[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6422-6424]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. HATCH (for himself and Mr. Donnelly):
  S. 1015. A bill to require the Federal Communications Commission to 
study the feasibility of designating a simple, easy-to-remember dialing 
code to be used for a national suicide prevention and mental health 
crisis hotline system; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the epidemic of 
suicide--a growing crisis that has devastated millions of families 
across our Nation. Over the past 8 years, the rate of deaths by suicide 
in our country has tripled. Let me repeat that. It has tripled, and the 
problem is particularly severe among young adults.
  According to the Centers for Disease Control, for youth between the 
ages of 10 and 24, suicide is now the third leading cause of death. In 
other words, more of America's youth die each year from suicide than 
cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, 
influenza, and chronic lung disease combined.
  This crisis shows no signs of abating. Consider that each day in our 
Nation, there are an average of over 5,400 suicide attempts by young 
people in grades 7 to 12. In my home State of Utah, the statistics are 
particularly alarming. Every 14 hours, a Utahn commits suicide, 
resulting in an average of 630 deaths each year. The problem is so 
acute that Utah now has the fifth highest suicide rate in the Nation. 
This troubling trend is particularly pronounced among Utah's youth. 
Even though Utahns from ages 10 to 17 comprise only 13 percent of the 
State population, they represent nearly 23 percent of all suicide 
attempts. Suicide is now the leading cause of death among Utah's 
teenagers.
  To stem the tide of teenage suicide in Utah, I convened a roundtable 
discussion in Salt Lake City last December that included community 
leaders, healthcare professionals, high school principals, and parents 
from across the State. There we discussed proven methods that 
destigmatize mental illness, a critical first step in addressing the 
suicide crisis. We also discussed the links between bullying and 
depression.
  In an effort to prevent teen suicide, the effect of bullying cannot 
be overlooked. A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical 
Association finds that kids who are bullied are more than twice as 
likely to consider suicide. In my home State of Utah, dozens of 
community leaders have drawn attention to the pernicious effects of 
bullying. The foremost among them is Dr. Greg Hudnall, a nationally 
recognized expert in suicide prevention. Dr. Hudnall found that between 
8 and 12 percent of all suicides are committed by young people who have 
been bullied. To discourage bullying and to help our teenagers who are 
suffering most, Dr. Hudnall led in the development of HOPE4UTAH. 
HOPE4UTAH is a dynamic peer-to-peer program designed to empower 
students in groups called Hope Squads. Hope Squads identify warning 
signs of depression in teenagers and offer help to those in need.
  Wendy Nelson, principal of Utah's Syracuse High School, recently told 
me how Hope Squads have helped students at risk of suicide to connect 
with therapists that the school has made available on a regular basis. 
The high school has since partnered with a local community health 
center for help in addressing the need for help in this particular area 
and, of course, the need for mental health professionals in schools. 
This shortage of mental health counselors is a serious problem, not 
only in Utah but in schools across the Nation. It is a very, very 
serious problem.
  In our December roundtable discussion, we learned that teen suicide 
is something schools, parents, and mental health professionals cannot 
address individually. Instead, a continuum of care must exist for each 
child from the first day of school to graduation. We must all work 
together to ensure that our children feel safe.
  Educators play a vital role in maintaining an infrastructure of 
support for teenagers struggling with mental illness. Because educators 
are often the first to identify warning signs in vulnerable students, 
hundreds of teachers in Utah receive training in how to identify and 
respond to these signs. Once we know a teen is suffering, parents and 
mental health professionals can step in to provide ongoing care. 
Building community partnerships that involve everyone and that focus on 
evidence-based practices can save hundreds, if not thousands, of lives.
  My main purpose in organizing the roundtable discussion was to find 
ways I could help prevent suicide on a national level. Increasing 
access to mental healthcare has been a fixture of my Senate service. 
Nearly 20 years ago, I convened the Senate Finance Committee's first 
hearing dedicated to mental health. More recently, I focused my 
legislative efforts on fighting prescription drug abuse, an epidemic 
that has only accelerated our Nation's mental health crisis. I played a 
leading role in passing the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act 
and helped to draft the 21st Century Cures Act, which President Obama 
signed into law in December. Both bills take aim at the opioid epidemic 
that is ravaging entire communities across the Nation.
  As a legislative body, we have set aside partisan differences in 
recent months to combat the opioid crisis as part of a broader effort 
to address growing rates of mental illness and death by suicide.
  But there is more we can do to help. To begin, we need to provide 
better and more immediate access to counseling and mental health 
services. This is one of the main takeaways from last year's roundtable 
discussion. So often we hear that those seeking help are just one 
positive interaction away from giving life another chance. As Utah 
State Senator Daniel Thatcher said:

       If you talk to someone, they live. If you connect them to 
     support, they live.

  Laura Warburton, a Utah mother who lost her daughter to suicide, said 
that the day her daughter died, she had attempted to make one last call 
to her therapist and could not get through.
  While this is a complex problem with no simple, immediate answer, 
there are steps we can take to help. Today, we are taking those 
critical first steps to prevent future tragedies from taking place.
  In response to what I learned during the suicide roundtable in Utah, 
I have joined Senator Joe Donnelly in introducing the National Suicide 
Hotline Improvement Act, a bipartisan proposal that will make it easier 
for Americans of all ages to get the help and treatment they need when 
they are experiencing suicidal thoughts. The current suicide prevention 
lifeline system and veterans crisis line are in desperate need of 
reform. Our bill will require the Federal Communications Commission, in 
consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services and the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, to study the current national suicide 
hotline system and make recommendations to Congress on how we can 
improve it.
  Across our great Nation, there are millions of people, especially 
young

[[Page 6423]]

people, who are alone and suffering in the shadows of depression. Many 
of them are bombarded by suicidal thoughts and have no idea where to 
turn for help. To make matters worse, the national suicide hotline 
number, 1-800-273-TALK, is not an intuitive or easy number to remember, 
particularly for those experiencing a mental health emergency.
  Fortunately, the success of the 911 emergency system provides a model 
for addressing this problem. My bill will require the Federal 
Communications Commission to recommend an easy-to-remember, three-digit 
number for the national suicide prevention hotline. I believe that by 
making the national suicide prevention lifeline system more user-
friendly and accessible, we can save thousands of lives by helping 
people find the help they need when they need it most.
  In introducing this legislation, I wish to thank my fellow Utahn, 
Congressman Chris Stewart. Congressman Stewart has been an invaluable 
partner in offering some of the most important measures of this bill. 
Additionally, I would like to thank the American Foundation for Suicide 
Prevention. I also wish to express my appreciation for the support we 
have received from the Utah State Legislature, Utah's attorney general, 
and the Utah Department of Health Services, as well as several groups 
from the law enforcement community.
  This proposal transcends party lines and stands to save thousands of 
lives. We cannot delay this effort to prevent suicide. So I call on my 
colleagues in both the House and the Senate to act quickly to pass this 
bill. Your support for this legislation represents your commitment to 
preventing future tragedies. I ask all of you today, regardless of your 
party affiliation, to cosponsor this legislation. In doing so, you can 
help us help those who need our help the most. There is absolutely no 
time to lose.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Murkowski, and Mr. 
        Bennet):
  S. 1028. A bill to provide for the establishment and maintenance of a 
National Family Caregiving Strategy, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
with my colleague from Wisconsin, Senator Baldwin, that would require 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services to convene a panel to 
develop a national strategy to recognize and support the more than 
forty million family caregivers in the United States. I am pleased that 
Senators Murkowski and Bennet have joined us as cosponsors.
  The United States' population is aging. Every day, 10,000 baby 
boomers turn 65 years old. Americans 85 and older--our oldest old--are 
the fastest growing segment of our population. This is the population 
that is most at risk of multiple and interacting health problems that 
can lead to disability and the need for round-the-clock care.
  At the very time that our population is aging, birth rates are 
declining. While the need for care and support is increasing, the 
numbers of professional and informal caregivers is shrinking. In the 
future, more people will have to rely on fewer caregivers.
  Families will likely continue to be the most important source of 
support for people with long-term care needs. We must do more to 
support the more than 43 million family caregivers in the United States 
who make remarkable sacrifices to care for their loved ones. While it 
is impossible to put a dollar amount to the value of the devotion, 
time, and services that these caregivers provide, it is estimated that 
in 2013 family caregivers provided $470 billion in uncompensated long-
term care. This figure nearly equals the annual sales of the four 
largest United States tech companies combined.
  Family caregivers provide tremendous value, and they also face many 
challenges. Caregivers experience high levels of stress and have a 
greater incidence of chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, 
and depression. Caregiving can be an isolating experience. Last week, 
the Aging Committee held a hearing highlighting that social isolation 
is a serious risk factor for depression, anxiety, dementia, functional 
decline, and even death.
  The average caregiver is a 49-year-old woman. She is caring for a 69-
year-old relative living with a long-term physical condition. That 
relative is often a parent. She has been providing care for four years 
on average, spending 24.4 hours a week. She may be raising her own 
children and working full time.
  Other caregivers are seniors. One third of family caregivers are age 
65 or older, and even more susceptible to putting their own health at 
risk.
  I am, therefore, introducing legislation with my colleague from 
Wisconsin that would lead to the development of a national strategy to 
recognize and support family caregivers. Titled the Recognize, Assist, 
Include, Support, and Engage, or RAISE Family Caregivers Act, the 
legislation is based on a recommendation of the bipartisan Commission 
on Long Term Care. It is modeled after a law that I co-authored in 2010 
with then-Senator Evan Bayh that created a coordinated strategic 
national plan to combat Alzheimer's disease.
  The RAISE Family Caregivers Act directs the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services to establish a National Family Caregiving Project to 
develop and sustain a national strategy to support family caregivers. 
The bill would create a Family Caregiving Advisory Council comprised of 
relevant Federal agencies and non-federal members. It would include 
representatives of family caregivers, older adults with long-term care 
needs, individuals with disabilities, employers, health and social 
service providers, advocates for family caregivers, state and local 
officials, and others with expertise in family caregiving.
  The Advisory Council would be charged with making recommendations to 
the Secretary. The strategy and plan would be updated to reflect new 
developments. The plan would include an initial inventory and 
assessment of federally funded caregiver efforts. It would then 
identify specific actions that government and communities could take to 
support family caregivers.
  The Project would be funded from existing funding appropriated for 
the Department of Health and Human Services. No new funding is 
authorized and it would sunset in five years.
  Family caregivers are an invaluable resource to our aging society. 
Chances are that, sooner or later, we will all either be family 
caregivers or someone who needs one. The RAISE Family Caregivers Act 
will launch a coordinated, national strategic plan that will help us to 
leverage our resources, promote innovation and promising practices, and 
provide our nation's family caregivers with much-needed recognition and 
support. Our bipartisan legislation is widely endorsed by aging and 
disability organizations. I urge all of our colleagues to join as 
cosponsors.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DAINES:
  S. 1031. A bill to amend provisions in the securities laws relating 
to regulation crowdfunding to raise the dollar amount limit and to 
clarify certain requirements and exclusions for funding portals 
established by such an Act; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
Urban Affairs.
  Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1031

       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 ``Crowdfunding Enhancement 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. CROWDFUNDING VEHICLES.

       (a) Amendments to the Securities Act of 1933.--The 
     Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.) is amended--
       (1) in section 4A(f)(3) (15 U.S.C. 77d-1(f)(3)), by 
     inserting ``by any of paragraphs (1) through (14) of'' before 
     ``section 3(c)''; and
       (2) in section 4(a)(6)(B) (15 U.S.C. 77d(a)(6)(B)), by 
     inserting ``, other than a crowdfunding vehicle (as defined 
     in section 2(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 
     U.S.C. 80a-2(a))),'' after ``any investor''.

[[Page 6424]]

       (b) Amendments to the Investment Company Act of 1940.--The 
     Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-1 et seq.) is 
     amended--
       (1) in section 2(a) (15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)), by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(55) The term `crowdfunding vehicle' means a company--
       ``(A) whose purpose (as set forth in its organizational 
     documents) is limited to acquiring, holding, and disposing 
     securities issued by a single company in 1 or more 
     transactions and made pursuant to section 4(a)(6) of the 
     Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77d(a)(6));
       ``(B) that issues only 1 class of securities;
       ``(C) that receives no compensation in connection with such 
     acquisition, holding, or disposition of securities;
       ``(D) no associated person of which receives any 
     compensation in connection with such acquisition, holding or 
     disposition of securities unless such person is acting as or 
     on behalf of an investment adviser registered under the 
     Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-1 et seq.) or 
     registered as an investment adviser in the State in which the 
     investment adviser maintains its principal office and place 
     of business;
       ``(E) the securities of which have been issued in a 
     transaction made pursuant to section 4(a)(6) of the 
     Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77d(a)(6)), if both the 
     crowdfunding vehicle and the company whose securities it 
     holds are co-issuers;
       ``(F) that is current in its ongoing disclosure obligations 
     under section 227.202 of title 17, Code of Federal 
     Regulations;
       ``(G) the company whose securities it holds is current in 
     its ongoing disclosure obligations under section 227.202 of 
     title 17, Code of Federal Regulations; and
       ``(H) is advised by an investment adviser registered under 
     the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-1 et seq.) 
     or registered as an investment adviser in the State in which 
     the investment adviser maintains its principal office and 
     place of business.''; and
       (2) in section 3(c) (15 U.S.C. 80a-3(c)), by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(15) Any crowdfunding vehicle.''.

     SEC. 3. CROWDFUNDING EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION.

       Section 12(g)(6) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 
     U.S.C. 78l(g)(6)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``The Commission'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(A) In general.--The Commission'';
       (2) by striking ``section 4(6)'' and inserting ``section 
     4(a)(6)''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) Treatment of securities issued by certain issuers.--
     An exemption under subparagraph (A) shall be unconditional 
     for securities offered by an issuer that had a public float 
     of less than $75,000,000 as of the last business day of the 
     issuer's most recently completed semiannual period, computed 
     by multiplying the aggregate worldwide number of shares of 
     the issuer's common equity securities held by non-affiliates 
     by the price at which such securities were last sold (or the 
     average bid and asked prices of such securities) in the 
     principal market for such securities or, in the event the 
     result of such public float calculation is zero, had annual 
     revenues of less than $50,000,000 as of the issuer's most 
     recently completed fiscal year.''.

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