[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 223 (Thursday, December 31, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H9169-H9170]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               ADVANCING RESEARCH TO PREVENT SUICIDE ACT

  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 4704) to direct the Director of the 
National Science Foundation to support multidisciplinary research on 
the science of suicide, and to advance the knowledge and understanding 
of issues that may be associated with several aspects of suicide 
including intrinsic and extrinsic factors related to areas such as 
wellbeing, resilience, and vulnerability, with the Senate amendment 
thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER. The Clerk will report the Senate amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:
  Senate amendment:

        Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Advancing Research to 
     Prevent Suicide Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) The rate of Americans dying by suicide is on the rise, 
     increasing 10.7 to 14.0 deaths per 100,000 people from 2001 
     to 2017.
       (2) Suicide is the tenth-leading cause of death among 
     people in the United States and the second-leading cause of 
     death for young people between the ages of 15 and 34.
       (3) The National Science Foundation funds research that is 
     improving our basic understanding of factors with potential 
     relevance to suicide, including potential relevance to 
     prevention and treatment.
       (4) Despite progress in mental health research, current 
     gaps exist in scientific understanding and basic knowledge of 
     human neural, genetic, cognitive, perceptual, behavioral, 
     social, and environmental factors with potential relevance to 
     suicide.

     SEC. 3. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RESEARCH.

       (a) In General.--The Director of the National Science 
     Foundation, in consultation with the Director of the National 
     Institutes of Health and the Director of the National 
     Institute of Mental Health and taking into consideration 
     prioritized research agendas or strategic plans, as 
     appropriate, shall, subject to the availability of 
     appropriations, award grants on a competitive, merit-reviewed 
     basis to institutions of higher education (or consortia of 
     such institutions) to support multidisciplinary, fundamental 
     research with potential relevance to suicide, including 
     potential relevance to prevention and treatment, including, 
     but not limited to--
       (1) basic understanding of human social behavior;
       (2) the neural basis of human cognition;
       (3) basic understanding of cognitive, linguistic, social, 
     cultural, and biological processes related to human 
     development across the lifespan;

[[Page H9170]]

       (4) basic understanding of perceptual, motor, and cognitive 
     processes, and their interaction, in typical human behavior; 
     and
       (5) basic understanding of the relevance of drug and 
     alcohol abuse.
       (b) Encouraging Applications From Early Career 
     Researchers.--To promote the development of early career 
     researchers, in awarding funds under subsection (a), the 
     Director of the National Science Foundation shall encourage 
     applications submitted by early career researchers, including 
     doctoral students or postdoctoral researchers.

  Mrs. DINGELL (during the reading). Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent to dispense with the reading of the amendment.
  The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman 
from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the original request of the 
gentlewoman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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