Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolution

Floor Speech

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Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the ``Comprehensive Mental Health in Schools Pilot Program Act of 2021,'' which I introduced today.

Millions of children and adolescents across the Nation struggle every day with mental health concerns that threaten their emotional well- being and academic achievement.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for comprehensive school mental health systems that can provide the support and services that students desperately need.

This bill is a targeted effort to address the worsening mental health crisis in this country. If enacted, this legislation would help schools as they work to promote positive school climates, improve social and emotional learning, and reduce the prevalence and severity of mental illness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that between March and October of 2020, the proportion of children between the ages of 5 and 11 who visited an emergency department because of a mental health crisis climbed 24 percent compared to the same time period in 2019, and climbed 31 percent for children between the ages of 12 and 17. More people are reporting frequent thoughts of suicide and self- harm than have ever been recorded. The full effects of increased learning loss, social isolation, uncertainty, and trauma may not manifest for years, and schools must be prepared to deal with this preventatively.

That is why I am proud to introduce this bill, which would direct the Secretary of Education to establish a $20 million 4-year pilot grant program to help schools serving low-income students address mental and behavioral wellbeing, as well as academic, cognitive, and social and emotional development, through multi-tier, evidence-based interventions that foster positive learning environments. More specifically, this funding may be used for providing professional development opportunities, encouraging restorative policies, establishing racially, culturally, and linguistically appropriate trauma-informed practices, and hiring more school-based mental and behavioral health professionals.

I want to thank Representative David Trone for introducing this bill with me, and I hope our colleagues will join us in support of this solution to our youth mental health crisis.

Thank you, Mr. President. ______

By Mr. CORNYN (for himself, Ms. Warren, Mr. Markey, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Padilla, and Mr. Casey):

S. 2738. A bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the United States Army Dustoff crews of the Vietnam War, collectively, in recognition of their extrodinary heroism and life-saving actions in Vietnam; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

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