[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 81 (Tuesday, May 11, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2163-H2165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUICIDE TRAINING AND AWARENESS NATIONALLY DELIVERED FOR UNIVERSAL
PREVENTION ACT OF 2021
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 586) to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide best
practices on student suicide awareness and prevention training and
condition State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and
tribal educational agencies receiving funds under section 520A of such
Act to establish and implement a school-based student suicide awareness
and prevention training policy.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 586
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
[[Page H2164]]
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Suicide Training and
Awareness Nationally Delivered for Universal Prevention Act
of 2021'' or the ``STANDUP Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. STUDENT SUICIDE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION TRAINING.
(a) In General.--Title V of the Public Health Service Act
is amended by inserting after section 520A of such Act (42
U.S.C. 290bb-32) the following:
``SEC. 520B. STUDENT SUICIDE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION
TRAINING POLICIES.
``(a) In General.--As a condition on receipt of funds under
section 520A, each State educational agency, local
educational agency, and Tribal educational agency that
receives such funds, directly or through a State or Indian
Tribe, for activities to be performed within secondary
schools, including the Project AWARE State Education Agency
Grant Program, shall--
``(1) establish and implement a school-based student
suicide awareness and prevention training policy;
``(2) consult with stakeholders (including principals,
teachers, parents, local Tribal officials, and other school
leaders) in the development of the policy under subsection
(a)(1); and
``(3) collect and report information in accordance with
subsection (c).
``(b) School-Based Student Suicide Awareness and Prevention
Training Policy.--A school-based student suicide awareness
and prevention training policy implemented pursuant to
subsection (a)--
``(1) shall be evidence-based;
``(2) shall be culturally and linguistically appropriate;
``(3) shall provide evidence-based training to students in
grades 6 through 12, in coordination with school-based mental
health service providers as defined in section 4102(6) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, if
applicable, regarding--
``(A) suicide education and awareness, including warning
signs of self-harm or suicidal ideation;
``(B) methods that students can use to seek help for
themselves and others; and
``(C) student resources for suicide awareness and
prevention;
``(4) shall provide for retraining of such students every
school year;
``(5) may last for such period as the State educational
agency, local educational agency, or Tribal educational
agency involved determines to be appropriate;
``(6) may be implemented through any delivery method,
including in-person trainings, digital trainings, or train-
the-trainer models; and
``(7) may include discussion of comorbidities or risk
factors for suicidal ideation or self-harm, including
substance misuse, sexual or physical abuse, mental illness,
or other evidence-based comorbidities and risk factors.
``(c) Collection of Information and Reporting.--Each State
educational agency, local educational agency, and Tribal
educational agency that receives funds under section 520A
shall, with respect to each school served by the agency,
collect and report to the Secretary the following
information:
``(1) The number of student trainings conducted.
``(2) The number of students trained, disaggregated by age
and grade level.
``(3) The number of help-seeking reports made by students
after implementation of such policy.
``(d) Evidence-Based Program Listing.--The Secretary of
Health and Human Services shall coordinate with the Secretary
of Education to make publicly available the policies
established by State educational agencies, local educational
agencies, and Tribal educational agencies pursuant to this
section and the training that is available to students and
teams pursuant to such policies, including identification of
whether such training is available to trainees at no cost.
``(e) Implementation Timeline.--A State educational agency,
local educational agency, or Tribal educational agency shall
establish and begin implementation of the policies required
by subsection (a)(1) not later than the beginning of the
third fiscal year following the date of enactment of this
section for which the agency receives funds under section
520A.
``(f) Definitions.--In this section and section 520B-1:
``(1) The term `evidence-based' has the meaning given to
such term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965.
``(2) The term `local educational agency' has the meaning
given to such term in section 8101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965.
``(3) The term `State educational agency' has the meaning
given to such term in section 8101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965.
``(4) The term `Tribal educational agency' has the meaning
given to the term `tribal educational agency' in section 6132
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
``SEC. 520B-1. BEST PRACTICES FOR STUDENT SUICIDE AWARENESS
AND PREVENTION TRAINING.
``The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in
consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Bureau
of Indian Education, shall--
``(1) publish best practices for school-based student
suicide awareness and prevention training, pursuant to
section 520B, that are based on--
``(A) evidence-based practices; and
``(B) input from relevant Federal agencies, national
organizations, Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, and
related stakeholders;
``(2) publish guidance, based on the best practices under
paragraph (1), to provide State educational agencies, local
educational agencies, and Tribal educational agencies with
information on student suicide awareness and prevention best
practices;
``(3) disseminate such best practices to State educational
agencies, local educational agencies, and Tribal educational
agencies; and
``(4) provide technical assistance to State educational
agencies, local educational agencies, and Tribal educational
agencies.''.
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by this Act shall only apply with
respect to applications for assistance under section 520A of
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-32) that are
submitted after the date of enactment of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
{time} 1445
General Leave
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 586.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 586, the Suicide Training and Awareness
Nationally Delivered for Universal Prevention Act of 2021, or the
STANDUP Act.
For the last decade, suicide has been the second leading cause of
death in the United States for young Americans between the ages of 10
and 24. Since 2007, the number of suicides for this group has nearly
tripled.
We are witnessing notable disparities within this youth suicide
crisis as well. Data tells us that young Black Americans, ages 5 to 12
years old, are twice as likely to die by suicide as compared to their
White peers. Suicide rates for American Indian and Alaska Native
teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 are 60 percent higher than the
national average for all teenagers. Additionally, among the more than
77,000 youth reporting suicidal ideations, over one-third of them are
identified as LGBTQ.
This data makes clear that more must be done to help those
struggling. We can and must act now to help equip students and the
community around them to identify risk factors, because oftentimes, it
is the students who are the true eyes and ears of each campus. We can
help provide them with effective tools so they can play an active role
in preventing suicide or self-harm.
H.R. 586 would encourage schools to expand evidence-based suicide
awareness and prevention training to students. It would also require
this training as a condition of receiving funds under the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Project AWARE grant
program.
The STANDUP Act, Madam Speaker, would also support technical
assistance resources for schools and encourage the collection and
reporting of data to track implementation of these policies and
practices.
Research shows that training students on suicide prevention makes an
impact on student suicide rates and improves a student's willingness to
seek help or help a peer. Much of this training is already taking place
across thousands of schools nationwide, but STANDUP will help ensure
that this good work is expanded to more schools across the country.
For these reasons, I stand up in support of the STANDUP Act. I thank
the lead sponsors, Representatives Peters and Bilirakis, and the many
bipartisan supporters of this legislation for their work on this
critical issue.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I hope the
Senate will act swiftly to pass it after we have taken action. I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
[[Page H2165]]
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 586, the STANDUP Act
of 2021, which was introduced by Representative Scott Peters and
includes the support of many Members of the House, including Energy and
Commerce Committee colleagues Bilirakis, Blunt Rochester, Upton, and
Tonko.
This legislation helps promote suicide awareness and facilitates
prevention training for students and young Americans. For the last
decade, suicide has been the second leading cause of death for
Americans ages 10 to 24, and the 10th leading cause of overall deaths
in the United States. Tragically, this epidemic has only worsened
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Suicide is preventable, and initiatives that empower students with
knowledge of the warning signs and resources for prevention are
critical in addressing these trends.
Through this bill, Project AWARE grantees will be empowered to
establish school-based suicide awareness and prevention training
programs, which will improve student awareness of mental health issues
while connecting at-risk individuals to needed health services.
The pandemic has greatly impacted the mental health of all Americans,
which is why it is critical that we continue addressing our Nation's
challenges in preventing youth suicide and promoting the wellness of
all.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I have no additional speakers at this
time.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), my good friend.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, we have all worked together on this
very powerful bill. There is no higher priority than keeping our
children safe. I think most people know that.
Since 2010, suicide has been the second leading cause of death for
young Americans ages 10 through 24. From 2007 to 2015, the number of
children and teens visiting the emergency room for suicide-related
injuries doubled. In 2017, 517 Americans, aged 10 through 14, and
6,252, aged 15 through 24, committed suicide. Sadly, some communities
in my district are among those with the highest suicide rates in
Florida. I represent the Tampa Bay area, Madam Speaker.
Research has shown that most of these young Americans tell someone
that they are contemplating suicide or school violence, and 68 percent
of averted violence was stopped because a student reported concerns
about a threat, a plot, or other concerning behavior involving a peer.
H.R. 586, the Suicide Training and Awareness Nationally Delivered for
Universal Prevention Act, or the STANDUP Act, encourages States,
Tribes, and schools to create policies for student suicide prevention
training utilizing SAMHSA-provided best practices, training,
and technical assistance.
By providing high quality screening and prevention training to school
staff and peers, threats can be identified before they materialize, and
those who are at risk have an opportunity to get the mental health
treatment they sorely need.
I have seen firsthand, Madam Speaker, the power of work like this
through nonprofits like Sandy Hook Promise, and SAVE Promise Clubs at
my children's school actually at Palm Harbor University High School,
which is located in Palm Harbor, Florida, in my district. When properly
equipped, students can be empowered to prevent violence in their
schools.
I appreciate the bipartisan work of my colleagues, and, of course, we
actually sponsored this bill with Congressman Peters. I also want to
thank the chairman for placing the bill on the agenda and working with
us.
I urge my colleagues to join us in passing this critical legislation
to help reverse the troubling trend of youth suicide and violence.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, as we were speaking before, this is an
important issue. Suicide affects so many people. There are systems,
there is the ability to become aware. It can be preventable if people
know the right signs to look for. I think the American people
absolutely want to work together to make this happen so we can prevent
this.
I urge all my colleagues to support this piece of legislation. I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I urge support on a bipartisan basis for
this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 586.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
____________________