Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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Mr. REED. Mr. President, unfortunately, rates of suicide have risen to epidemic levels in the United States, with suicide now the tenth leading cause of death in the country. On average, there are 129 suicides every day, roughly one every eleven minutes, a staggering statistic. That is why I am pleased to be introducing the Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act with Senator Moran to help turn the tide on this increasingly dire situation.

This legislation would provide $568 million in new funding over five years for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, delivering an infusion of new funds to help improve call capacity, make improvements to the Lifeline, and make the switch to a new, easy-to-remember, three- digit number, 9-8-8. The Lifeline has long been underfunded, but we have worked on a bipartisan basis to more than double the funding over the last three years. However, much more is needed, and this new legislation will help build on these efforts to ensure that the Lifeline is able to answer the calls of those seeking help.

In 2019, 47,500 Americans lost their lives to suicide. That same year, there were 1.4 million suicide attempts. We must renew our efforts on suicide prevention. In 2004, working with my colleague, former Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon, we authored the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act. This law authorized new youth suicide prevention programs in honor of Senator's Smith son, who tragically died by suicide just a couple of weeks short of his 22nd birthday. For over a decade, these programs have funded college campus, state, and tribal efforts to prevent suicide among our youth and young adult populations, who are particularly at risk of suicide. During this time, youth suicide rates have decreased significantly in my home state of Rhode Island. However, nationwide, suicide rates have skyrocketed.

That is why we must renew our attention and focus on suicide prevention, including by increasing funding for, and improving access to, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This effort is critical to ensuring that when people in crisis call looking for help, someone will be there on the other end of the line to offer hope and counseling. Last Congress, I was able to work with my former colleague Senator Gardner, and Senators Baldwin and Moran on legislation to designate the Lifeline as an easy to remember, three-digit number, 988. This common-sense law will make it easier for people across the country to access the Lifeline when they really need it. I am glad that the bill was signed into law last year, paving the way for every state to implement the switch to 9-8-8 by July 2022. This upcoming deadline, however, makes it all the more important that we provide more funding for the Lifeline.

I am pleased to once again have the opportunity to partner with Senator Moran on suicide prevention efforts. I look forward to working together with our colleagues, as well as stakeholders supporting these efforts, to pass this critical legislation.

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