Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by Senators Murkowski, Udall, Durbin, Coons, Warren, Schatz, Heinrich, Donnelly, Ayotte, Klobuchar, Blumenthal, Stabenow, Tester, Hirono, Merkley, Sanders, Grassley, Collins, and Reid in the introduction of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization. This legislation is named for the son of our former colleague, Senator Gordon Smith, who took his own life at the young age of 22. After this tragedy, Senator Smith worked to gain the support of members across the aisle and in both chambers to prevent other children from doing the same with passage of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act in 2004. Although great strides have been made over the last decade, suicide remains the third-leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults between the ages of 10 and 24. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, youth suicide results in approximately 4,600 lives lost each year. Additionally, the CDC reports that 157,000 young adults in this age group are treated for self- inflicted injuries annually, often as the result of a failed suicide attempt. More work must be done to address the mental and behavioral health of children and young adults before they hurt themselves and others. Parents also need help in identifying early warning signs of mental illness and accessing the appropriate treatment before it is too late.…”