[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 29, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H5019-H5021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUICIDE TRAINING AND AWARENESS NATIONALLY DELIVERED FOR UNIVERSAL
PREVENTION ACT OF 2020
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 7293) to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide best
practices on student suicide awareness and prevention training and
condition State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and
tribal educational agencies receiving funds under section 520A of such
Act to establish and implement a school-based student suicide awareness
and prevention training policy, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 7293
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 ``Suicide Training and
Awareness Nationally Delivered for Universal Prevention Act
of 2020'' or the ``STANDUP Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. STUDENT SUICIDE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION TRAINING.
(a) In General.--Title V of the Public Health Service Act
is amended by inserting after section 520A of such Act (42
U.S.C. 290bb-32) the following:
``SEC. 520B. STUDENT SUICIDE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION
TRAINING POLICIES.
``(a) In General.--As a condition on receipt of funds under
section 520A, each State educational agency, local
educational agency, and Tribal educational agency that
receives such funds, directly or through a State or Indian
Tribe, for activities to be performed within secondary
schools, including the Project AWARE State Education Agency
Grant Program, shall--
``(1) establish and implement a school-based student
suicide awareness and prevention training policy;
``(2) consult with stakeholders (including principals,
teachers, parents, local Tribal officials, and other school
leaders) in the development of the policy under subsection
(a)(1); and
``(3) collect and report information in accordance with
subsection (c).
``(b) School-Based Student Suicide Awareness and Prevention
Training Policy.--A school-based student suicide awareness
and prevention training policy implemented pursuant to
subsection (a)--
``(1) shall be evidence-based;
``(2) shall be culturally and linguistically appropriate;
``(3) shall provide evidence-based training to students in
grades 6 through 12, in coordination with school-based mental
health service providers as defined in section 4102(6) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, if
applicable, regarding--
``(A) suicide education and awareness, including warning
signs of self-harm or suicidal ideation;
``(B) methods that students can use to seek help for
themselves and others; and
``(C) student resources for suicide awareness and
prevention;
``(4) shall provide for retraining of such students every
school year;
``(5) may last for such period as the State educational
agency, local educational agency, or Tribal educational
agency involved determines to be appropriate;
``(6) may be implemented through any delivery method,
including in-person trainings, digital trainings, or train-
the-trainer models; and
``(7) may include discussion of comorbidities or risk
factors for suicidal ideation or self-harm, including
substance misuse, sexual or physical abuse, mental illness,
or other evidence-based comorbidities and risk factors.
``(c) Collection of Information and Reporting.--Each State
educational agency, local educational agency, and Tribal
educational agency that receives funds under section 520A
shall, with respect to each school served by the agency,
collect and report to the Secretary the following
information:
``(1) The number of student trainings conducted.
``(2) The number of students trained, disaggregated by age
and grade level.
``(3) The number of help-seeking reports made by students
after implementation of such policy.
``(d) Evidence-Based Program Listing.--The Secretary of
Health and Human Services shall coordinate with the Secretary
of Education to make publicly available the policies
established by State educational agencies, local educational
agencies, and Tribal educational agencies pursuant to this
section and the training that is available to students and
teams pursuant to such policies, including identification of
whether such training is available to trainees at no cost.
``(e) Implementation Timeline.--A State educational agency,
local educational agency, or Tribal educational agency shall
establish and begin implementation of the policies required
by subsection (a)(1) not later than the beginning of the
third fiscal year following the date of enactment of this
section for which the agency receives funds under section
520A.
``(f) Definitions.--In this section and section 520B-1:
``(1) The term `evidence-based' has the meaning given to
such term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965.
``(2) The term `local educational agency' has the meaning
given to such term in section 8101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965.
``(3) The term `State educational agency' has the meaning
given to such term in section 8101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965.
``(4) The term `Tribal educational agency' has the meaning
given to the term `tribal educational agency' in section 6132
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
``SEC. 520B-1. BEST PRACTICES FOR STUDENT SUICIDE AWARENESS
AND PREVENTION TRAINING.
``The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in
consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Bureau
of Indian Education, shall--
``(1) publish best practices for school-based student
suicide awareness and prevention training, pursuant to
section 520B, that are based on--
``(A) evidence-based practices; and
``(B) input from relevant Federal agencies, national
organizations, Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, and
related stakeholders;
``(2) publish guidance, based on the best practices under
paragraph (1), to provide State educational agencies, local
educational agencies, and Tribal educational agencies with
information on student suicide awareness and prevention best
practices;
``(3) disseminate such best practices to State educational
agencies, local educational agencies, and Tribal educational
agencies; and
``(4) provide technical assistance to State educational
agencies, local educational agencies, and Tribal educational
agencies.''.
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by this Act shall only apply with
respect to applications for assistance
[[Page H5020]]
under section 520A of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 290bb-32) that are submitted after the date of
enactment of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 7293.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of H.R. 7293, the Suicide Training and
Awareness Nationally Delivered for Universal Prevention Act of 2020, or
the STANDUP Act.
As we have heard, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the
U.S. However, it is the second leading cause of death for young
Americans age 10 to 14, which has tripled since 2007.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic is already exacerbating these
trends. Sandy Hook Promise's 24/7 crisis center, which allows people to
identify and help at-risk students, has seen a more than 10 percent
increase in suicide tips thus far.
During our hearing on this bill, Arriana Gross, a high school student
from Covington, Georgia, testified that: ``In our school, a year
doesn't go by without a student dying by suicide. I've even known of
elementary kids who died by suicide. I am concerned that youth suicide
has become so common that my school community and our Nation is stuck
in a pattern of mourning and accepting these deaths as something that
is normal, instead of seeing them as preventable and tragic.''
Again, Mr. Speaker, those are the words of Arriana Gross, a high
school student.
Like Arriana, I am concerned.
Despite data that suicide is on the rise, we can act now to help
equip students and the communities around them to identify risk factors
so they can play an active role in preventing suicide or self-harm.
Now, this bill, H.R. 7293, would encourage schools to expand
evidence-based suicide prevention training to students and make public
best practices for such training as a condition of receiving funds
under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Project AWARE grant program.
The STANDUP Act would also support technical assistance resources for
schools and encourage the collection and reporting of data to track
implementation of these policies and practices.
Research, Mr. Speaker, shows that training students on suicide
prevention makes an impact on student suicide rates and improves the
students' willingness to seek help or to help a peer.
Much of this training is already taking place across thousands of
schools nationwide, but the STANDUP Act will help ensure that this good
work is expanded to more schools across the country.
So for these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I stand up in support of the
STANDUP Act. This is good, bipartisan legislation. I thank the lead
sponsors, Representatives Scott Peters, Gus Bilirakis, Ted Deutch,
Brian Fitzpatrick, and their staffs for their work on this critical
issue.
Mr. Speaker, I also thank Mr. Walden and the committee staff for
working with us on this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7293, the Suicide
Training and Awareness Nationally Delivered for Universal Prevention,
or STANDUP, Act of 2020. It was introduced by our Energy and Commerce
Committee colleagues, Representative Peters, who I know we are going to
hear from soon, and Representative Bilirakis, who we are also going to
hear from.
This legislation addresses a key measure in promoting suicide
awareness and prevention training among students and young Americans.
Sadly, for the last decade, suicide has been the second leading cause
of death for Americans ages 10 to 24 and the 10th leading cause of
overall deaths in the United States.
Tragically, this epidemic has only worsened during the COVID-19
epidemic.
Suicide is preventable, and initiatives that empower students with
knowledge of the warning signs and resources for prevention are
critical in addressing these trends.
We believe, through this legislation, Project AWARE grantees would be
empowered to establish school-based suicide awareness and prevention
training programs, which will improve student awareness of mental
health issues while connecting at-risk individuals to needed health
services.
So as we approach the end of September, our nationally recognized
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, it is critical that we continue
addressing our Nation's challenges in preventing youth suicide and
promoting the mental health and wellness of all.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Peters).
Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and the
chairman for his leadership.
Mr. Speaker, last year, I visited Bernardo Heights Middle School in
Rancho Bernardo to meet with students of the school's SAVE Promise Club
and the Mental Health Awareness Club.
The kids told me about their efforts to make their peers feel more
accepted by creating a culture of kindness and by using their voices to
end the stigma surrounding mental health. They explained their work
with programs intended to promote inclusivity and to prevent violence
by teaching children and adults to identify, intervene, and help those
at risk of harming themselves or others.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide is the
second leading cause of death by those 10 to 24 years old, with cases
of suicide among Black and other minority youth rapidly rising.
The good news is that adolescent suicide and violence can be
prevented if others heed the warning signs.
Seventy percent of those who die by suicide tell someone their plans
or demonstrate warning signs ahead of time. Eighty percent of school
shooters tell someone their plans ahead of time.
That is why I teamed up with my friend from Florida, Mr. Gus
Bilirakis, to introduce the bipartisan STANDUP Act.
The Act requires States, schools, and Tribes to implement evidence-
based policies to prevent suicides in order to receive Project AWARE
grants, which boost youth mental health awareness among schools and
communities.
These policies are key to preventing school violence by encouraging
early prevention, teaching warning signs, and providing schools with
crucial tools to help stop violence before it happens.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Sandy Hook Promise, who helped champion this
bill, and for hosting my visit at Bernardo Heights Middle School. Along
with them, over 50 student and mental health-focused organizations
support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I thank all the Bernardo Heights Bobcats, who care so
well for each other's mental health. We want to bring that same spirit,
their same spirit, to every school in the country.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass the STANDUP Act to protect
our students and enhance school safety.
Go Bobcats.
{time} 1615
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member and
the chairman for all of their good work and, of course, Congressman
Peters. This is a great committee, and we get things done, that is for
sure.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7293, the Suicide
Training and
[[Page H5021]]
Awareness Nationally Delivered for Universal Prevention Act, or the
STAND-UP Act.
There is no higher priority than keeping our children safe. I think
everyone agrees with that. Since 2010, suicide has been the second-
leading cause of death for young Americans ages 10-24, unfortunately.
From 2007 to 2015, the number of children and teens visiting
emergency rooms for suicide-related injuries doubled. In 2017, 517
Americans aged 10-14, and 6,252 aged 15-24, committed suicide. Sadly,
some communities in my district are among those with the highest
suicide rates in Florida.
Research has shown that most of these young Americans tell someone
that they are contemplating suicide or school violence, and 68 percent
of averted violence was stopped because of a student reporting concerns
about a threat, plot, or other concerning behavior involving a peer.
The STAND-UP Act encourages States, Tribes, and schools to create
policies for student suicide prevention training using SAMHSA-provided
best practices, training, and technical assistance.
By providing high-quality screening and prevention training to school
staff and peers, threats can be identified before they materialize, and
those who are at risk have an opportunity to get the mental health
treatment they need and deserve.
I have seen firsthand the power of this particular program through,
again, nonprofits, like Sandy Hook Promise. They have been very
instrumental in getting this bill done, with their SAVE Promise Club.
My kids have gone to Palm Harbor University. I still have one there,
and that is in my district. Mr. Speaker, when properly equipped,
students can be empowered to prevent violence in their schools, and I
have witnessed the great work that they do in that particular school.
I appreciate the bipartisan work of my colleague, again, Congressman
Peters, and I urge my colleagues to join us in passing this critical
piece of legislation to reverse the troubling trend of youth suicide
and violence.
We have to get this through the Senate as well and to the President's
desk, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers on my side of the
aisle on this legislation. I urge its passage, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I also urge passage of the bill, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7293, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________