[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 82 (Wednesday, May 12, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2235-H2246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS CERTAIN BILLS
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 6 of House Resolution
380, I move to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 297, H.R. 433, H.R. 478,
H.R. 586, H.R. 721, H.R. 768, H.R. 810, H.R. 1205, H.R. 1260, H.R.
1324, H.R. 1448, H.R. 1475, H.R. 1480, H.R. 2862, H.R. 2955, and H.R.
2981.
The other suspension bills, either a vote was not requested or,
alternatively, one bill, for which a problem has arisen, we have pulled
that. Hopefully, we will consider that tomorrow under suspension.
The Clerk read the title of the bills.
The text of the bills are as follows:
Hawaii National Forest Study
H.R. 297
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. HAWAII NATIONAL FOREST STUDY.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest
Service.
(2) Study area.--The term ``study area'' means the islands
of Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu, and Kauai in the State
of Hawaii.
(b) Study.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a study--
(A) to determine the suitability and feasibility of
establishing a unit of the National Forest System in the
study area; and
(B) to identify available land within the study area that
could be included in the unit described in subparagraph (A).
(2) Coordination and consultation.--In conducting the study
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
(A) coordinate with the Hawaii Department of Land and
Natural Resources; and
(B) consult with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and
other interested governmental entities, private and nonprofit
organizations, and any interested individuals.
(3) Contents.--In conducting the study under paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall--
(A) consider unique vegetation types that occur in the
study area and that should be targeted for inclusion in the
unit of the National Forest System described in paragraph
(1)(A);
(B) evaluate the ability of the Secretary--
(i) to improve and protect forest areas within the study
area; and
(ii) to secure favorable water flows within the study area;
(C) determine whether the unit of the National Forest
System described in paragraph (1)(A) would expand, enhance,
or duplicate--
(i) resource protection; and
(ii) visitor-use opportunities;
(D) consider parcels of an appropriate size or location to
be capable of economical administration as part of the
National Forest System separately or jointly with the other
land identified under paragraph (1)(B);
(E) evaluate the willingness of landowners to sell or
transfer land in the study area to the Secretary;
(F) evaluate the suitability of land in the study area for
potential selection and designation as a research natural
area or an experimental forest;
(G) identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition,
development, operation, and maintenance that would be needed
to establish the unit of the National Forest System described
in paragraph (1)(A); and
(H) consider other alternatives for the conservation,
protection, and use of areas within the study area by the
Federal Government, State or local government entities, or
private and nonprofit organizations.
(c) Effect.--Nothing in this section authorizes the
Secretary to take any action that would affect the use of any
land owned by the United States or not owned by the United
States.
(d) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives a report that describes--
(1) the results of the study; and
(2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.
Family Support Services for Addiction Act of 2021
H.R. 433
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 ``Family Support Services for
Addiction Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING
WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.
Part D of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 290dd et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 553. FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS
STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
``(1) the term `family community organization' means an
independent nonprofit organization that--
``(A) mobilizes resources within and outside of the
community of families with individuals living with addiction,
to provide a support network, education, and evidence-
informed tools for families and loved ones of individuals
struggling with substance use disorders; and
``(B) is governed by experts in the field of addiction,
which may include--
``(i) experts in evidence-informed interventions for family
members;
``(ii) experts in the impact of addiction on family
systems;
``(iii) families who have experience with substance use
disorders and addiction; and
``(iv) other experts in the field of addiction; and
``(2) the term `family support services' means resources or
programs that support families that include an individual
with substance use disorder.
``(b) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary shall award grants
to family community organizations to enable such
organizations to develop, expand, and enhance evidence-
informed family support services.
``(c) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the costs of a
program funded by a grant under this section may not exceed
85 percent.
``(d) Use of Funds.--Grants awarded under subsection (b)--
``(1) shall be used to develop, expand, and enhance
community and statewide evidence-informed family support
services; and
``(2) may be used to--
``(A) build connections between family support networks,
including providing technical assistance between family
community organizations and peer support networks, and with
other family support services, focused on enhancing knowledge
of evidence-informed interventions for family members and
loved ones of individuals living with substance use disorders
and reducing harm by educating service providers on current
evidence regarding addiction and the family, including--
``(i) behavioral health providers, including such providers
focused specifically on family and couples therapy in the
context of addiction;
``(ii) primary care providers;
``(iii) providers of foster care services or support
services for grandparents, guardians, and other extended
family impacted by addiction; and
``(iv) other family support services that connect to
community resources for individuals with substance use
disorders, including non-clinical community services;
``(B) reduce stigma associated with the family of
individuals with substance use disorders by improving
knowledge about addiction and its treatment, providing
compassionate support, and dispelling myths that perpetuate
such stigma;
``(C) conduct outreach on issues relating to substance use
disorders and family support, which may include education,
training, and resources with respect to--
``(i) building a resilience- and strengths-based approach
to prevention of, and living with, addiction in the family;
``(ii) identifying the signs of substance use disorder;
[[Page H2236]]
``(iii) adopting an approach that minimizes harm to all
family members; and
``(iv) families of individuals with a substance use
disorder, including with respect to--
``(I) navigating the treatment and recovery systems;
``(II) paying for addiction treatment;
``(III) education about substance use disorder; and
``(IV) avoiding predatory treatment programs; and
``(D) connect families to evidence-informed peer support
programs.
``(e) Data Reporting and Program Oversight.--With respect
to a grant awarded under subsection (a), not later than 90
days after the end of the first year of the grant period, and
annually thereafter for the duration of the grant period, the
entity shall submit data, as appropriate and to the extent
practicable, to the Secretary regarding--
``(1) the programs and activities funded by the grant;
``(2) health outcomes of the population of individuals with
a substance use disorder who received services through
programs supported by the grant, as evaluated by an
independent program evaluator through the use of outcomes
measures, as determined by the Secretary; and
``(3) any other information that the secretary may require
for the purpose of ensuring that the grant recipient is
complying with all the requirements of the grant.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.''.
Blackwater Trading Post Land Transfer Act
H.R. 478
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 ``Blackwater Trading Post Land
Transfer Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Blackwater trading post land.--The term ``Blackwater
Trading Post Land'' means the approximately 55.3 acres of
land as depicted on the map that--
(A) is located in Pinal County, Arizona, and bordered by
Community land to the east, west, and north and State Highway
87 to the south; and
(B) is owned by the Community.
(2) Community.--The term ``Community'' means the Gila River
Indian Community of the Reservation.
(3) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Results
of Survey, Ellis Property, A Portion of the West \1/2\ of
Section 12, Township 5 South, Range 7 East, Gila and Salt
River Meridian, Pinal County, Arizona'' and dated October 15,
2012.
(4) Reservation.--The term ``Reservation'' means the land
located within the exterior boundaries of the reservation
created under sections 3 and 4 of the Act of February 28,
1859 (11 Stat. 401, chapter LXVI), and Executive orders of
August 31, 1876, June 14, 1879, May 5, 1882, November 15,
1883, July 31, 1911, June 2, 1913, August 27, 1914, and July
19, 1915, and any other lands placed in trust for the benefit
of the Community.
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 3. LAND TAKEN INTO TRUST FOR BENEFIT OF THE GILA RIVER
INDIAN COMMUNITY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall take the Blackwater
Trading Post land into trust for the benefit of the
Community, after the Community--
(1) conveys to the Secretary all right, title, and interest
of the Community in and to the Blackwater Trading Post Land;
(2) submits to the Secretary a request to take the
Blackwater Trading Post Land into trust for the benefit of
the Community;
(3) conducts a survey (to the satisfaction of the
Secretary) to determine the exact acreage and legal
description of the Blackwater Trading Post Land, if the
Secretary determines a survey is necessary; and
(4) pays all costs of any survey conducted under paragraph
(3).
(b) Availability of Map.--Not later than 180 days after the
Blackwater Trading Post Land is taken into trust under
subsection (a), the map shall be on file and available for
public inspection in the appropriate offices of the
Secretary.
(c) Lands Taken Into Trust Part of Reservation.--After the
date on which the Blackwater Trading Post Land is taken into
trust under subsection (a), the land shall be treated as part
of the Reservation.
(d) Gaming.--Class II and class III gaming under the Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) shall not be
allowed at any time on the land taken into trust under
subsection (a).
(e) Description.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall cause the full
metes-and-bounds description of the Blackwater Trading Post
Land to be published in the Federal Register. The description
shall, on publication, constitute the official description of
the Blackwater Trading Post Land.
Suicide Training and Awareness Nationally Delivered for Universal
Prevention Act of 2021
H.R. 586
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 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--
[[Page H2237]]
``(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.
Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2021
H.R. 721
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 ``Mental Health Services for
Students Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT.
(a) Technical Amendments.--The second part G (relating to
services provided through religious organizations) of title V
of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290kk et seq.) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating such part as part J; and
(2) by redesignating sections 581 through 584 as sections
596 through 596C, respectively.
(b) School-Based Mental Health and Children.--Section 581
of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290hh) (relating
to children and violence) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 581. SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH; CHILDREN AND
ADOLESCENTS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Secretary of Education, shall, through grants, contracts, or
cooperative agreements awarded to eligible entities described
in subsection (c), provide comprehensive school-based mental
health services and supports to assist children in local
communities and schools (including schools funded by the
Bureau of Indian Education) dealing with traumatic
experiences, grief, bereavement, risk of suicide, and
violence. Such services and supports shall be--
``(1) developmentally, linguistically, and culturally
appropriate;
``(2) trauma-informed; and
``(3) incorporate positive behavioral interventions and
supports.
``(b) Activities.--Grants, contracts, or cooperative
agreements awarded under subsection (a), shall, as
appropriate, be used for--
``(1) implementation of school and community-based mental
health programs that--
``(A) build awareness of individual trauma and the
intergenerational, continuum of impacts of trauma on
populations;
``(B) train appropriate staff to identify, and screen for,
signs of trauma exposure, mental health disorders, or risk of
suicide; and
``(C) incorporate positive behavioral interventions, family
engagement, student treatment, and multigenerational supports
to foster the health and development of children, prevent
mental health disorders, and ameliorate the impact of trauma;
``(2) technical assistance to local communities with
respect to the development of programs described in paragraph
(1);
``(3) facilitating community partnerships among families,
students, law enforcement agencies, education agencies,
mental health and substance use disorder service systems,
family-based mental health service systems, child welfare
agencies, health care providers (including primary care
physicians, mental health professionals, and other
professionals who specialize in children's mental health such
as child and adolescent psychiatrists), institutions of
higher education, faith-based programs, trauma networks, and
other community-based systems to address child and adolescent
trauma, mental health issues, and violence; and
``(4) establishing mechanisms for children and adolescents
to report incidents of violence or plans by other children,
adolescents, or adults to commit violence.
``(c) Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--To be eligible for a grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement under subsection (a), an entity shall
be a partnership that includes--
``(A) a State educational agency, as defined in section
8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,
in coordination with one or more local educational agencies,
as defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965, or a consortium of any entities
described in subparagraph (B), (C), (D), or (E) of section
8101(30) of such Act; and
``(B) at least 1 community-based mental health provider,
including a public or private mental health entity, health
care entity, family-based mental health entity, trauma
network, or other community-based entity, as determined by
the Secretary (and which may include additional entities such
as a human services agency, law enforcement or juvenile
justice entity, child welfare agency, agency, an institution
of higher education, or another entity, as determined by the
Secretary).
``(2) Compliance with hipaa.--Any patient records developed
by covered entities through activities under the grant shall
meet the regulations promulgated under section 264(c) of the
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
``(3) Compliance with ferpa.--Section 444 of the General
Education Provisions Act (commonly known as the `Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974') shall apply to
any entity that is a member of the partnership in the same
manner that such section applies to an educational agency or
institution (as that term is defined in such section).
``(d) Geographical Distribution.--The Secretary shall
ensure that grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements
under subsection (a) will be distributed equitably among the
regions of the country and among urban and rural areas.
``(e) Duration of Awards.--With respect to a grant,
contract, or cooperative agreement under subsection (a), the
period during which payments under such an award will be made
to the recipient shall be 5 years, with options for renewal.
``(f) Evaluation and Measures of Outcomes.--
``(1) Development of process.--The Assistant Secretary
shall develop a fiscally appropriate process for evaluating
activities carried out under this section. Such process shall
include--
``(A) the development of guidelines for the submission of
program data by grant, contract, or cooperative agreement
recipients;
``(B) the development of measures of outcomes (in
accordance with paragraph (2)) to be applied by such
recipients in evaluating programs carried out under this
section; and
``(C) the submission of annual reports by such recipients
concerning the effectiveness of programs carried out under
this section.
``(2) Measures of outcomes.--The Assistant Secretary shall
develop measures of outcomes to be applied by recipients of
assistance under this section to evaluate the effectiveness
of programs carried out under this section, including
outcomes related to the student, family, and local
educational systems supported by this Act.
``(3) Submission of annual data.--An eligible entity
described in subsection (c) that receives a grant, contract,
or cooperative agreement under this section shall annually
submit to the Assistant Secretary a report that includes data
to evaluate the success of the program carried out by the
entity based on whether such program is achieving the
purposes of the program. Such reports shall utilize the
measures of outcomes under paragraph (2) in a reasonable
manner to demonstrate the progress of the program in
achieving such purposes.
``(4) Evaluation by assistant secretary.--Based on the data
submitted under paragraph (3), the Assistant Secretary shall
annually submit to Congress a report concerning the results
and effectiveness of the programs carried out with assistance
received under this section.
``(5) Limitation.--An eligible entity shall use not more
than 20 percent of amounts received under a grant under this
section to carry out evaluation activities under this
subsection.
``(g) Information and Education.--The Secretary shall
disseminate best practices based on the findings of the
knowledge development and application under this section.
``(h) Amount of Grants and Authorization of
Appropriations.--
``(1) Amount of grants.--A grant under this section shall
be in an amount that is not more than $2,000,000 for each of
the first 5 fiscal years following the date of enactment of
the Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2021. The
Secretary shall determine the amount of each such grant based
on the population of children up to age 21 of the area to be
served under the grant.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section, $130,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2025.''.
(c) Conforming Amendment.--Part G of title V of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290hh et seq.), as amended by
subsection (b), is further amended by striking the part
designation and heading and inserting the following:
``PART G--SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH''.
Block, Report, And Suspend Suspicious Shipments Act of 2021
H.R. 768
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 ``Block, Report, And Suspend
Suspicious Shipments Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION OF PROCESS FOR REGISTRANTS TO EXERCISE
DUE DILIGENCE UPON DISCOVERING A SUSPICIOUS
ORDER.
(a) In General.--Paragraph (3) of section 312(a) of the
Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 832(a)) is amended to
read as follows:
[[Page H2238]]
``(3) upon discovering a suspicious order or series of
orders--
``(A) exercise due diligence;
``(B) establish and maintain (for not less than a period to
be determined by the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement
Administration) a record of the due diligence that was
performed;
``(C) decline to fill the order or series of orders if the
due diligence fails to resolve all of the indicators that
gave rise to the suspicion that filling the order or series
of orders would cause a violation of this title by the
registrant or the prospective purchaser; and
``(D) notify the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement
Administration and the Special Agent in Charge of the
Division Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration for
the area in which the registrant is located or conducts
business of--
``(i) each suspicious order or series of orders discovered
by the registrant; and
``(ii) the indicators giving rise to the suspicion that
filling the order or series of orders would cause a violation
of this title by the registrant or the prospective
purchaser.''.
(b) Regulations.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, for purposes of section 312(a)(3) of
the Controlled Substances Act, as amended by subsection (a),
the Attorney General of the United States shall promulgate a
final regulation specifying the indicators that give rise to
a suspicion that filling an order or series of orders would
cause a violation of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C.
801 et seq.) by a registrant or a prospective purchaser.
(c) Applicability.--Section 312(a)(3) of the Controlled
Substances Act, as amended by subsection (a), shall apply
beginning on the day that is 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act. Until such day, section 312(a)(3) of
the Controlled Substances Act shall apply as such section
312(a)(3) was in effect on the day before the date of
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 3. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall
be determined by reference to the latest statement titled
``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act,
submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the
Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such
statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
Chief Standing Bear National Historic Trail Feasibility Study
H.R. 810
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CHIEF STANDING BEAR NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL
FEASIBILITY STUDY.
Section 5(c) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C.
1244(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(xx) Chief standing bear national historic trail.--The
Chief Standing Bear Trail, extending approximately 550 miles
from Niobrara, Nebraska, to Ponca City, Oklahoma, which
follows the route taken by Chief Standing Bear and the Ponca
people during Federal Indian removal, and approximately 550
miles from Ponca City, Oklahoma, through Omaha, Nebraska, to
Niobrara, Nebraska, which follows the return route taken by
Chief Standing Bear and the Ponca people.''.
Improving Mental Health Access from the Emergency Department Act of
2021
H.R. 1205
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 from the Emergency Department Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. SECURING APPROPRIATE FOLLOW-ON CARE FOR ACUTE MENTAL
HEALTH ILLNESS AFTER AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
ENCOUNTER.
The Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after
section 520J of such Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-31) the following
new section:
``SEC. 520J-1. SECURING APPROPRIATE FOLLOW-ON CARE FOR ACUTE
MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS AFTER AN EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT ENCOUNTER.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants on a
competitive basis to qualifying health providers to implement
innovative approaches to securing prompt access to
appropriate follow-on care for individuals who experience an
acute mental health episode and present for care in an
emergency department.
``(b) Eligible Grant Recipients.--In this section, the term
`qualifying health provider' means a health care facility
licensed under applicable law that--
``(1) has an emergency department;
``(2) is staffed by medical personnel (such as emergency
physicians, psychiatrists, psychiatric registered nurses,
mental health technicians, clinical social workers,
psychologists, and therapists) capable of providing treatment
focused on stabilizing acute mental health conditions and
assisting patients to access resources to continue treatment
in the least restrictive appropriate setting; and
``(3) has arrangements in place with other providers of
care that can provide a full range of medically appropriate,
evidence-based services for the treatment of acute mental
health episodes.
``(c) Use of Funds.--A qualifying health provider receiving
funds under this section shall use such funds to create,
support, or expand programs or projects intended to assist
individuals who are treated at the provider's emergency
department for acute mental health episodes and to
expeditiously transition such individuals to an appropriate
facility or setting for follow-on care. Such use of funds may
support the following:
``(1) Expediting placement in appropriate facilities
through activities such as expanded coordination with
regional service providers, assessment, peer navigators, bed
availability tracking and management, transfer protocol
development, networking infrastructure development, and
transportation services.
``(2) Increasing the supply of inpatient psychiatric beds
and alternative care settings such as regional emergency
psychiatric facilities.
``(3) Use of alternative approaches to providing
psychiatric care in the emergency department setting,
including through tele-psychiatric support and other remote
psychiatric consultation, implementation of peak period
crisis clinics, or creation of psychiatric emergency service
units.
``(4) Use of approaches that include proactive followup
such as telephone check-ins, telemedicine, or other
technology-based outreach to individuals during the period of
transition.
``(5) Such other activities as are determined by the
Secretary to be appropriate, consistent with subsection (a).
``(d) Application.--A qualifying health provider desiring a
grant under this section shall prepare and submit an
application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner
as the Secretary may require. At a minimum, the application
shall include the following:
``(1) A description of identified need for acute mental
health services in the provider's service area.
``(2) A description of the existing efforts of the provider
to meet the need for acute mental health services in the
service area, and identified gaps in the provision of such
services.
``(3) A description of the proposed use of funds to meet
the need and gaps identified pursuant to paragraph (2).
``(4) A description of how the provider will coordinate
efforts with Federal, State, local, and private entities
within the service area.
``(5) A description of program objectives, how the
objectives are proposed to be met, and how the provider will
evaluate outcomes relative to objectives.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this
section, there is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.''.
Bipartisan Solution to Cyclical Violence Act of 2021
H.R. 1260
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 ``Bipartisan Solution to
Cyclical Violence Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM SUPPORTING TRAUMA CENTER VIOLENCE
INTERVENTION AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS.
Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``SEC. 399V-7. GRANT PROGRAM SUPPORTING TRAUMA CENTER
VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION
PROGRAMS.
``(a) Authority Established.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants to
eligible entities to establish or expand violence
intervention or prevention programs for services and research
designed to reduce the incidence of reinjury and
reincarceration caused by intentional violent trauma,
excluding intimate partner violence.
``(2) First award.--Not later than 9 months after the date
of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall make the
first award under paragraph (1).
``(3) Grant duration.--Each grant awarded under paragraph
(1) shall be for a period of three years.
``(4) Grant amount.--The total amount of each grant awarded
under paragraph (1) for the 3-year grant period shall be not
less than $250,000 and not more than $500,000.
``(5) Supplement not supplant.--A grant awarded under
paragraph (1) to an eligible entity with an existing program
described in paragraph (1) shall be used to supplement, and
not supplant, any other funds provided to such entity for
such program.
``(b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under subsection (a)(1), an entity shall--
``(1) either be--
``(A) a State-designated trauma center, or a trauma center
verified by the American College of Surgeons, that conducts
or seeks to conduct a violence intervention or violence
prevention program; or
``(B) a nonprofit entity that conducts or seeks to conduct
a program described in subparagraph (A) in cooperation with a
trauma center described in such subparagraph;
[[Page H2239]]
``(2) serve a community in which at least 100 incidents of
intentional violent trauma occur annually; and
``(3) submit to the Secretary an application at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require.
``(c) Selection of Grant Recipients.--
``(1) Geographic diversity.--In selecting grant recipients
under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall ensure that
collectively grantees represent a diversity of geographic
areas.
``(2) Priority.--In selecting grant recipients under
subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall prioritize applicants
that serve one or more communities with high absolute numbers
or high rates of intentional violent trauma.
``(3) Health professional shortage areas.--
``(A) Encouragement.--The Secretary shall encourage
entities described in paragraphs (1) and (2) that are located
in or serve a health professional shortage area to apply for
grants under subsection (a)(1).
``(B) Definition.--In subparagraph (A), the term `health
professional shortage area' means a health professional
shortage area designated under section 332.
``(d) Reports.--
``(1) Reports to secretary.--
``(A) In general.--An entity that receives a grant under
subsection (a)(1) shall submit reports on the use of the
grant funds to the Secretary, including progress reports, as
required by the Secretary. Such reports shall include--
``(i) any findings of the program established, or expanded,
by the entity through the grant; and
``(ii) if applicable, the manner in which the entity has
incorporated such findings in the violence intervention or
violence prevention program conducted by such entity.
``(B) Option for joint report.--To the extent feasible and
appropriate, an entity that receives a grant under subsection
(a)(1) may elect to coordinate with one or more other
entities that have received such a grant to submit a joint
report that meets the requirements of subparagraph (A).
``(2) Report to congress.--Not later than six years after
the date of enactment of the Bipartisan Solution to Cyclical
Violence Act of 2021, the Secretary shall submit to Congress
a report--
``(A) on any findings resulting from reports submitted to
the Secretary under paragraph (1);
``(B) on best practices developed by the Secretary under
subsection (e); and
``(C) with recommendations for legislative action relating
to intentional violent trauma prevention that the Secretary
determines appropriate.
``(e) Best Practices.--Not later than six years after the
date of enactment of the Bipartisan Solution to Cyclical
Violence Act of 2021, the Secretary shall--
``(1) develop, and post on a public website of the
Department of Health and Human Services, best practices for
intentional violent trauma prevention, based on any findings
reported to the Secretary under subsection (d)(1); and
``(2) disseminate such best practices to stakeholders, as
determined appropriate by the Secretary.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this
section, there is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000
for the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2025.''.
Effective Suicide Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department
Act of 2021
H.R. 1324
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 ``Effective Suicide Screening
and Assessment in the Emergency Department Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. PROGRAM TO IMPROVE THE CARE PROVIDED TO PATIENTS IN
THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WHO ARE AT RISK OF
SUICIDE.
Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``SEC. 399V-7. PROGRAM TO IMPROVE THE CARE PROVIDED TO
PATIENTS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WHO ARE AT
RISK OF SUICIDE.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a program
(in this Act referred to as the `Program') to improve the
identification, assessment, and treatment of patients in
emergency departments who are at risk for suicide, including
by--
``(1) developing policies and procedures for identifying
and assessing individuals who are at risk of suicide; and
``(2) enhancing the coordination of care for such
individuals after discharge.
``(b) Grant Establishment and Participation.--
``(1) In general.--In carrying out the Program, the
Secretary shall award grants on a competitive basis to not
more than 40 eligible health care sites described in
paragraph (2).
``(2) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under this
section, a health care site shall--
``(A) submit an application to the Secretary at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may specify;
``(B) be a hospital (as defined in section 1861(e) of the
Social Security Act);
``(C) have an emergency department; and
``(D) deploy onsite health care or social service
professionals to help connect and integrate patients who are
at risk of suicide with treatment and mental health support
services.
``(3) Preference.--In awarding grants under this section,
the Secretary may give preference to eligible health care
sites described in paragraph (2) that meet at least one of
the following criteria:
``(A) The eligible health care site is a critical access
hospital (as defined in section 1861(mm)(1) of the Social
Security Act).
``(B) The eligible health care site is a sole community
hospital (as defined in section 1886(d)(5)(D)(iii) of the
Social Security Act).
``(C) The eligible health care site is operated by the
Indian Health Service, by an Indian Tribe or Tribal
organization (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act), or
by an urban Indian organization (as defined in section 4 of
the Indian Health Care Improvement Act).
``(D) The eligible health care site is located in a
geographic area with a suicide rate that is higher than the
national rate, as determined by the Secretary based on the
most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
``(c) Period of Grant.--A grant awarded to an eligible
health care site under this section shall be for a period of
at least 2 years.
``(d) Grant Uses.--
``(1) Required uses.--A grant awarded under this section to
an eligible health care site shall be used for the following
purposes:
``(A) To train emergency department health care
professionals to identify, assess, and treat patients who are
at risk of suicide.
``(B) To establish and implement policies and procedures
for emergency departments to improve the identification,
assessment, and treatment of individuals who are at risk of
suicide.
``(C) To establish and implement policies and procedures
with respect to care coordination, integrated care models, or
referral to evidence-based treatment to be used upon the
discharge from the emergency department of patients who are
at risk of suicide.
``(2) Additional permissible uses.--In addition to the
required uses listed in paragraph (1), a grant awarded under
this section to an eligible health care site may be used for
any of the following purposes:
``(A) To hire emergency department psychiatrists,
psychologists, nurse practitioners, counselors, therapists,
or other licensed health care and behavioral health
professionals specializing in the treatment of individuals at
risk of suicide.
``(B) To develop and implement best practices for the
follow-up care and long-term treatment of individuals who are
at risk of suicide.
``(C) To increase the availability of, and access to,
evidence-based treatment for individuals who are at risk of
suicide, including through telehealth services and strategies
to reduce the boarding of these patients in emergency
departments.
``(D) To offer consultation with and referral to other
supportive services that provide evidence-based treatment and
recovery for individuals who are at risk of suicide.
``(e) Reporting Requirements.--
``(1) Reports by grantees.--Each eligible health care site
receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the
Secretary an annual report for each year for which the grant
is received on the progress of the program funded through the
grant. Each such report shall include information on--
``(A) the number of individuals screened in the site's
emergency department for being at risk of suicide;
``(B) the number of individuals identified in the site's
emergency department as being--
``(i) survivors of an attempted suicide; or
``(ii) are at risk of suicide;
``(C) the number of individuals who are identified in the
site's emergency department as being at risk of suicide by a
health care or behavioral health professional hired pursuant
to subsection (d)(2)(A);
``(D) the number of individuals referred by the site's
emergency department to other treatment facilities, the types
of such other facilities, and the number of such individuals
admitted to such other facilities pursuant to such referrals;
``(E) the effectiveness of programs and activities funded
through the grant in preventing suicides and suicide
attempts; and
``(F) any other relevant additional data regarding the
programs and activities funded through the grant.
``(2) Report by secretary.--Not later than one year after
the end of fiscal year 2026, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report that includes--
``(A) findings on the Program;
``(B) overall patient outcomes achieved through the
Program;
``(C) an evaluation of the effectiveness of having a
trained health care or behavioral health professional onsite
to identify, assess, and treat patients who are at risk of
suicide; and
``(D) a compilation of policies, procedures, and best
practices established, developed, or implemented by grantees
under this section.
[[Page H2240]]
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for
the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.''.
Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act
H.R. 1448
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 ``Puppies Assisting Wounded
Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act'' or the ``PAWS for
Veterans Therapy Act''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM ON DOG
TRAINING THERAPY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall commence the conduct of a pilot program to provide
canine training to eligible veterans diagnosed with post-
traumatic stress disorder (in this section referred to as
``PTSD'') as an element of a complementary and integrative
health program for such veterans.
(b) Duration; Medical Centers.--
(1) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot
program under subsection (a) for a five-year period beginning
on the date of the commencement of the pilot program.
(2) Medical centers.--The Secretary shall ensure that such
pilot program is carried out by not fewer than five medical
centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs located in
geographically diverse areas.
(c) Agreements With Entities.--In carrying out the pilot
program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall seek to
enter into agreements with nongovernmental entities that the
Secretary determines have the demonstrated ability to provide
the canine training specified in subsection (a).
(d) Required Conditions.--The Secretary shall include in
any agreement under subsection (c) conditions requiring that
the nongovernmental entity seeking to enter into the
agreement--
(1) submits to the Secretary certification that the entity
is an accredited service dog training organization;
(2) agrees to ensure that veterans participating in the
pilot program under subsection (a) receive training from
certified service dog training instructors for a period of
time determined appropriate by the entity;
(3) agrees to ensure that veterans participating in such
pilot program are prohibited from having access to a dog
under such pilot program at any time during such
participation without the supervision of a certified service
dog training instructor;
(4) agrees to ensure that veterans participating in such
pilot program receive training in skills unique to the needs
of the veteran to address or alleviate PTSD symptoms of the
veteran;
(5) agrees not to use shock collars or prong collars as
training tools and to use positive reinforcement training;
and
(6) agrees to provide any follow-up training support
specified in subsection (e)(2), as applicable.
(e) Adoption of Dog.--
(1) In general.--A veteran who has participated in the
pilot program under subsection (a) may adopt a dog that the
veteran assisted in training during such pilot program if the
veteran and the veteran's health provider (in consultation
with the entity that provided the canine training with
respect to the dog under such pilot program) determine that
it is in the best interest of the veteran.
(2) Follow-up training support.--If a veteran adopts a dog
under paragraph (1), the entity that provided the canine
training with respect to the dog under the pilot program
shall provide follow-up training support for the life of the
dog. Such support shall include the provision of a contact
plan between the veteran and the entity that enables the
veteran to seek and receive assistance from the entity to
ensure the dog is being properly cared for.
(f) Eligibility for Other Care and Treatment.--
Participation in the pilot program under subsection (a) may
not preclude a veteran from receiving any other medical care
or treatment for PTSD furnished by the Department, including
therapy, for which the veteran is otherwise eligible.
(g) Collection of Data.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary shall--
(1) develop metrics and other appropriate means to measure,
with respect to veterans participating in the pilot program
under subsection (a)--
(A) the number of such veterans participating;
(B) the satisfaction of such veterans with the pilot
program;
(C) whether participation in the pilot program resulted in
any clinically relevant improvements for such veterans, as
determined by the health care provider or clinical team that
referred the veteran to participate in the pilot program; and
(D) such other factors as the Secretary may determine
appropriate; and
(2) establish processes to document and track the progress
of such veterans under the pilot program with respect to
health benefits and improvements.
(h) Report by Secretary.--Not later than one year before
the date on which the pilot program under subsection (a)
terminates, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the
Senate a report containing the recommendations of the
Secretary regarding--
(1) whether to extend or make permanent the pilot program;
and
(2) the feasibility and advisability of expanding the pilot
program to address mental health conditions other than PTSD.
(i) GAO Briefing and Study.--
(1) Briefing.--Not later than one year after the date of
the commencement of the pilot program under subsection (a),
the Comptroller General of the United States shall provide to
the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Senate a briefing on the methodology
established for the pilot program.
(2) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date on
which the pilot program terminates, the Comptroller General
shall submit to the committees specified in paragraph (1) a
report on the pilot program. Such report shall include an
evaluation of the approach and methodology used for the pilot
program with respect to--
(A) assisting veterans with PTSD; and
(B) measuring relevant metrics, such as reduction in scores
under the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS),
improvement in psychosocial function, and therapeutic
compliance.
(j) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``accredited service dog training
organization'' means an organization described in section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that--
(A) provides service dogs to veterans with PTSD; and
(B) is accredited by an accrediting organization with
demonstrated experience, national scope, and recognized
leadership and expertise in the training of service dogs and
education in the use of service dogs (as determined by the
Secretary).
(2) The term ``eligible veteran'' means a veteran who--
(A) is enrolled in the patient enrollment system in the
Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1705 of title
38, United States Code; and
(B) has been recommended for participation in the pilot
program under subsection (a) by a qualified mental health
care provider or clinical team based on medical judgment that
the veteran may benefit from such participation with respect
to the diagnosed PTSD of the veteran.
(3) The term ``service dog training instructor'' means an
instructor who provides the direct training of veterans with
PTSD in the art and science of service dog training and
handling.
SEC. 3. PROVISION OF SERVICE DOGS AND VETERINARY INSURANCE
BENEFITS TO VETERANS WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS
DISORDER WHO DO NOT HAVE CERTAIN IMPAIRMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 1714 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsections:
``(e) The Secretary may provide a service dog to a veteran
under subsection (c)(3) regardless of whether the veteran has
a mobility impairment.
``(f)(1) The Secretary shall provide to any veteran
described in paragraph (2) a commercially available
veterinary insurance policy for each dog provided to such
veteran under subsection (b) or (c).
``(2) A veteran described in this paragraph is a veteran
who--
``(A) is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder or a
visual, hearing, or substantial mobility impairment;
``(B) has received a dog under subsection (b) or (c) in
connection with such disorder or impairment; and
``(C) meets such other requirements as the Secretary may
prescribe.''.
(b) Applicability.--Section 1714(f) of title 38, United
States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with
respect to a veteran provided a dog by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs on or after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act
H.R. 1475
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 ``Pursuing Equity in Mental
Health Act''.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
TITLE I--HEALTH EQUITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Sec. 101. Integrated Health Care Demonstration Program.
Sec. 102. Addressing racial and ethnic minority mental health
disparities research gaps.
Sec. 103. Health professions competencies to address racial and ethnic
minority mental health disparities.
Sec. 104. Racial and ethnic minority behavioral and mental health
outreach and education strategy.
Sec. 105. Additional funds for National Institutes of Health.
Sec. 106. Additional funds for National Institute on Minority Health
and Health Disparities.
TITLE II--OTHER PROVISIONS
Sec. 201. Reauthorization of Minority Fellowship Program.
[[Page H2241]]
Sec. 202. Study on the Effects of Smartphone and Social Media Use on
Adolescents.
Sec. 203. Technical correction.
TITLE I--HEALTH EQUITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
SEC. 101. INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
Part D of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 290dd et seq.) is amended by inserting after section
553 of such Act (as redesignated and moved by section 203 of
this Act) the following:
``SEC. 554. INTERPROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE TEAMS FOR PROVISION
OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE IN PRIMARY CARE
SETTINGS.
``(a) Grants.--The Secretary shall award grants to eligible
entities for the purpose of establishing interprofessional
health care teams that provide behavioral health care.
``(b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under this section, an entity shall be a Federally qualified
health center (as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social
Security Act), rural health clinic, or behavioral health
program, serving a high proportion of individuals from racial
and ethnic minority groups (as defined in section 1707(g)).
``(c) Scientifically Based.--Integrated health care funded
through this section shall be scientifically based, taking
into consideration the results of the most recent peer-
reviewed research available.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this
section, there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000
for each of the first 5 fiscal years following the date of
enactment of the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act.''.
SEC. 102. ADDRESSING RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH
DISPARITIES RESEARCH GAPS.
Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Director of the National Institutes of Health
shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academies
of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (or, if the National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine decline to
enter into such an arrangement, the Patient-Centered Outcomes
Research Institute, the Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality, or another appropriate entity)--
(1) to conduct a study with respect to mental health
disparities in racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined
in section 1707(g) of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 300u-6(g))); and
(2) to submit to the Congress a report on the results of
such study, including--
(A) a compilation of information on the dynamics of mental
disorders in such racial and ethnic minority groups; and
(B) a compilation of information on the impact of exposure
to community violence, adverse childhood experiences,
structural racism, and other psychological traumas on mental
disorders in such racial and minority groups.
SEC. 103. HEALTH PROFESSIONS COMPETENCIES TO ADDRESS RACIAL
AND ETHNIC MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH DISPARITIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
may award grants to qualified national organizations for the
purposes of--
(1) developing, and disseminating to health professional
educational programs best practices or core competencies
addressing mental health disparities among racial and ethnic
minority groups for use in the training of students in the
professions of social work, psychology, psychiatry, marriage
and family therapy, mental health counseling, and substance
misuse counseling; and
(2) certifying community health workers and peer wellness
specialists with respect to such best practices and core
competencies and integrating and expanding the use of such
workers and specialists into health care to address mental
health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups.
(b) Best Practices; Core Competencies.--Organizations
receiving funds under subsection (a) may use the funds to
engage in the following activities related to the development
and dissemination of best practices or core competencies
described in subsection (a)(1):
(1) Formation of committees or working groups comprised of
experts from accredited health professions schools to
identify best practices and core competencies relating to
mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minority
groups.
(2) Planning of workshops in national fora to allow for
public input into the educational needs associated with
mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minority
groups.
(3) Dissemination and promotion of the use of best
practices or core competencies in undergraduate and graduate
health professions training programs nationwide.
(4) Establishing external stakeholder advisory boards to
provide meaningful input into policy and program development
and best practices to reduce mental health disparities among
racial and ethnic minority groups.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Qualified national organization.--The term ``qualified
national organization'' means a national organization that
focuses on the education of students in one or more of the
professions of social work, psychology, psychiatry, marriage
and family therapy, mental health counseling, and substance
misuse counseling.
(2) Racial and ethnic minority group.--The term ``racial
and ethnic minority group'' has the meaning given to such
term in section 1707(g) of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 300u-6(g)).
SEC. 104. RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL
HEALTH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION STRATEGY.
Part D of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 290dd et seq.) is amended by inserting after section
554 of such Act, as added by section 101 of this Act, the
following:
``SEC. 555. BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH AND
EDUCATION STRATEGY.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall, in consultation
with advocacy and behavioral and mental health organizations
serving racial and ethnic minority groups, develop and
implement an outreach and education strategy to promote
behavioral and mental health and reduce stigma associated
with mental health conditions and substance abuse among
racial and ethnic minority groups. Such strategy shall--
``(1) be designed to--
``(A) meet the diverse cultural and language needs of the
various racial and ethnic minority groups; and
``(B) be developmentally and age-appropriate;
``(2) increase awareness of symptoms of mental illnesses
common among such groups, taking into account differences
within at-risk subgroups;
``(3) provide information on evidence-based, culturally and
linguistically appropriate and adapted interventions and
treatments;
``(4) ensure full participation of, and engage, both
consumers and community members in the development and
implementation of materials; and
``(5) seek to broaden the perspective among both
individuals in these groups and stakeholders serving these
groups to use a comprehensive public health approach to
promoting behavioral health that addresses a holistic view of
health by focusing on the intersection between behavioral and
physical health.
``(b) Reports.--Beginning not later than 1 year after the
date of the enactment of this section and annually
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress, and make
publicly available, a report on the extent to which the
strategy developed and implemented under subsection (a)
increased behavioral and mental health outcomes associated
with mental health conditions and substance abuse among
racial and ethnic minority groups.
``(c) Definition.--In this section, the term `racial and
ethnic minority group' has the meaning given to that term in
section 1707(g).
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.''.
SEC. 105. ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH.
(a) In General.--In addition to amounts otherwise
authorized to be appropriated to the National Institutes of
Health, there is authorized to be appropriated to such
Institutes $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through
2026 to build relations with communities and conduct or
support clinical research, including clinical research on
racial or ethnic disparities in physical and mental health.
(b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``clinical
research'' has the meaning given to such term in section 409
of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284d).
SEC. 106. ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON MINORITY
HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES.
In addition to amounts otherwise authorized to be
appropriated to the National Institute on Minority Health and
Health Disparities, there is authorized to be appropriated to
such Institute $650,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022
through 2026.
TITLE II--OTHER PROVISIONS
SEC. 201. REAUTHORIZATION OF MINORITY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.
Section 597(c) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
297ll(c)) is amended by striking ``$12,669,000 for each of
fiscal years 2018 through 2022'' and inserting ``$25,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026''.
SEC. 202. STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF SMARTPHONE AND SOCIAL MEDIA
USE ON ADOLESCENTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services shall conduct or support research on--
(1) smartphone and social media use by adolescents; and
(2) the effects of such use on--
(A) emotional, behavioral, and physical health and
development; and
(B) disparities in minority and underserved populations.
(b) Report.--Not later than 5 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Congress, and make publicly available, a report on the
findings of research described in this section.
SEC. 203. TECHNICAL CORRECTION.
Title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290aa
et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating the second section 550 (42 U.S.C.
290ee-10) (relating to Sobriety Treatment And Recovery Teams)
as section 553; and
(2) by moving such section, as so redesignated, so as to
appear after section 552 (42 U.S.C. 290ee-7).
[[Page H2242]]
Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Act
H.R. 1480
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 ``Helping Emergency Responders
Overcome Act'' or the ``HERO Act''.
SEC. 2. DATA SYSTEM TO CAPTURE NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER
SUICIDE INCIDENCE.
The Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting
before section 318 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 247c) the
following:
``SEC. 317V. DATA SYSTEM TO CAPTURE NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY
OFFICER SUICIDE INCIDENCE.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and other agencies as the Secretary determines appropriate,
may--
``(1) develop and maintain a data system, to be known as
the Public Safety Officer Suicide Reporting System, for the
purposes of--
``(A) collecting data on the suicide incidence among public
safety officers; and
``(B) facilitating the study of successful interventions to
reduce suicide among public safety officers; and
``(2) integrate such system into the National Violent Death
Reporting System, so long as the Secretary determines such
integration to be consistent with the purposes described in
paragraph (1).
``(b) Data Collection.--In collecting data for the Public
Safety Officer Suicide Reporting System, the Secretary shall,
at a minimum, collect the following information:
``(1) The total number of suicides in the United States
among all public safety officers in a given calendar year.
``(2) Suicide rates for public safety officers in a given
calendar year, disaggregated by--
``(A) age and gender of the public safety officer;
``(B) State;
``(C) occupation; including both the individual's role in
their public safety agency and their primary occupation in
the case of volunteer public safety officers;
``(D) where available, the status of the public safety
officer as volunteer, paid-on-call, or career; and
``(E) status of the public safety officer as active or
retired.
``(c) Consultation During Development.--In developing the
Public Safety Officer Suicide Reporting System, the Secretary
shall consult with non-Federal experts to determine the best
means to collect data regarding suicide incidence in a safe,
sensitive, anonymous, and effective manner. Such non-Federal
experts shall include, as appropriate, the following:
``(1) Public health experts with experience in developing
and maintaining suicide registries.
``(2) Organizations that track suicide among public safety
officers.
``(3) Mental health experts with experience in studying
suicide and other profession-related traumatic stress.
``(4) Clinicians with experience in diagnosing and treating
mental health issues.
``(5) Active and retired volunteer, paid-on-call, and
career public safety officers.
``(6) Relevant national police, and fire and emergency
medical services, organizations.
``(d) Data Privacy and Security.--In developing and
maintaining the Public Safety Officer Suicide Reporting
System, the Secretary shall ensure that all applicable
Federal privacy and security protections are followed to
ensure that--
``(1) the confidentiality and anonymity of suicide victims
and their families are protected, including so as to ensure
that data cannot be used to deny benefits; and
``(2) data is sufficiently secure to prevent unauthorized
access.
``(e) Reporting.--
``(1) Annual report.--Not later than 2 years after the date
of enactment of the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome
Act, and biannually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a
report to the Congress on the suicide incidence among public
safety officers. Each such report shall--
``(A) include the number and rate of such suicide
incidence, disaggregated by age, gender, and State of
employment;
``(B) identify characteristics and contributing
circumstances for suicide among public safety officers;
``(C) disaggregate rates of suicide by--
``(i) occupation;
``(ii) status as volunteer, paid-on-call, or career; and
``(iii) status as active or retired;
``(D) include recommendations for further study regarding
the suicide incidence among public safety officers;
``(E) specify in detail, if found, any obstacles in
collecting suicide rates for volunteers and include
recommended improvements to overcome such obstacles;
``(F) identify options for interventions to reduce suicide
among public safety officers; and
``(G) describe procedures to ensure the confidentiality and
anonymity of suicide victims and their families, as described
in subsection (d)(1).
``(2) Public availability.--Upon the submission of each
report to the Congress under paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall make the full report publicly available on the website
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
``(f) Definition.--In this section, the term `public safety
officer' means--
``(1) a public safety officer as defined in section 1204 of
the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968; or
``(2) a public safety telecommunicator as described in
detailed occupation 43-5031 in the Standard Occupational
Classification Manual of the Office of Management and Budget
(2018).
``(g) Prohibited Use of Information.--Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, if an individual is identified as
deceased based on information contained in the Public Safety
Officer Suicide Reporting System, such information may not be
used to deny or rescind life insurance payments or other
benefits to a survivor of the deceased individual.''.
SEC. 3. PEER-SUPPORT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS
WITHIN FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICE AGENCIES.
(a) In General.--Part B of title III of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``SEC. 320C. PEER-SUPPORT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
PROGRAMS WITHIN FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICE AGENCIES.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants to
eligible entities for the purpose of establishing or
enhancing peer-support behavioral health and wellness
programs within fire departments and emergency medical
services agencies.
``(b) Program Description.--A peer-support behavioral
health and wellness program funded under this section shall--
``(1) use career and volunteer members of fire departments
or emergency medical services agencies to serve as peer
counselors;
``(2) provide training to members of career, volunteer, and
combination fire departments or emergency medical service
agencies to serve as such peer counselors;
``(3) purchase materials to be used exclusively to provide
such training; and
``(4) disseminate such information and materials as are
necessary to conduct the program.
``(c) Definition.--In this section:
``(1) The term `eligible entity' means a nonprofit
organization with expertise and experience with respect to
the health and life safety of members of fire and emergency
medical services agencies.
``(2) The term `member'--
``(A) with respect to an emergency medical services agency,
means an employee, regardless of rank or whether the employee
receives compensation (as defined in section 1204(7) of the
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968); and
``(B) with respect to a fire department, means any
employee, regardless of rank or whether the employee receives
compensation, of a Federal, State, Tribal, or local fire
department who is responsible for responding to calls for
emergency service.''.
(b) Technical Correction.--Effective as if included in the
enactment of the Children's Health Act of 2000 (Public Law
106-310), the amendment instruction in section 1603 of such
Act is amended by striking ``Part B of the Public Health
Service Act'' and inserting ``Part B of title III of the
Public Health Service Act''.
SEC. 4. HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
PROGRAMS.
Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 243 et seq.), as amended by section 3, is further
amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 320D. HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND
WELLNESS PROGRAMS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants to
eligible entities for the purpose of establishing or
enhancing behavioral health and wellness programs for health
care providers.
``(b) Program Description.--A behavioral health and
wellness program funded under this section shall--
``(1) provide confidential support services for health care
providers to help handle stressful or traumatic patient-
related events, including counseling services and wellness
seminars;
``(2) provide training to health care providers to serve as
peer counselors to other health care providers;
``(3) purchase materials to be used exclusively to provide
such training; and
``(4) disseminate such information and materials as are
necessary to conduct such training and provide such peer
counseling.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section, the term `eligible
entity' means a hospital, including a critical access
hospital (as defined in section 1861(mm)(1) of the Social
Security Act) or a disproportionate share hospital (as
defined under section 1923(a)(1)(A) of such Act), a
Federally-qualified health center (as defined in section
1905(1)(2)(B) of such Act), or any other health care
facility.''.
SEC. 5. DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES FOR EDUCATING MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS ABOUT TREATING FIRE FIGHTERS AND
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the United States
Fire Administration, in consultation with the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, shall develop and make publicly
available resources that may be
[[Page H2243]]
used by the Federal Government and other entities to educate
mental health professionals about--
(1) the culture of Federal, State, Tribal, and local
career, volunteer, and combination fire departments and
emergency medical services agencies;
(2) the different stressors experienced by firefighters and
emergency medical services personnel, supervisory
firefighters and emergency medical services personnel, and
chief officers of fire departments and emergency medical
services agencies;
(3) challenges encountered by retired firefighters and
emergency medical services personnel; and
(4) evidence-based therapies for mental health issues
common to firefighters and emergency medical services
personnel within such departments and agencies.
(b) Consultation.--In developing resources under subsection
(a), the Administrator of the United States Fire
Administration and the Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall consult with national fire and emergency medical
services organizations.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``firefighter'' means any employee, regardless
of rank or whether the employee receives compensation, of a
Federal, State, Tribal, or local fire department who is
responsible for responding to calls for emergency service.
(2) The term ``emergency medical services personnel'' means
any employee, regardless of rank or whether the employee
receives compensation, as defined in section 1204(7) of the
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C.
10284(7)).
(3) The term ``chief officer'' means any individual who is
responsible for the overall operation of a fire department or
an emergency medical services agency, irrespective of whether
such individual also serves as a firefighter or emergency
medical services personnel.
SEC. 6. BEST PRACTICES AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR ADDRESSING
POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN PUBLIC SAFETY
OFFICERS.
(a) Development; Updates.--The Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall--
(1) develop and assemble evidence-based best practices and
other resources to identify, prevent, and treat posttraumatic
stress disorder and co-occurring disorders in public safety
officers; and
(2) reassess and update, as the Secretary determines
necessary, such best practices and resources, including based
upon the options for interventions to reduce suicide among
public safety officers identified in the annual reports
required by section 317W(e)(1)(F) of the Public Health
Service Act, as added by section 2 of this Act.
(b) Consultation.--In developing, assembling, and updating
the best practices and resources under subsection (a), the
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall consult with, at
a minimum, the following:
(1) Public health experts.
(2) Mental health experts with experience in studying
suicide and other profession-related traumatic stress.
(3) Clinicians with experience in diagnosing and treating
mental health issues.
(4) Relevant national police, fire, and emergency medical
services organizations.
(c) Availability.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services shall make the best practices and resources under
subsection (a) available to Federal, State, and local fire,
law enforcement, and emergency medical services agencies.
(d) Federal Training and Development Programs.--The
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall work with
Federal departments and agencies, including the United States
Fire Administration, to incorporate education and training on
the best practices and resources under subsection (a) into
Federal training and development programs for public safety
officers.
(e) Definition.--In this section, the term ``public safety
officer'' means--
(1) a public safety officer as defined in section 1204 of
the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34
U.S.C. 10284); or
(2) a public safety telecommunicator as described in
detailed occupation 43-5031 in the Standard Occupational
Classification Manual of the Office of Management and Budget
(2018).
Campaign to Prevent Suicide Act
H.R. 2862
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 ``Campaign to Prevent Suicide
Act''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE.
Section 520E-3(b)(2) of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 290bb-36c(b)(2)) is amended by inserting after
``suicide prevention hotline'' the following: ``, under the
universal telephone number designated under Section 251(e)(4)
of the Communications Act of 1934,''.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MEDIA CAMPAIGN.
(a) National Suicide Prevention Media Campaign.--
(1) In general.--Not later than the date that is three
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this
section as the ``Secretary''), in consultation with the
Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use
(referred to in this section as the ``Assistant Secretary'')
and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (referred to in this section as the ``Director''),
shall conduct a national suicide prevention media campaign
(referred to in this section as the ``national media
campaign''), in accordance with the requirements of this
section, for purposes of--
(A) preventing suicide in the United States;
(B) educating families, friends, and communities on how to
address suicide and suicidal thoughts, including when to
encourage individuals with suicidal risk to seek help; and
(C) increasing awareness of suicide prevention resources of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(including the suicide prevention hotline maintained under
section 520E-3 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
290bb-36c)), any suicide prevention mobile application of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Substance
Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, and other
support resources determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(2) Additional consultation.--In addition to consulting
with the Assistant Secretary and the Director under this
section, the Secretary shall consult with, as appropriate,
State, local, Tribal, and territorial health departments,
primary health care providers, hospitals with emergency
departments, mental and behavioral health services providers,
crisis response services providers, first responders, suicide
prevention and mental health professionals, patient advocacy
groups, survivors of suicide attempts, and representatives of
television and social media platforms in planning the
national media campaign to be conducted under paragraph (1).
(b) Target Audiences.--
(1) Tailoring advertisements and other communications.--In
conducting the national media campaign under subsection
(a)(1), the Secretary may tailor culturally competent
advertisements and other communications of the campaign
across all available media for a target audience (such as a
particular geographic location or demographic) across the
lifespan.
(2) Targeting certain local areas.--The Secretary shall, to
the maximum extent practicable, use amounts made available
under subsection (f) for media that targets certain local
areas or populations at disproportionate risk for suicide.
(c) Use of Funds.--
(1) Required uses.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall, if reasonably
feasible with the funds made available under subsection (f),
carry out the following, with respect to the national media
campaign:
(i) Testing and evaluation of advertising.
(ii) Evaluation of the effectiveness of the national media
campaign.
(iii) Operational and management expenses.
(iv) The creation of an educational toolkit for television
and social media platforms to use in discussing suicide and
raising awareness about how to prevent suicide.
(B) Specific requirements.--
(i) Testing and evaluation of advertising.--In testing and
evaluating advertising under subparagraph (A)(i), the
Secretary shall test all advertisements after use in the
national media campaign to evaluate the extent to which such
advertisements have been effective in carrying out the
purposes of the national media campaign.
(ii) Evaluation of effectiveness of national media
campaign.--In evaluating the effectiveness of the national
media campaign under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Secretary
shall take into account--
(I) the number of unique calls that are made to the suicide
prevention hotline maintained under section 520E-3 of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-36c) and assess
whether there are any State and regional variations with
respect to the capacity to answer such calls;
(II) the number of unique encounters with suicide
prevention and support resources of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration and assess engagement with
such suicide prevention and support resources;
(III) whether the national media campaign has contributed
to increased awareness that suicidal individuals should be
engaged, rather than ignored; and
(IV) such other measures of evaluation as the Secretary
determines are appropriate.
(2) Optional uses.--The Secretary may use amounts made
available under subsection (f) for the following, with
respect to the national media campaign:
(A) Partnerships with professional and civic groups,
community-based organizations, including faith-based
organizations, and Government or Tribal organizations that
the Secretary determines have experience in suicide
prevention, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration and the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
(B) Entertainment industry outreach, interactive outreach,
media projects and activities, public information, news media
outreach, outreach through television programs, and corporate
sponsorship and participation.
(d) Prohibitions.--None of the amounts made available under
subsection (f) may be
[[Page H2244]]
obligated or expended for any of the following:
(1) To supplant current suicide prevention campaigns.
(2) For partisan political purposes, or to express advocacy
in support of or to defeat any clearly identified candidate,
clearly identified ballot initiative, or clearly identified
legislative or regulatory proposal.
(e) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after
implementation of the national media campaign has begun, the
Secretary, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary and
the Director, shall, with respect to the first year of the
national media campaign, submit to Congress a report that
describes--
(1) the strategy of the national media campaign and whether
specific objectives of such campaign were accomplished,
including whether such campaign impacted the number of calls
made to lifeline crisis centers and the capacity of such
centers to manage such calls;
(2) steps taken to ensure that the national media campaign
operates in an effective and efficient manner consistent with
the overall strategy and focus of the national media
campaign;
(3) plans to purchase advertising time and space;
(4) policies and practices implemented to ensure that
Federal funds are used responsibly to purchase advertising
time and space and eliminate the potential for waste, fraud,
and abuse; and
(5) all contracts entered into with a corporation, a
partnership, or an individual working on behalf of the
national media campaign.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--For purposes of
carrying out this section, there is authorized to be
appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022
through 2026.
Suicide Prevention Act
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 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.
[[Page H2245]]
``(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.''.
Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act of 2021
H.R. 2981
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 Lifeline
Improvement Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE.
(a) Plan.--Section 520E-3 of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 290bb-36c) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Plan.--
``(1) In general.--For purposes of maintaining the suicide
prevention hotline under subsection (b)(2), the Secretary
shall develop and implement a plan to ensure the provision of
high-quality service.
``(2) Contents.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
``(A) Quality assurance provisions, including--
``(i) clearly defined and measurable performance indicators
and objectives to improve the responsiveness and performance
of the hotline, including at backup call centers; and
``(ii) quantifiable timeframes to track the progress of the
hotline in meeting such performance indicators and
objectives.
``(B) Standards that crisis centers and backup centers must
meet--
``(i) to participate in the network under subsection
(b)(1); and
``(ii) to ensure that each telephone call, online chat
message, and other communication received by the hotline,
including at backup call centers, is answered in a timely
manner by a person, consistent with the guidance established
by the American Association of Suicidology or other guidance
determined by the Secretary to be appropriate.
``(C) Guidelines for crisis centers and backup centers to
implement evidence-based practices including with respect to
followup and referral to other health and social services
resources.
``(D) Guidelines to ensure that resources are available and
distributed to individuals using the hotline who are not
personally in a time of crisis but know of someone who is.
``(E) Guidelines to carry out periodic testing of the
hotline, including at crisis centers and backup centers,
during each fiscal year to identify and correct any problems
in a timely manner.
``(F) Guidelines to operate in consultation with the State
department of health, local governments, Indian tribes, and
tribal organizations.
``(3) Initial plan; updates.--The Secretary shall--
``(A) not later than 6 months after the date of enactment
of the Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act of 2021,
complete development of the initial version of the plan
required by paragraph (1), begin implementation of such plan,
and make such plan publicly available; and
``(B) periodically thereafter, update such plan and make
the updated plan publicly available.''.
(b) Transmission of Data to CDC.--Section 520E-3 of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-36c) is amended by
inserting after subsection (c) of such section, as added by
subsection (a) of this section, the following:
``(d) Transmission of Data to CDC.--The Secretary shall
formalize and strengthen agreements between the National
Suicide Prevention Lifeline program and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention to transmit any necessary
epidemiological data from the program to the Centers,
including local call center data, to assist the Centers in
suicide prevention efforts.''.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (e) of
section 520E-3 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
290bb-36c) is amended to read as follows:
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--To carry out this section, there are
authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2022 through 2024.
``(2) Allocation.--Of the amount authorized to be
appropriated by paragraph (1) for each of fiscal years 2022
through 2024, at least 80 percent shall be made available to
crisis centers.''.
SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM ON INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES.
(a) Pilot Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental
Health and Substance Use, shall carry out a pilot program to
research, analyze, and employ various technologies and
platforms of communication (including social media platforms,
texting platforms, and email platforms) for suicide
prevention in addition to the telephone and online chat
service provided by the Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out
paragraph (1), there is authorized to be appropriated
$5,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
(b) Report.--Not later than 24 months after the date on
which the pilot program under subsection (a) commences, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the
Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use,
shall submit to the Congress a report on the pilot program.
With respect to each platform of communication employed
pursuant to the pilot program, the report shall include--
(1) a full description of the program;
(2) the number of individuals served by the program;
(3) the average wait time for each individual to receive a
response;
(4) the cost of the program, including the cost per
individual served; and
(5) any other information the Secretary determines
appropriate.
SEC. 4. HHS STUDY AND REPORT.
Not later than 24 months after the Secretary of Health and
Human Services begins implementation of the plan required by
section 520E-3(c) of the Public Health Service Act, as added
by section 2(a)(2) of this Act, the Secretary shall--
(1) complete a study on--
(A) the implementation of such plan, including the progress
towards meeting the objectives identified pursuant to
paragraph (2)(A)(i) of such section 520E-3(c) by the
timeframes identified pursuant to paragraph (2)(A)(ii) of
such section 520E-3(c); and
(B) in consultation with the Director of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, options to expand data
gathering from calls to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline in
order to better track aspects of usage such as repeat calls,
consistent with applicable Federal and State privacy laws;
and
(2) submit a report to the Congress on the results of such
study, including recommendations on whether additional
legislation or appropriations are needed.
SEC. 5. GAO STUDY AND REPORT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 24 months after the
Secretary of Health and Human Services begins implementation
of the plan required by section 520E-3(c) of the Public
Health Service Act, as added by section 2(a)(2) of this Act,
the Comptroller General of the United States shall--
(1) complete a study on the Suicide Prevention Lifeline;
and
(2) submit a report to the Congress on the results of such
study.
(b) Issues To Be Studied.--The study required by subsection
(a) shall address--
(1) the feasibility of geolocating callers to direct calls
to the nearest crisis center;
(2) operation shortcomings of the Suicide Prevention
Lifeline;
(3) geographic coverage of each crisis call center;
(4) the call answer rate of each crisis call center;
(5) the call wait time of each crisis call center;
(6) the hours of operation of each crisis call center;
(7) funding avenues of each crisis call center;
(8) the implementation of the plan under section 520E-3(c)
of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 2(a) of
this Act, including the progress towards meeting the
objectives identified pursuant to paragraph (2)(A)(i) of such
section 520E-3(c) by the timeframes identified pursuant to
paragraph (2)(A)(ii) of such section 520E-3(c); and
(9) service to individuals requesting a foreign language
speaker, including--
(A) the number of calls or chats the Lifeline receives from
individuals speaking a foreign language;
(B) the capacity of the Lifeline to handle these calls or
chats; and
(C) the number of crisis centers with the capacity to serve
foreign language speakers, in house.
(c) Recommendations.--The report required by subsection (a)
shall include recommendations for improving the Suicide
[[Page H2246]]
Prevention Lifeline, including recommendations for
legislative and administrative actions.
SEC. 6. DEFINITION.
In this Act, the term ``Suicide Prevention Lifeline'' means
the suicide prevention hotline maintained pursuant to section
520E-3 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-
36c).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 380, the
ordering of the yeas and nays on postponed motions to suspend the rules
with respect to such measures is vacated to the end that all such
motions are considered as withdrawn.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Maryland
(Mr. Hoyer) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bills.
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. MOONEY. Mr. 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.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 349,
nays 74, not voting 7, as follows:
[Roll No. 137]
YEAS--349
Adams
Aguilar
Allred
Amodei
Armstrong
Auchincloss
Axne
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Barr
Barragan
Bass
Beatty
Bentz
Bera
Bergman
Beyer
Bice (OK)
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bonamici
Bost
Bourdeaux
Bowman
Boyle, Brendan F.
Brady
Brown
Brownley
Buchanan
Bucshon
Burgess
Bush
Bustos
Butterfield
Calvert
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carl
Carson
Carter (GA)
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cawthorn
Chabot
Cheney
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Cole
Comer
Connolly
Cooper
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crenshaw
Crist
Crow
Cuellar
Curtis
Davids (KS)
Davis, Danny K.
Davis, Rodney
Dean
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Delgado
Demings
DeSaulnier
Deutch
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Doggett
Doyle, Michael F.
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Feenstra
Ferguson
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Fortenberry
Foster
Frankel, Lois
Franklin, C. Scott
Gallagher
Gallego
Garamendi
Garbarino
Garcia (CA)
Garcia (IL)
Garcia (TX)
Gibbs
Gimenez
Gomez
Gonzales, Tony
Gonzalez (OH)
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gottheimer
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green, Al (TX)
Griffith
Grijalva
Guthrie
Hagedorn
Harder (CA)
Hartzler
Hayes
Herrera Beutler
Higgins (NY)
Hill
Himes
Hinson
Hollingsworth
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hudson
Huffman
Issa
Jackson Lee
Jacobs (CA)
Jacobs (NY)
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Johnson (TX)
Jones
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kahele
Kaptur
Katko
Keating
Keller
Kelly (IL)
Kelly (PA)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (CA)
Kim (NJ)
Kind
Kinzinger
Kirkpatrick
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Kustoff
LaHood
Lamb
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latta
LaTurner
Lawrence
Lawson (FL)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Leger Fernandez
Letlow
Levin (CA)
Levin (MI)
Lieu
Lofgren
Long
Lowenthal
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luria
Lynch
Mace
Malinowski
Malliotakis
Maloney, Carolyn B.
Maloney, Sean
Manning
Mast
Matsui
McBath
McCarthy
McCaul
McClain
McCollum
McEachin
McGovern
McHenry
McKinley
McNerney
Meeks
Meijer
Meng
Meuser
Mfume
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (UT)
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Murphy (NC)
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nehls
Newhouse
Newman
Norcross
Nunes
O'Halleran
Obernolte
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Owens
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Perlmutter
Peters
Phillips
Pingree
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Price (NC)
Quigley
Raskin
Reed
Reschenthaler
Rice (NY)
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (KY)
Ross
Roybal-Allard
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rush
Rutherford
Ryan
Salazar
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scalise
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Schrader
Schrier
Schweikert
Scott (VA)
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Sessions
Sewell
Sherman
Simpson
Sires
Slotkin
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (WA)
Smucker
Soto
Spanberger
Spartz
Speier
Stanton
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stevens
Stewart
Stivers
Strickland
Swalwell
Takano
Tenney
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Timmons
Titus
Tlaib
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Turner
Underwood
Upton
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Vargas
Veasey
Vela
Velazquez
Wagner
Walberg
Walorski
Waltz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Welch
Wenstrup
Westerman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yarmuth
Young
Zeldin
NAYS--74
Aderholt
Allen
Arrington
Babin
Banks
Biggs
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Brooks
Buck
Budd
Burchett
Cammack
Carter (TX)
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Crawford
Davidson
DesJarlais
Donalds
Duncan
Emmer
Estes
Fallon
Foxx
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gohmert
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Grothman
Guest
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Herrell
Hice (GA)
Higgins (LA)
Huizenga
Jackson
Johnson (LA)
Jordan
Kelly (MS)
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Lesko
Loudermilk
Mann
Massie
McClintock
Miller (IL)
Moore (AL)
Norman
Palazzo
Palmer
Pence
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Rice (SC)
Rogers (AL)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Steube
Taylor
Tiffany
Weber (TX)
Williams (TX)
NOT VOTING--7
Dunn
Golden
Murphy (FL)
Sherrill
Smith (NJ)
Suozzi
Webster (FL)
{time} 1657
Mr. BANKS changed his vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and
the bills were passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 8, 117TH CONGRESS
Allred (Stevens)
Cardenas (Gallego)
Crenshaw (Pfluger)
Eshoo (Thompson (CA))
Fallon (Joyce (OH))
Grijalva (Garcia (IL))
Johnson (TX) (Jeffries)
Kirkpatrick (Stanton)
Lawson (FL) (Evans)
Lieu (Beyer)
Lofgren (Jeffries)
Lowenthal (Beyer)
McEachin (Wexton)
Meng (Clark (MA))
Mfume (Connolly)
Moore (WI) (Beyer)
Napolitano (Correa)
Owens (Stewart)
Payne (Pallone)
Porter (Wexton)
Ruiz (Aguilar)
Ruppersberger (Raskin)
Rush (Underwood)
Sewell (DelBene)
Strickland (DelBene)
Torres (CA) (Barragan)
Wilson (FL) (Hayes)
____________________