up any room.
  And yet, Bryan was chronically depressed, repeatedly abused hard 
drugs, and had dependency issues with alcohol. On February 24, 2012, 
three years from this very day, Bryan took his life.
  It tells us something that someone so talented, so inspired, and so 
beautiful can be taken from us so unexpectedly. Mental health is 
something we all deal with; it doesn't know race, it doesn't know 
socioeconomic status, whether you are tall or short, big or small, it 
affects everybody. Let's improve behavioral health services, break down 
the stigma surrounding suicide and encourage meaningful dialogue on 
mental health issues. It means saving lives like my cousin Bryan's.
  Mr. Speaker, I join family, friends and all those who have felt 
Bryan's warm embrace in celebrating the wonderful life he lived and 
knowing that he is at peace. We will continue fighting to give our 
loved ones the strength they need to carry on.

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