[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 54 (Friday, March 24, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H1415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  0915
                    MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AMONG YOUTH

  (Ms. BALINT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. BALINT. Mr. Speaker, we are in the midst of a terrible mental 
health crisis among youth in our Nation. The Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention's recent youth risk behavior survey reveals that 
our kids are really struggling.
  One in four teen girls reported seriously considering attempting 
suicide in 2021, and LGBTQ teens and girls report extremely high levels 
of mental distress, violence, and substance abuse.
  They need us to stand up for them. They need us to stand with them. 
We need to make investments that will actually help. We have real work 
to do.
  But what do my Republican colleagues have us spending time on this 
week? A sham bill that does nothing for our kids. It inserts the 
Federal Government between parents and students and schools. It 
promotes censorship. It promotes banning books.
  It is not about freedom. It is not about protecting kids.
  As a former teacher and as a mom, I know that all children deserve a 
safe and affirming school environment. When I talk to Vermont families, 
which I do all the time, they aren't concerned about these kind of 
culture wars. They need us to take our jobs seriously and address the 
real everyday concerns. That is why I am in Congress.

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