[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 81 (Tuesday, May 11, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2178-H2180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUICIDE PREVENTION ACT

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2955) to authorize a pilot program to expand and intensify 
surveillance of self-harm in partnership with State and local public 
health departments, to establish a grant program to provide self-harm 
and suicide prevention services in hospital emergency departments, and 
for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2955

       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 Prevention Act''.

     SEC. 2. SYNDROMIC SURVEILLANCE OF SELF-HARM BEHAVIORS 
                   PROGRAM.

       Title III of the Public Health Service Act is amended by 
     inserting after section 317U of such Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-23) 
     the following:

     ``SEC. 317V. SYNDROMIC SURVEILLANCE OF SELF-HARM BEHAVIORS 
                   PROGRAM.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to 
     State, local, Tribal, and territorial public health 
     departments for the expansion of surveillance of self-harm.
       ``(b) Data Sharing by Grantees.--As a condition of receipt 
     of such grant under subsection (a), each grantee shall agree 
     to share with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
     in real time, to the extent feasible and as specified in the 
     grant agreement, data on suicides and self-harm for purposes 
     of--
       ``(1) tracking and monitoring self-harm to inform response 
     activities to suicide clusters;
       ``(2) informing prevention programming for identified at-
     risk populations; and
       ``(3) conducting or supporting research.
       ``(c) Disaggregation of Data.--The Secretary shall provide 
     for the data collected through surveillance of self-harm 
     under subsection (b) to be disaggregated by the following 
     categories:
       ``(1) Nonfatal self-harm data of any intent.
       ``(2) Data on suicidal ideation.
       ``(3) Data on self-harm where there is no evidence, whether 
     implicit or explicit, of suicidal intent.
       ``(4) Data on self-harm where there is evidence, whether 
     implicit or explicit, of suicidal intent.
       ``(5) Data on self-harm where suicidal intent is unclear 
     based on the available evidence.
       ``(d) Priority.--In making awards under subsection (a), the 
     Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that are--
       ``(1) located in a State with an age-adjusted rate of 
     nonfatal suicidal behavior that is above the national rate of 
     nonfatal suicidal behavior, as determined by the Director of 
     the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
       ``(2) serving an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of 
     the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act) 
     with an age-adjusted rate of nonfatal suicidal behavior that 
     is above the national rate of nonfatal suicidal behavior, as 
     determined through appropriate mechanisms determined by the 
     Secretary in consultation with Indian Tribes; or
       ``(3) located in a State with a high rate of coverage of 
     statewide (or Tribal) emergency department visits, as 
     determined by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control 
     and Prevention.
       ``(e) Geographic Distribution.--In making grants under this 
     section, the Secretary shall make an effort to ensure 
     geographic distribution, taking into account the unique needs 
     of rural communities, including--
       ``(1) communities with an incidence of individuals with 
     serious mental illness, demonstrated suicidal ideation or 
     behavior, or suicide rates that are above the national 
     average, as determined by the Assistant Secretary for Mental 
     Health and Substance Use;
       ``(2) communities with a shortage of prevention and 
     treatment services, as determined by the Assistant Secretary 
     for Mental Health and Substance Use and the Administrator of 
     the Health Resources and Services Administration; and
       ``(3) other appropriate community-level factors and social 
     determinants of health such as income, employment, and 
     education.
       ``(f) Period of Participation.--To be selected as a grant 
     recipient under this section, a State, local, Tribal, or 
     territorial public health department shall agree to 
     participate in the program for a period of not less than 4 
     years.
       ``(g) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide 
     technical assistance and training to grantees for collecting 
     and sharing the data under subsection (b).
       ``(h) Data Sharing by HHS.--Subject to subsection (b), the 
     Secretary shall, with respect to data on self-harm that is 
     collected pursuant to this section, share and integrate such 
     data through--
       ``(1) the National Syndromic Surveillance Program's Early 
     Notification of Community Epidemics (ESSENCE) platform (or 
     any successor platform);
       ``(2) the National Violent Death Reporting System, as 
     appropriate; or
       ``(3) another appropriate surveillance program, including 
     such a program that collects data on suicides and self-harm 
     among special populations, such as members of the military 
     and veterans.
       ``(i) Rule of Construction Regarding Applicability of 
     Privacy Protections.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed to limit or alter the application of Federal or 
     State law relating to the privacy of information to data or 
     information that is collected or created under this section.
       ``(j) Report.--
       ``(1) Submission.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the

[[Page H2179]]

     Secretary shall evaluate the suicide and self-harm syndromic 
     surveillance systems at the Federal, State, and local levels 
     and submit a report to Congress on the data collected under 
     subsections (b) and (c) in a manner that prevents the 
     disclosure of individually identifiable information, at a 
     minimum, consistent with all applicable privacy laws and 
     regulations.
       ``(2) Contents.--In addition to the data collected under 
     subsections (b) and (c), the report under paragraph (1) shall 
     include--
       ``(A) challenges and gaps in data collection and reporting;
       ``(B) recommendations to address such gaps and challenges; 
     and
       ``(C) a description of any public health responses 
     initiated at the Federal, State, or local level in response 
     to the data collected.
       ``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this 
     section, there are authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 
     for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.''.

     SEC. 3. GRANTS TO PROVIDE SELF-HARM AND SUICIDE PREVENTION 
                   SERVICES.

       Part B of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 290aa et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 520N. GRANTS TO PROVIDE SELF-HARM AND SUICIDE 
                   PREVENTION SERVICES.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services shall award grants to hospital emergency departments 
     to provide self-harm and suicide prevention services.
       ``(b) Activities Supported.--
       ``(1) In general.--A hospital emergency department awarded 
     a grant under subsection (a) shall use amounts under the 
     grant to implement a program or protocol to better prevent 
     suicide attempts among hospital patients after discharge, 
     which may include--
       ``(A) screening patients for self-harm and suicide in 
     accordance with the standards of practice described in 
     subsection (e)(1) and standards of care established by 
     appropriate medical and advocacy organizations;
       ``(B) providing patients short-term self-harm and suicide 
     prevention services in accordance with the results of the 
     screenings described in subparagraph (A); and
       ``(C) referring patients, as appropriate, to a health care 
     facility or provider for purposes of receiving long-term 
     self-harm and suicide prevention services, and providing any 
     additional follow up services and care identified as 
     appropriate as a result of the screenings and short-term 
     self-harm and suicide prevention services described in 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B).
       ``(2) Use of funds to hire and train staff.--Amounts 
     awarded under subsection (a) may be used to hire clinical 
     social workers, mental and behavioral health care 
     professionals, and support staff as appropriate, and to train 
     existing staff and newly hired staff to carry out the 
     activities described in paragraph (1).
       ``(c) Grant Terms.--A grant awarded under subsection (a)--
       ``(1) shall be for a period of 3 years; and
       ``(2) may be renewed subject to the requirements of this 
     section.
       ``(d) Applications.--A hospital emergency department 
     seeking a grant under subsection (a) shall submit an 
     application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
     and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may 
     require.
       ``(e) Standards of Practice.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall develop 
     standards of practice for screening patients for self-harm 
     and suicide for purposes of carrying out subsection 
     (b)(1)(C).
       ``(2) Consultation.--The Secretary shall develop the 
     standards of practice described in paragraph (1) in 
     consultation with individuals and entities with expertise in 
     self-harm and suicide prevention, including public, private, 
     and non-profit entities.
       ``(f) Reporting.--
       ``(1) Reports to the secretary.--
       ``(A) In general.--A hospital emergency department awarded 
     a grant under subsection (a) shall, at least quarterly for 
     the duration of the grant, submit to the Secretary a report 
     evaluating the activities supported by the grant.
       ``(B) Matters to be included.--The report required under 
     subparagraph (A) shall include--
       ``(i) the number of patients receiving--

       ``(I) screenings carried out at the hospital emergency 
     department;
       ``(II) short-term self-harm and suicide prevention services 
     at the hospital emergency department; and
       ``(III) referrals to health care facilities for the 
     purposes of receiving long-term self-harm and suicide 
     prevention;

       ``(ii) information on the adherence of the hospital 
     emergency department to the standards of practice described 
     in subsection (f)(1); and
       ``(iii) other information as the Secretary determines 
     appropriate to evaluate the use of grant funds.
       ``(2) Reports to congress.--Not later than 2 years after 
     the date of the enactment of the Suicide Prevention Act, and 
     biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 
     of Representatives a report on the grant program under this 
     section, including--
       ``(A) a summary of reports received by the Secretary under 
     paragraph (1); and
       ``(B) an evaluation of the program by the Secretary.
       ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this 
     section, there are authorized to be appropriated $30,000,000 
     for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.''.

  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.


                             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. 2955.
  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.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2955, the Suicide 
Prevention Act. This is among several bills being considered today that 
is specifically aimed at suicide prevention. The reason for these 
legislative efforts is that suicide is a devastating and preventable 
tragedy that strikes far too many Americans; and there is legitimate 
reason for us to be concerned that this preventable cause of death may 
become worse as we fully uncover the impact of the pandemic on American 
lives. We know that more people than ever are suffering from mental 
health issues, and suicide is unfortunately a devastating consequence 
of untreated mental illness.
  So we have to act now to better understand the risk factors for 
suicide and self-harm, train providers on how to better manage 
patients, and improve our ability to detect suicide deaths and self-
harm in our communities. This bill does each of these things.
  The Suicide Prevention Act, introduced by Representatives Stewart and 
Matsui, will enhance collection and sharing of important data while 
also providing funding for programs that train and equip emergency 
department personnel in how to prevent suicide.
  The bill also enables surveillance of self-harm to inform better 
health strategies aimed at prevention, Madam Speaker. It also supports 
emergency departments to better screen and treat high-risk patients, 
and it also calls for development and deployment of best practices in 
suicide prevention for all healthcare providers.
  So, in closing, we know that suicide is one of the leading causes of 
preventible death in the United States--particularly for young people--
and we have to act. I commend the work of the sponsors of this bill, 
Representatives Stewart and Matsui, in creating this important bill. I 
look forward to passing the bill today, and I hope that the Senate will 
act on it swiftly.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2955, the 
Suicide Prevention Act, spearheaded by Representatives Stewart and 
Matsui.
  This legislation establishes two grant programs to prevent self-harm 
and suicide. The first grant program would train emergency room 
personnel in suicide prevention strategies and screening. The bill also 
establishes a grant program to enhance data collection and sharing of 
suicide information to help save lives.
  I thank my colleagues for bringing forward this important 
legislation, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this 
important initiative.
  Madam Speaker, seeing no additional speakers, I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. In closing, Madam Speaker, again, this bill is part of 
our strategy in prevention. I urge my colleagues to support it on a 
bipartisan basis, 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. 2955.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.

[[Page H2180]]

  

  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.

                          ____________________