[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2792-S2793]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 684. Ms. BALDWIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
her to the bill S. 2226, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2024 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
        At the end of subtitle B of title VII, add the following:

     SEC. 715. IMPROVEMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR MEMBERS OF 
                   NATIONAL GUARD.

       (a) Establishment of Suicide Prevention Workforce.--
       (1) In general.--The Chief of the National Guard Bureau, in 
     consultation with the Director of the Army National Guard, 
     the Director of the Air National Guard, and the Secretary of 
     Defense, shall establish a full time suicide prevention 
     workforce for the National Guard.
       (2) Duties.--The suicide prevention workforce established 
     under paragraph (1) shall--
       (A) provide resources, education, and resources on suicide 
     prevention to members of the National Guard at heightened 
     risk for perpetuating harm or those contemplating multiple 
     forms of violence, including suicide; and
       (B) coordinate a standardized process and language between 
     the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard with 
     respect to suicide prevention programs to synchronize and 
     oversee standardization and collaboration of such programs, 
     including with respect to--
       (i) how reports are made;
       (ii) how data is collected; and
       (iii) such other matters as the Chief of the National Guard 
     Bureau considers appropriate.
       (3) Structure.--The Chief of the National Guard Bureau 
     shall structure the suicide prevention workforce established 
     under paragraph (1) and related mental health wellness 
     resources for members of the National Guard under an 
     integrated organizational structure that coordinates and 
     communicates between prevention and wellness programs across 
     the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard.
       (4) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau 
     for fiscal year 2024 $465,000,000 to carry out this 
     subsection.
       (b) Star Behavioral Health Providers Program.--

[[Page S2793]]

       (1) In general.--The Chief of the National Guard Bureau 
     shall establish a Star Behavioral Health Providers Program 
     under which the Chief shall provide access by members of the 
     National Guard to civilian health care providers who have 
     completed education and training related to the physical and 
     mental health needs of members of the Armed Forces.
       (2) Grants.--The Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall 
     establish a grant program under which States may award grants 
     to civilian health care providers who agree to enter into a 
     memorandum of understanding with the Chief under which the 
     provider agrees to provide care to members of the National 
     Guard under the Star Behavioral Health Providers Program 
     established under paragraph (1).
       (3) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
     Chief of the National Guard Bureau such sums as may be 
     necessary to carry out this subsection.
       (c) Comptroller General Study on Expansion of Care for 
     Reserve Components.--The Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall conduct a study that--
       (1) assesses the appropriate ratio of mental health 
     providers within the National Guard to members of the 
     National Guard;
       (2) assesses the feasibility and advisability of, and 
     funding requirements for, increasing the authorization of 
     amounts under the Defense Health Program for the reserve 
     components to provide funding for clinical care for members 
     of the reserve components; and
       (3) reviews the participation by States in a Star Behavior 
     Health Providers Program, whether under subsection (b) or 
     otherwise, and assesses the feasibility of expanding 
     participation in such a program to all States and territories 
     of the United States.
                                 ______