[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 214 (Thursday, December 17, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7580-S7581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS FOR STUDENTS ACT

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, suicide is the second leading cause of 
death for youth and for young adults aged 10 to 34. It is also the 
second leading cause of death among college students. Thirty-nine 
percent, in fact, of college students experience a significant mental 
health issue, and 50 percent of mental health issues begin by age 14. 
Seventy-five percent of them begin by age 24.
  Senators Cornyn, Jones, Warren, Gillibrand, Rosen, and I have 
introduced the Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act. There 
is companion legislation in the House that is also bipartisan that has 
51 cosponsors.
  Our legislation is pretty simple. It would require colleges that 
participate in Federal student aid programs to share contact 
information for suicide prevention resources with their students, and 
this is how it works:
  If a university distributes student ID cards--most do; not all of 
them do but most do--then the universities would be directed to include 
the phone numbers for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, for the 
Crisis Text Line, and for a campus mental health center or program on 
the student ID card. If a university doesn't have a student ID card, 
they don't have to publish a student ID card just for that purpose. 
They can put the information on their websites.
  The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is well known. It is a 
national network of over, I think, 180 local crisis centers. Those 
centers provide confidential emotional support to anybody in a suicidal 
crisis or emotional distress. They offer 24/7 services, and those 
services are free.
  I would also point out that our legislation is also supported by the 
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the National Alliance on 
Mental Illness, the National Association of School Psychologists, and 
14 other mental health-related organizations.
  Our legislation, finally, would not take effect until 1 year. So I 
don't want anyone to think that we are requiring our colleges to go out 
and immediately publish new student IDs. As they publish new student 
IDs when the current year runs out, we are just asking them to include 
this information on those IDs.
  Toward that end, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be 
discharged from further consideration of our legislation, S. 1782, and 
that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1782) to add suicide prevention resources to 
     school identification cards.

  There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the 
Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. KENNEDY. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read 
a third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read 
the third time.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate on the bill, the 
bill having been read the third time, the question is, Shall the bill 
pass?
  The bill (S. 1782) was passed, as follows

                                S. 1782

       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 ``Improving Mental Health 
     Access for Students Act''.

[[Page S7581]]

  


     SEC. 2. ADDING SUICIDE PREVENTION CONTACT INFORMATION TO 
                   SCHOOL IDENTIFICATION CARDS.

       (a) In General.--Section 487(a) of the Higher Education Act 
     of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:
       ``(30)(A) In the case of an institution that creates and 
     distributes identification cards for students at any time 
     after the date of enactment of this paragraph, such 
     institution shall include phone contact information on each 
     such card for the following organizations:
       ``(i) The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
       ``(ii) Crisis Text Line.
       ``(iii) A campus mental health center or program, as 
     determined by the institution.
       ``(B) In the case of an institution that does not create 
     and distribute identification cards for students at any time 
     after the date of enactment of this paragraph, such 
     institution shall publish the suicide prevention contact 
     information specified in subparagraph (A) on the website of 
     such institution.
       ``(C) If an organization in clause (i) or (ii) of 
     subparagraph (A) ceases to exist, the Secretary may designate 
     a different entity with a similar purpose to be included on 
     the identification card.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect beginning on the day that is 1 year after 
     the date of enactment of this Act.

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion 
to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. KENNEDY. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  (Mr. KENNEDY assumed the Chair.)
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Scott of Florida). Without objection, it 
is so ordered.

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