The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS FOR STUDENTS ACT” mentioning John Kennedy was published in the Senate section on pages S2469-S2470 on May 12.
Of the 100 senators in 117th Congress, 24 percent were women, and 76 percent were men, according to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Senators' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS FOR STUDENTS ACT
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I am going to talk for a few minutes about mental health for our kids. I think many Americans have known and, unfortunately, some Americans have loved some of our fellow citizens who suffer with depression and anxiety and thoughts of suicide. It is a particular problem for our young people. CDC reports that one in four young Americans have actually considered suicide, and, in fact, the second leading cause of death for young people is suicide.
I am sure there are a lot of reasons for this. I think it is harder to be a young person today. Many of our kids see things that those of us who are older didn't have to deal with until we were adults--drugs, of course; alcohol; also, social media. You can still find kindness in America, but unfortunately you have to go offline to do it.
Some of our young people--many of our young people--just need someone to talk to. Some of them, when their anxiety and their depression is acute, need medical treatment, and this bill will simply provide a mechanism for our young people to receive it.
The bill, as I said, is called the Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act. It would provide that schools--our universities--be required to print phone numbers for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and a campus mental health center or program on the student ID cards.
This bill would not require our schools to tear up current ID cards. It would be phased in. And if a school doesn't use an ID card, they don't have to start using an ID card. My bill would simply require that the schools put the information on their website.
This bill passed unanimously by UC in our last Congress, but, unfortunately, the House ran out of time to take it up.
Toward that end, Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I am going to ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 1585, introduced earlier today.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 1585) to add suicide prevention resources to school identification cards.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read the third time.
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the bill.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. If there is no further debate on the bill, the bill having been read the third time, the question is, Shall the bill pass?
The bill (S. 1585) was passed as follows
S. 1585
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 ``Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act''.
SEC. 2. ADDING SUICIDE PREVENTION CONTACT INFORMATION TO
SCHOOL IDENTIFICATION CARDS.
(a) In General.--Section 487(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(30)(A) In the case of an institution that creates and distributes identification cards for students at any time after the date of enactment of this paragraph, such institution shall include phone contact information on each such card for the following organizations:
``(i) The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
``(ii) Crisis Text Line.
``(iii) A campus mental health center or program, as determined by the institution.
``(B) In the case of an institution that does not create and distribute identification cards for students at any time after the date of enactment of this paragraph, such institution shall publish the suicide prevention contact information specified in subparagraph (A) on the website of such institution.
``(C) If an organization in clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A) ceases to exist, the Secretary may designate a different entity with a similar purpose to be included on the identification card.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect beginning on the day that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. KENNEDY. I yield the floor.
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