[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 81 (Tuesday, May 11, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2163-H2165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SUICIDE TRAINING AND AWARENESS NATIONALLY DELIVERED FOR UNIVERSAL 
                         PREVENTION ACT OF 2021

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 586) 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.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 586

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

[[Page H2164]]

  


     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Suicide Training and 
     Awareness Nationally Delivered for Universal Prevention Act 
     of 2021'' or the ``STANDUP Act of 2021''.

     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 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 Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.

                              {time}  1445


                             General Leave

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam 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. 586.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 586, the Suicide Training and Awareness 
Nationally Delivered for Universal Prevention Act of 2021, or the 
STANDUP Act.
  For the last decade, suicide has been the second leading cause of 
death in the United States for young Americans between the ages of 10 
and 24. Since 2007, the number of suicides for this group has nearly 
tripled.
  We are witnessing notable disparities within this youth suicide 
crisis as well. Data tells us that young Black Americans, ages 5 to 12 
years old, are twice as likely to die by suicide as compared to their 
White peers. Suicide rates for American Indian and Alaska Native 
teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 are 60 percent higher than the 
national average for all teenagers. Additionally, among the more than 
77,000 youth reporting suicidal ideations, over one-third of them are 
identified as LGBTQ.
  This data makes clear that more must be done to help those 
struggling. We can and must act now to help equip students and the 
community around them to identify risk factors, because oftentimes, it 
is the students who are the true eyes and ears of each campus. We can 
help provide them with effective tools so they can play an active role 
in preventing suicide or self-harm.
  H.R. 586 would encourage schools to expand evidence-based suicide 
awareness and prevention training to students. It would also require 
this training as a condition of receiving funds under the Substance 
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Project AWARE grant 
program.
  The STANDUP Act, Madam Speaker, 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 shows that training students on suicide prevention makes an 
impact on student suicide rates and improves a student's willingness to 
seek help or help a peer. Much of this training is already taking place 
across thousands of schools nationwide, but STANDUP will help ensure 
that this good work is expanded to more schools across the country.
  For these reasons, I stand up in support of the STANDUP Act. I thank 
the lead sponsors, Representatives Peters and Bilirakis, and the many 
bipartisan supporters of this legislation for their work on this 
critical issue.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I hope the 
Senate will act swiftly to pass it after we have taken action. I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.

[[Page H2165]]

  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 586, the STANDUP Act 
of 2021, which was introduced by Representative Scott Peters and 
includes the support of many Members of the House, including Energy and 
Commerce Committee colleagues Bilirakis, Blunt Rochester, Upton, and 
Tonko.
  This legislation helps promote suicide awareness and facilitates 
prevention training for students and young Americans. 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 pandemic.
  Suicide is preventable, and initiatives that empower students with 
knowledge of the warning signs and resources for prevention are 
critical in addressing these trends.
  Through this bill, Project AWARE grantees will 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.
  The pandemic has greatly impacted the mental health of all Americans, 
which is why it is critical that we continue addressing our Nation's 
challenges in preventing youth suicide and promoting the wellness of 
all.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I have no additional speakers at this 
time.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), my good friend.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, we have all worked together on this 
very powerful bill. There is no higher priority than keeping our 
children safe. I think most people know that.
  Since 2010, suicide has been the second leading cause of death for 
young Americans ages 10 through 24. From 2007 to 2015, the number of 
children and teens visiting the emergency room for suicide-related 
injuries doubled. In 2017, 517 Americans, aged 10 through 14, and 
6,252, aged 15 through 24, committed suicide. Sadly, some communities 
in my district are among those with the highest suicide rates in 
Florida. I represent the Tampa Bay area, Madam Speaker.
  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 a student reported concerns 
about a threat, a plot, or other concerning behavior involving a peer.
  H.R. 586, the Suicide Training and Awareness Nationally Delivered for 
Universal Prevention Act, or the STANDUP Act, encourages States, 
Tribes, and schools to create policies for student suicide prevention 
training utilizing 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 sorely need.
  I have seen firsthand, Madam Speaker, the power of work like this 
through nonprofits like Sandy Hook Promise, and SAVE Promise Clubs at 
my children's school actually at Palm Harbor University High School, 
which is located in Palm Harbor, Florida, in my district. When properly 
equipped, students can be empowered to prevent violence in their 
schools.
  I appreciate the bipartisan work of my colleagues, and, of course, we 
actually sponsored this bill with Congressman Peters. I also want to 
thank the chairman for placing the bill on the agenda and working with 
us.
  I urge my colleagues to join us in passing this critical legislation 
to help reverse the troubling trend of youth suicide and violence.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, as we were speaking before, this is an 
important issue. Suicide affects so many people. There are systems, 
there is the ability to become aware. It can be preventable if people 
know the right signs to look for. I think the American people 
absolutely want to work together to make this happen so we can prevent 
this.
  I urge all my colleagues to support this piece of legislation. I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I urge support on a bipartisan basis for 
this bill. 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. 586.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________