[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 97 (Friday, June 6, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H2517]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CRYSTAL LAKE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM

  (Mr. FOSTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to stand up for the community 
of Crystal Lake, Illinois, which, along with over 100 communities 
nationwide, just had a $5.6 million student mental health program 
abruptly canceled by the Trump administration.
  This funding, which passed with support of both Republicans and 
Democrats under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, was created in 
response to the Uvalde school shooting to address the growing youth 
mental health crisis.
  I think we all remember the Republican talking point at the time that 
we don't have a gun problem. We have a mental health problem. Well, 
fine. With this grant, the Crystal Lake District 47 was able to hire 
trained mental health professionals and give 7,100 students access to 
mental health care.
  Canceling this grant will disrupt critical mental health care for 
students who are already receiving support, weaken the district's 
ability to identify and intervene in early warning signs of distress, 
trauma, or potential violence. It undermines years of progress made in 
breaking the stigma around mental health.
  With suicide being the second leading cause of death for children 
aged 10-14, gutting this funding will be life-threatening. Our kids' 
safety and well-being should not be a partisan issue. I urge the 
administration to reverse these harmful cuts.

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