Hatch to Speak on and Introduce Legislation Related to Teen Suicide in Utah
Washington, D.C.—Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior Republican in the United States Senate, will speak on the Senate floor tomorrow on the issue of teen suicide in Utah. In his remarks Hatch will discuss a roundtable discussion he held in Utah in December with parents, teachers, and local leaders, and some of the important lessons he brought back to Washington. Hatch will also speak about critical teen suicide prevention legislation he is introducing tomorrow.
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Hatch Introduces Critical Suicide Prevention Legislation
Washington, D.C.—Senators Orrin Hatch, (R-UT), the senior Republican in the United States Senate, today introduced critical legislation to prevent suicide, particularly among teenagers and veterans.
“Every 14 hours, a Utahn commits suicide, resulting in an average of 557 deaths each year,” Hatch said. “The problem is so acute that Utah now has the 5th highest suicide rate in the nation. This trend is particularly pronounced among Utah’s youth. Utah’s teenagers desperately need our help. That’s why last December I convened a roundtable discussion with community leaders, healthcare professionals, principals, and parents at East High School in Salt Lake City. There, we discussed proven methods to destigmatize mental illness and address the teen suicide crisis. In response to what I learned at our roundtable discussion, I will introduce the bipartisan National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act, which will make it easier for Americans to access the help and treatment they need when they consider harming themselves.”
Senator Hatch will speak in greater detail about his efforts on the Senate floor at 5 PM. Tune in here.
Senator Hatch’s bill will reform the current suicide prevention lifeline system and Veterans Crisis Line by requiring the Federal Communications Commission—in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs—to study the current national suicide hotline system and make recommendations to Congress on how we can improve it, including the recommendation of an easy to remember 3-digit number for the national suicide prevention hotline.
Facebook live Video of Hatch’s December roundtable discussion can be found here. [PART 1][PART 2]
Media coverage of the event can be found here.
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Hatch, Wyden, Murkowski, and Cantwell Introduce Bill to Reauthorize Secure Rural Schools Program
Washington, D.C.— Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), today introduced legislation reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS). The SRS supports public schools, public roads, forest health projects, emergency services and many other essential county services for more than 775 counties.
“Over the past 30 years, massive reductions in our nation’s federal timber production have resulted in a serious decline in timber revenues for so many of our rural county governments,” Hatch said. “Because of this, Congress created the Secure Rural Schools program to help maintain essential local government services. Since the SRS program lapsed, forest counties have seen more than an 80 percent reduction in timber receipts. Prevailing uncertainties about these necessary funds make it nearly impossible for impacted rural local governments to plan their local budgets, and I ve committed to helping local leaders get the certainty their communities deserve. We all recognize that we have to find an acceptable way to pay for this program before the bill can move forward in the Senate and as Chairman of the Finance committee I look forward to working toward finding a suitable offset.”
“Reauthorizing Secure Rural Schools is about keeping the doors open in rural Oregon and rural America,” Wyden said. “Counties need a comprehensive and consistent approach to these three essentials: federal resources through SRS, local support and sustainably increasing the harvest. This is urgent business for rural counties in Oregon to keep schools open, make essential road repairs and keep law enforcement on the beat. Our bipartisan coalition gives SRS the best chance for success right now, and I am going to stay at it to give struggling communities the long-term certainty they need.”
“This bill is a temporary fix to long-term problems that demand policy reforms, but as we pursue those, it will provide crucial funding to help keep our forest dependent communities whole,” Murkowski said. “The only real solution is to have our federal lands managed in a way that will promote economic activity and generate jobs. I appreciate the leadership of Sens. Hatch and Wyden on this bill, and look forward to working with them to advance it into law.”
“This legislation is so important to give local governments and local economies across the West the certainty they need,” Senator Cantwell said. "This will support schools, roads, and emergency services in our rural communities.”
Background
This bill:
Hatch to Speak on and Introduce Legislation Related to Teen Suicide in Utah
Washington, D.C.—Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior Republican in the United States Senate, will speak on the Senate floor tomorrow on the issue of teen suicide in Utah. In his remarks Hatch will discuss a roundtable discussion he held in Utah in December with parents, teachers, and local leaders, and some of the important lessons he brought back to Washington. Hatch will also speak about critical teen suicide prevention legislation he is introducing tomorrow.
Facebook live Video of Hatch’s December roundtable discussion can be found here. [PART 1][PART 2]
Media coverage of the event can be found here.
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Hatch Takes on Epidemic of Teen Suicide
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Hatch Takes on Epidemic of Teen Suicide
“More of America’s youth die each year from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease combined."
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