[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 15, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1505-S1508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mrs. 
        Boxer, Mr. Brown, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Casey, Mr. Durbin, Mr. 
        Franken, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Leahy, 
        Mr. Markey, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Mikulski, Mrs. 
        Murray, Mr. Peters, Mr. Reed, Mr. Reid, Mr. Schatz, Mr. 
        Schumer, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Udall, Ms. Warren, Mr. 
        Whitehouse, and Mr. Wyden):
  S. 2677. A bill to make college more affordable, reduce student debt, 
and provide greater access to higher education for all students of the 
United States; to the Committee on Finance.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to talk about an issue that 
is of the utmost importance to me, Marylanders, and American families--
college affordability.
  I have said this often, but we in this country enjoy many freedoms: 
the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, and the freedom of 
religion. But there is an implicit freedom our Constitution does not 
lay out in writing, but its promise has excited the passions, hopes, 
and dreams of people in this country since its founding. It is the 
freedom to take whatever talents God has given you, to fill whatever 
passion is in your heart, to learn so you can earn and make a 
contribution to society--the freedom to achieve.
  The freedom to achieve should never be stifled in this country 
because of economic reasons. Your freedom to achieve should never be 
determined by the zip code you live in, by the color of your skin, or 
by the size of your family's wallet. It should be, in a democratic 
country, that everyone has access to be able to do that. That means 
affordable education. That means access to the opportunity ladder that 
students and families can count on, because we know a degree is 
something that no one can ever take away from you.
  When I was a young girl at a Catholic all-girls school, my Mom and 
Dad made it very clear that they wanted me to go to college. But, right 
around graduation, my family was going through a rough time because my 
father's grocery store had suffered a terrible fire. I offered to put 
off college and work at the grocery store until the business got back 
on its feet. My Dad said, ``Barb, you have to go. Your mother and I 
will find a way, because no matter what happens to you, no one can ever 
take that degree away from you. The best way I can protect you is to 
make sure you can earn a living all of your life.'' My father gave me 
the freedom to achieve.
  When it comes to higher education, I believe in choice and 
opportunity. Anyone willing to work hard has a right to learn so you 
can get a college degree or certificate. Millions of American students 
are graduating colleges and universities, but as they are handed their 
diplomas, they are being handed a lifetime of debt.
  More than 58 percent of Maryland college students have taken on an 
average debt of $27,000 or more. Having this debt is like a first 
mortgage, making it hard to buy a home, start a business, or a family. 
I am worried about them, as should the rest of us, and what it means 
for their future. College is a part of the American dream; it should 
not be a part of the American financial nightmare.
  That is why, over the last several months, I embarked on a college 
affordability tour across the state of Maryland. I wanted to find out 
what were some of the challenges students faced when it came to 
college. I wanted to know how the Federal Government can help them be 
successful. The stories I heard were poignant, and were likely ones 
that everyone in this chamber has heard time and time again.
  I met a bright young woman last year. She had the financial support 
of her parents to attend college. Unfortunately, during her sophomore 
year, her mother--who was a nurse--lost her job. To make sure she could 
still go to college, her family made the decision to dip into their 
retirement savings to help pay. This goes to show that her family knew 
how important it was that she continue her education. Even with this 
additional financial support, she still had to rely on Federal 
financial aid to pay for books.
  Or the young man who is the first in his family to go to college. He 
hopes he is not the last. He would not be where he is today had it not 
been for a strong support system in high school through participation 
in a college bound program that gave him the opportunity to be exposed 
to college classes. While he came to college academically prepared, he 
still needed help navigating our complex Federal financial aid system.
  This is just a small sample of the stories I heard. But they all say 
the same thing: ``We need help.'' Many students and families are 
stressed and stretched, having to work and save to pay for college. 
They want to know what Congress is doing for them. They need a Federal 
Government that is on their side.
  Student loan debt is more than $1.3 trillion, exceeding total credit 
card and car loan debt, and eclipsed only by mortgage debt. Family 
incomes are not keeping pace with inflation, which means they are less 
able to help with the costs of higher education.
  Getting a college education is the core of the American dream. Let us 
continue to fight to make sure that every student in America, whether 
you are in rural Eastern Shore or in big cities like Los Angeles, has 
access to that dream. Let us work together to make sure that when 
students graduate, their first mortgage is not their student debt. 
Carrying the burden of student loans drags down young people's 
financial future, making it harder to buy a home, start a family, or 
save for retirement.
  It is my belief that this bill--the In The Red Act--will make college 
a reality for millions of Americans. I am pleased to see that 
provisions in this bill would allow eligible student borrowers the 
opportunity to refinance their Federal loans. I believe that if

[[Page S1506]]

you can refinance a yacht, you should be able to refinance your student 
loans. This will help more than 24 million students in the United 
States, including more than 800,000 student borrowers in Maryland.
  I am also pleased to see that this bill increases Pell Grants to keep 
pace with rising costs. This will ensure that college students, who 
rely on Pell Grants, can pay for tuition, books, room and board, and 
other living expenses like child care.
  The In The Red Act is absolutely a great bill for students, and it is 
a great bill for America. It gives our students access to the American 
dream. It gives our young people access to the freedom to achieve, to 
be able to follow their talents, and to be able to achieve higher 
education in whatever field they will be able to serve this country. It 
is my hope that we come together to pass this bill in a swift, 
expeditious, and uncluttered way.
  While our work is not done when it comes to ensuring access to 
affordable higher education, this bill helps us get there. I look 
forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
move this issue forward.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Ms. Collins, and Mr. Bennet):
  S. 2685. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve 
mental and behavioral health services on campuses of institutions of 
higher education; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2685

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Mental Health on Campus 
     Improvement Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The 2014 Association of University and College 
     Counseling Center Directors Survey found that the average 
     ratio of counselors to students on campus is nearly 1 to 
     1,833 and is often far higher on large campuses. The 
     International Association of Counseling Services 
     accreditation standards recommends 1 counselor per 1,000 to 
     1,500 students.
       (2) College counselors report that 10 percent of enrolled 
     students sought counseling in 2014.
       (3) More than 90 percent of counseling directors believe 
     there is an increase in the number of students coming to 
     campus with severe psychological problems; today, 44 percent 
     of the students who visit campus counseling centers are 
     dealing with severe mental illness, up from 16 percent in 
     2000, and 24 percent are on psychiatric medication, up from 
     17 percent in 2000.
       (4) The majority of campus counseling directors report that 
     the demand for services and the severity of student needs are 
     growing without an increase in resources.
       (5) Many students who need help never receive it. Only 15 
     percent of college and university students who commit suicide 
     received campus counseling. Of students who seriously 
     consider suicide each year, only 52 percent of them seek any 
     professional help at all.
       (6) A 2015 American College Health Association survey of 
     more than 93,000 college and university students revealed 
     that, within the last 12 months, 57 percent of students 
     report having felt overwhelming anxiety, 35 percent felt so 
     depressed it was difficult to function, and 48 percent felt 
     hopeless. However, only 12 percent of students reported 
     receiving professional treatment for anxiety within the past 
     12 months, and 11 percent reported receiving treatment for 
     depression within the past 12 months.
       (7) The 2015 American College Health Association survey 
     also found that 9 percent of students have seriously 
     considered suicide in the past 12 months, a 20 percent 
     increase compared to 2012.
       (8) Research conducted between 1997 and 2009, and presented 
     at the 118th annual convention of the American Psychological 
     Association found that more students are grappling with 
     depression and anxiety disorders than were a decade ago. The 
     study found that of students who sought college or university 
     counseling, 41 percent had moderate to severe depression in 
     2009, that number was 34 percent in 1997.
       (9) A survey conducted by the student counseling center at 
     the University of Idaho in 2000 found that 77 percent of 
     students who responded reported that they were more likely to 
     stay in school because of counseling and that their school 
     performance would have declined without counseling.
       (10) Students with psychological issues often struggle 
     academically and are at risk for dropping out of school. 
     Counseling has been shown to address these issues while 
     having a positive impact on students remaining in school. A 
     6-year longitudinal study found college and university 
     students receiving counseling to have a 11.4 percent higher 
     retention rate than the general college and university 
     population.
       (11) A national survey of college and university students 
     living with mental health conditions, conducted by the 
     National Alliance on Mental Illness, found that 64 percent of 
     students who experience mental health problems in college or 
     university and withdraw from school do so because of their 
     mental health issues. The survey also found that 50 percent 
     of that group never accessed mental health services and 
     supports.

     SEC. 3. IMPROVING MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ON COLLEGE 
                   CAMPUSES.

       Title V of the Public Health Service Act is amended by 
     inserting after section 520E-2 (42 U.S.C. 290bb-36b) the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 520E-3. GRANTS TO IMPROVE MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 
                   ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

       ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section, with 
     respect to settings at institutions of higher education, to--
       ``(1) increase access to mental and behavioral health 
     services;
       ``(2) foster and improve the prevention of mental and 
     behavioral health disorders, and the promotion of mental 
     health;
       ``(3) improve the identification and treatment for students 
     at risk;
       ``(4) improve collaboration and the development of 
     appropriate levels of mental and behavioral health care;
       ``(5) reduce the stigma for students with mental health 
     disorders and enhance their access to mental health services; 
     and
       ``(6) improve the efficacy of outreach efforts.
       ``(b) Grants.--The Secretary, acting through the 
     Administrator and in consultation with the Secretary of 
     Education, shall award competitive grants to eligible 
     entities to improve mental and behavioral health services and 
     outreach on campuses of institutions of higher education.
       ``(c) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
     subsection (b), an entity shall--
       ``(1) be an institution of higher education; and
       ``(2) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, 
     in such manner, and containing such information as the 
     Secretary may require, including the information required 
     under subsection (d).
       ``(d) Application.--An application for a grant under this 
     section shall include--
       ``(1) a description of the population to be targeted by the 
     program carried out under the grant, including the particular 
     mental and behavioral health needs of the students involved;
       ``(2) a description of the Federal, State, local, private, 
     and institutional resources available for meeting the needs 
     of such students at the time the application is submitted;
       ``(3) an outline of the objectives of the program carried 
     out under the grant;
       ``(4) a description of activities, services, and training 
     to be provided under the program, including planned outreach 
     strategies to reach students not currently seeking services;
       ``(5) a plan to seek input from community mental health 
     providers, when available, community groups, and other public 
     and private entities in carrying out the program;
       ``(6) a plan, when applicable, to meet the specific mental 
     and behavioral health needs of veterans attending 
     institutions of higher education;
       ``(7) a description of the methods to be used to evaluate 
     the outcomes and effectiveness of the program; and
       ``(8) an assurance that grant funds will be used to 
     supplement, and not supplant, any other Federal, State, or 
     local funds available to carry out activities of the type 
     carried out under the grant.
       ``(e) Special Considerations.--In awarding grants under 
     this section, the Secretary shall give special consideration 
     to applications that describe programs to be carried out 
     under the grant that--
       ``(1) demonstrate the greatest need for new or additional 
     mental and behavioral health services, in part by providing 
     information on current ratios of students to mental and 
     behavioral health professionals;
       ``(2) propose effective approaches for initiating or 
     expanding campus services and supports using evidence-based 
     practices, including peer support strategies;
       ``(3) target traditionally underserved populations and 
     populations most at risk;
       ``(4) where possible, demonstrate an awareness of, and a 
     willingness to, coordinate with a community mental health 
     center or other mental health resource in the community, to 
     support screening and referral of students requiring 
     intensive services;
       ``(5) identify how the institution of higher education will 
     address psychiatric emergencies, including how information 
     will be communicated with families or other appropriate 
     parties;
       ``(6) propose innovative practices that will improve 
     efficiencies in clinical care, broaden collaborations with 
     primary care, or improve prevention programs; and
       ``(7) demonstrate the greatest potential for replication 
     and dissemination.
       ``(f) Use of Funds.--Amounts received under a grant under 
     this section may be used to--
       ``(1) provide mental and behavioral health services to 
     students, including prevention, promotion of mental health, 
     voluntary

[[Page S1507]]

     screening, early intervention, voluntary assessment, 
     treatment, management, and education services relating to the 
     mental and behavioral health of students;
       ``(2) conduct research through a counseling or health 
     center at the institution of higher education involved 
     regarding improving the mental and behavioral health of 
     students through clinical services, outreach, prevention, or 
     academic success, in a manner that is in compliance with the 
     health privacy and security rules promulgated under section 
     264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability 
     Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 1320d-2 note);
       ``(3) provide outreach services to notify students about 
     the existence of mental and behavioral health services;
       ``(4) educate students, families, faculty, staff, and 
     communities to increase awareness of mental health issues;
       ``(5) support student groups on campus, including athletic 
     teams, that engage in activities to educate students, 
     including activities to reduce stigma surrounding mental and 
     behavioral disorders, and promote mental health wellness;
       ``(6) employ appropriately trained staff;
       ``(7) provide training to students, faculty, and staff to 
     respond effectively to students with mental and behavioral 
     health issues;
       ``(8) expand mental health training through internship, 
     post-doctorate, and residency programs;
       ``(9) develop and support evidence-based and emerging best 
     practices, including a focus on culturally and linguistically 
     appropriate best practices; and
       ``(10) evaluate and disseminate best practices to other 
     institutions of higher education.
       ``(g) Duration of Grants.--A grant under this section shall 
     be awarded for a period not to exceed 3 years.
       ``(h) Evaluation and Reporting.--
       ``(1) Evaluation.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
     on which a grant is received under this section, the eligible 
     entity involved shall submit to the Secretary the results of 
     an evaluation to be conducted by the entity (or by another 
     party under contract with the entity) concerning the 
     effectiveness of the activities carried out under the grant 
     and plans for the sustainability of such efforts.
       ``(2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of the Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
     Congress a report concerning the results of--
       ``(A) the evaluations conducted under paragraph (1); and
       ``(B) an evaluation conducted by the Secretary to analyze 
     the effectiveness and efficacy of the activities conducted 
     with grants under this section.
       ``(i) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary may provide 
     technical assistance to grantees in carrying out this 
     section.
       ``(j) Definition.--In this section, the term `institution 
     of higher education' has the meaning given such term in 101 
     of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
       ``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary 
     to carry out this section.

     ``SEC. 520E-4. MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OUTREACH AND 
                   EDUCATION ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

       ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to 
     increase access to, and reduce the stigma associated with, 
     mental health services to ensure that students at 
     institutions of higher education have the support necessary 
     to successfully complete their studies.
       ``(b) National Public Education Campaign.--The Secretary, 
     acting through the Administrator and in collaboration with 
     the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention, shall convene an interagency, public-private 
     sector working group to plan, establish, and begin 
     coordinating and evaluating a targeted public education 
     campaign that is designed to focus on mental and behavioral 
     health on the campuses of institutions of higher education. 
     Such campaign shall be designed to--
       ``(1) improve the general understanding of mental health 
     and mental health disorders;
       ``(2) encourage help-seeking behaviors relating to the 
     promotion of mental health, prevention of mental health 
     disorders, and treatment of such disorders;
       ``(3) make the connection between mental and behavioral 
     health and academic success; and
       ``(4) assist the general public in identifying the early 
     warning signs and reducing the stigma of mental illness.
       ``(c) Composition.--The working group convened under 
     subsection (b) shall include--
       ``(1) mental health consumers, including students and 
     family members;
       ``(2) representatives of institutions of higher education;
       ``(3) representatives of national mental and behavioral 
     health associations and associations of institutions of 
     higher education;
       ``(4) representatives of health promotion and prevention 
     organizations at institutions of higher education;
       ``(5) representatives of mental health providers, including 
     community mental health centers; and
       ``(6) representatives of private- and public-sector groups 
     with experience in the development of effective public health 
     education campaigns.
       ``(d) Plan.--The working group under subsection (b) shall 
     develop a plan that--
       ``(1) targets promotional and educational efforts to the 
     age population of students at institutions of higher 
     education and individuals who are employed in settings of 
     institutions of higher education, including through the use 
     of roundtables;
       ``(2) develops and proposes the implementation of research-
     based public health messages and activities;
       ``(3) provides support for local efforts to reduce stigma 
     by using the National Health Information Center as a primary 
     point of contact for information, publications, and service 
     program referrals; and
       ``(4) develops and proposes the implementation of a social 
     marketing campaign that is targeted at the population of 
     students attending institutions of higher education and 
     individuals who are employed in settings of institutions of 
     higher education.
       ``(e) Definition.--In this section, the term `institution 
     of higher education' has the meaning given such term in 101 
     of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
       ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary 
     to carry out this section.''.

     SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON COLLEGE MENTAL HEALTH.

       (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to provide 
     for the establishment of a College Campus Task Force to 
     discuss mental and behavioral health concerns on campuses of 
     institutions of higher education.
       (b) Establishment.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') 
     shall establish a College Campus Task Force (referred to in 
     this section as the ``Task Force'') to discuss mental and 
     behavioral health concerns on campuses of institutions of 
     higher education.
       (c) Membership.--The Task Force shall be composed of a 
     representative from each Federal agency (as appointed by the 
     head of the agency) that has jurisdiction over, or is 
     affected by, mental health and education policies and 
     projects, including--
       (1) the Department of Education;
       (2) the Department of Health and Human Services;
       (3) the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
       (4) such other Federal agencies as the Administrator of the 
     Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in 
     consultation with the Secretary, determines to be 
     appropriate.
       (d) Duties.--The Task Force shall--
       (1) serve as a centralized mechanism to coordinate a 
     national effort--
       (A) to discuss and evaluate evidence and knowledge on 
     mental and behavioral health services available to, and the 
     prevalence of mental health illness among, the age population 
     of students attending institutions of higher education in the 
     United States;
       (B) to determine the range of effective, feasible, and 
     comprehensive actions to improve mental and behavioral health 
     on campuses of institutions of higher education;
       (C) to examine and better address the needs of the age 
     population of students attending institutions of higher 
     education dealing with mental illness;
       (D) to survey Federal agencies to determine which policies 
     are effective in encouraging, and how best to facilitate 
     outreach without duplicating, efforts relating to mental and 
     behavioral health promotion;
       (E) to establish specific goals within and across Federal 
     agencies for mental health promotion, including 
     determinations of accountability for reaching those goals;
       (F) to develop a strategy for allocating responsibilities 
     and ensuring participation in mental and behavioral health 
     promotions, particularly in the case of competing agency 
     priorities;
       (G) to coordinate plans to communicate research results 
     relating to mental and behavioral health amongst the age 
     population of students attending institutions of higher 
     education to enable reporting and outreach activities to 
     produce more useful and timely information;
       (H) to provide a description of evidence-based best 
     practices, model programs, effective guidelines, and other 
     strategies for promoting mental and behavioral health on 
     campuses of institutions of higher education;
       (I) to make recommendations to improve Federal efforts 
     relating to mental and behavioral health promotion on 
     campuses of institutions of higher education and to ensure 
     Federal efforts are consistent with available standards and 
     evidence and other programs in existence as of the date of 
     enactment of this Act; and
       (J) to monitor Federal progress in meeting specific mental 
     and behavioral health promotion goals as they relate to 
     settings of institutions of higher education;
       (2) consult with national organizations with expertise in 
     mental and behavioral health, especially those organizations 
     working with the age population of students attending 
     institutions of higher education; and
       (3) consult with and seek input from mental health 
     professionals working on campuses of institutions of higher 
     education as appropriate.
       (e) Meetings.--
       (1) In general.--The Task Force shall meet not less than 3 
     times each year.
       (2) Annual conference.--The Secretary shall sponsor an 
     annual conference on mental and behavioral health in settings 
     of institutions of higher education to enhance coordination, 
     build partnerships, and share best practices in mental and 
     behavioral health promotion, data collection, analysis, and 
     services.

[[Page S1508]]

       (f) Definition.--In this section, the term ``institution of 
     higher education'' has the meaning given such term in 101 of 
     the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
       (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
     this section.

                          ____________________