[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 82 (Wednesday, May 12, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2469-S2470]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS FOR STUDENTS ACT

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I am going to talk for a few minutes 
about mental health for our kids. I think many Americans have known 
and, unfortunately, some Americans have loved some of our fellow 
citizens who suffer with depression and anxiety and thoughts of 
suicide. It is a particular problem for our young people. CDC reports 
that one in four young Americans have actually considered suicide, and, 
in fact, the second leading cause of death for young people is suicide.
  I am sure there are a lot of reasons for this. I think it is harder 
to be a young person today. Many of our kids see things that those of 
us who are older didn't have to deal with until we were adults--drugs, 
of course; alcohol; also, social media. You can still find kindness in 
America, but unfortunately you have to go offline to do it.
  Some of our young people--many of our young people--just need someone 
to talk to. Some of them, when their anxiety and their depression is 
acute, need medical treatment, and this bill will simply provide a 
mechanism for our young people to receive it.
  The bill, as I said, is called the Improving Mental Health Access for 
Students Act. It would provide that schools--our universities--be 
required to print phone numbers for the National Suicide Prevention 
Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and a campus mental health center or 
program on the student ID cards.
  This bill would not require our schools to tear up current ID cards. 
It would be phased in. And if a school doesn't use an ID card, they 
don't have to start using an ID card. My bill

[[Page S2470]]

would simply require that the schools put the information on their 
website.
  This bill passed unanimously by UC in our last Congress, but, 
unfortunately, the House ran out of time to take it up.
  Toward that end, Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I am 
going to ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate 
consideration of S. 1585, introduced earlier today.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1585) to add suicide prevention resources to 
     school identification cards.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
considered read a third time.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read 
the third time.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the bill.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. If there is no further debate on the bill, 
the bill having been read the third time, the question is, Shall the 
bill pass?
  The bill (S. 1585) was passed as follows

                                S. 1585

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Mental Health 
     Access for Students Act''.

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

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

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion 
to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. KENNEDY. I yield the floor.

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