    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 134, 116th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 116-339
    116th Congress

    An Act

    To direct the Director of the National Science Foundation to support
    multidisciplinary research on the science of suicide, and to advance the
    knowledge and understanding of issues that may be associated with
    several aspects of suicide including intrinsic and extrinsic factors
    related to areas such as wellbeing, resilience, and
    vulnerability. <>

    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 ``Advancing Research to Prevent Suicide
    Act''.
    SEC. 2. <>  FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
    (1) The rate of Americans dying by suicide is on the rise,
    increasing 10.7 to 14.0 deaths per 100,000 people from 2001 to
    2017.
    (2) Suicide is the tenth-leading cause of death among people
    in the United States and the second-leading cause of death for
    young people between the ages of 15 and 34.
    (3) The National Science Foundation funds research that is
    improving our basic understanding of factors with potential
    relevance to suicide, including potential relevance to
    prevention and treatment.
    (4) Despite progress in mental health research, current gaps
    exist in scientific understanding and basic knowledge of human
    neural, genetic, cognitive, perceptual, behavioral, social, and
    environmental factors with potential relevance to suicide.
    SEC. 3. <>  NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
    RESEARCH.

    (a) <>  In General.--The Director of
    the National Science Foundation, in consultation with the Director of
    the National Institutes of Health and the Director of the National
    Institute of Mental Health and taking into consideration prioritized
    research agendas or strategic plans, as appropriate, shall, subject to
    the availability of appropriations, award grants on a competitive,
    merit-reviewed basis to institutions of higher education (or consortia
    of such institutions) to support multidisciplinary, fundamental research
    with potential relevance to suicide, including potential relevance to
    prevention and treatment, including, but not limited to--
    (1) basic understanding of human social behavior;
    (2) the neural basis of human cognition;
    (3) basic understanding of cognitive, linguistic, social,
    cultural, and biological processes related to human development
    across the lifespan;

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    (4) basic understanding of perceptual, motor, and cognitive
    processes, and their interaction, in typical human behavior; and
    (5) basic understanding of the relevance of drug and alcohol
    abuse.

    (b) Encouraging Applications From Early Career Researchers.--To
    promote the development of early career researchers, in awarding funds
    under subsection (a), the Director of the National Science Foundation
    shall encourage applications submitted by early career researchers,
    including doctoral students or postdoctoral researchers.

    Approved January 13, 2021.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 4704:
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    HOUSE REPORTS: No. 116-342 (Comm. on Science, Space, and Technology).
    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 166 (2020):
    Jan. 27, considered and passed House.
    Dec. 14, considered and passed Senate, amended.
    Dec. 31, House concurred in Senate amendment.