[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 88 (Wednesday, June 3, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S3681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. MURRAY:
  S. 1494. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize 
and update the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative for grants to 
address the problems of individuals who experience trauma and violence 
related stress; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions.
  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I am here this afternoon to talk about an 
issue that is so important to my State and to communities nationwide; 
that is, how do we help children and families rebuild and recover when 
they face serious trauma? As we have seen all too often in recent 
years, traumatic events can impact children at any time and in any part 
of our country. If children don't get the support they need in the wake 
of a hardship such as a natural disaster or violence at school or 
stress related to a family member's military deployment, those 
experiences can be even more difficult to recover from and they can 
leave our children with serious and long-lasting challenges such as 
depression, anxiety, and difficulty maintaining employment.
  An estimated two-thirds of our children experience traumatic events 
before the age of 16. Their need for support and treatment after trauma 
is something that simply cannot go unmet. That is why I am very proud 
to introduce the Children's Recovery from Trauma Act. This bipartisan 
legislation would continue support for child trauma centers across the 
country which help make sure that as children in families face 
difficult times, our Nation's health care system is better prepared to 
provide support and help ease that burden.
  Child trauma centers have played an important role in my home State 
of Washington. For example, when the State Route 530 mudslide caused 
unthinkable devastation in Oso and Darrington, the Washington State 
University CLEAR Center stepped in to help children and families who 
were impacted by that horrific tragedy. Staff at the CLEAR Center held 
parent nights at Darrington Elementary School and worked with the 
teachers there to help make sure students got the right kind of support 
they needed. They even helped teachers explain to students how the 
brain operates under stress and how that might influence their 
behavior. As a mom and former preschool teacher, a school board member, 
and a Senator from the great State of Washington, I believe this 
support can make a world of difference in this kind of scary and 
stressful time for our kids.
  I am very proud that under the Children's Recovery from Trauma Act, 
the CLEAR Center would continue to receive critical Federal investment. 
In addition, I am very proud that other child trauma centers, such as 
those that mobilized after the 2001 terrorist attack and natural 
disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and Sandy and the shootings at 
Virginia Tech and in Newtown, would continue to get those investments 
as well.
  As I have said before, I am inspired by the strength and resilience 
of communities in Washington State that were impacted by the tragedy of 
the State Route 530 mudslide and the shootings recently at Marysville-
Pilchuck High School. Children in these communities and communities 
like them across the country face hardships that can't always be 
predicted or prevented, but they do need and deserve our support. The 
Children's Recovery from Trauma Act would take some critical steps 
forward in this effort, and I hope all of my colleagues will join me in 
supporting it.
                                 ______