Press Releases

LOWELL, MA – Last week, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, secured passage of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Reauthorization Act through the House and Senate. The legislation, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden on Friday, was included in the year-end omnibus package. 

“As a mom of two young girls, supporting our kids’ mental health has been a top priority for me, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why, alongside a bipartisan coalition of members, I introduced legislation to extend and strengthen key youth suicide prevention programs with a long track record of success,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “With the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act reauthorized, we are ensuring science-backed suicide prevention programs can continue saving lives. I’m grateful for the partnership of Congresswomen Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Cindy Axne, and Young Kim for their commitment to getting this done.”

The Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Memorial Reauthorization Act ensures the continuation and strengthening of community-based youth and young adult suicide prevention efforts that were set to expire on December 31st. Studies have found that GLS has been effective in lowering the rate of youth and young adult suicides:

• From 2006 to 2015, counties with GLS initiatives had lower rates of youth suicide for a longer period of time compared to counties without such programs.
• Counties implementing GLS programs had significantly lower suicide rates for youth and young adults following implementation, which averted an estimated 79,000 suicide attempts.

“The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Reauthorization Act included in the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus package will save lives. By making suicide prevention programming available for students and supporting families in securing means used in suicide, we are taking critical steps forward in protecting our young people,” said Mark Barden, co-founder and CEO of the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. “We thank Representative Lori Trahan (D-MA), and Representatives Cindy Axne (D-IA), Young Kim (R-CA), and Ranking Member McMorris Rogers (R-WA) for their bipartisan leadership to ensure increased funding for youth suicide prevention.”

Trahan originally introduced this bipartisan legislation with Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-05) and Congresswomen Young Kim (R-CA-39), and Cindy Axne (D-IA-03) in March 2022. It was passed in the House in June as part of a larger bipartisan mental health and addiction package, but had stalled in the Senate until its passage last week.

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