A joint resolution redesignating the Robert E. Lee Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery as the "Arlington House National Historic Site".

Madam President, today, I am introducing legislation to remove ``Robert E. Lee Memorial'' from the official name of Arlington House.

This legislation is partially inspired by requests from descendants of General Robert E. Lee and people who were enslaved at Arlington House. This is an effort to promote a society that is more just and equitable for all, regardless of race, by moving on from a public symbol that honors a figure that fought to protect slavery.

Arlington House is the first name of the historic mansion, which sits on Federal land within Arlington National Cemetery. The property is administered by the National Park Service and overlooks the Potomac River and the Nation's Capital. The house was built by Martha Custis Washington's grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, as the Nation's first memorial to George Washington. Later, his daughter married Robert E. Lee and the couple lived in the home until the Civil War, when Federal forces occupied the house and surrounding property. During that period, the site was chosen to serve as a national military cemetery in part to prevent Lee from returning.

Only in the 20th century, in 1955 and again in 1972, did Congress add the commemorative text honoring Robert E. Lee to the site's formal name in Federal statute. This was part of a retrograde effort across the former Confederacy to bestow public recognition on prominent Confederate figures as heroes while minimizing or whitewashing their roles in taking up arms

against the United States to preserve slavery. As Senator from the State that has among the most difficult histories when it comes to slavery, civil rights, and Confederate monuments, I believe these symbolic proposals matter, that the Federal Government should reserve honorifics for individuals whose lives advanced American values and ideals, not detracted from them.

Today, the National Park Service is dedicated to telling the story of those who were enslaved at the Arlington House. I am hopeful that this name change will help to do just a little bit more to encapsulate the full history of the site, which included the presence of many families and generations throughout history, such as the Syphax, Burke, Parks, and Gray families.

I am pleased that companion legislation is also being introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by my colleague, Representative Don Beyer, who has led this effort for years.

Madam President, today, I am introducing legislation to remove ``Robert E. Lee Memorial'' from the official name of Arlington House.

This legislation is partially inspired by requests from descendants of General Robert E. Lee and people who were enslaved at Arlington House. This is an effort to promote a society that is more just and equitable for all, regardless of race, by moving on from a public symbol that honors a figure that fought to protect slavery.

Arlington House is the first name of the historic mansion, which sits on Federal land within Arlington National Cemetery. The property is administered by the National Park Service and overlooks the Potomac River and the Nation's Capital. The house was built by Martha Custis Washington's grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, as the Nation's first memorial to George Washington. Later, his daughter married Robert E. Lee and the couple lived in the home until the Civil War, when Federal forces occupied the house and surrounding property. During that period, the site was chosen to serve as a national military cemetery in part to prevent Lee from returning.

Only in the 20th century, in 1955 and again in 1972, did Congress add the commemorative text honoring Robert E. Lee to the site's formal name in Federal statute. This was part of a retrograde effort across the former Confederacy to bestow public recognition on prominent Confederate figures as heroes while minimizing or whitewashing their roles in taking up arms

against the United States to preserve slavery. As Senator from the State that has among the most difficult histories when it comes to slavery, civil rights, and Confederate monuments, I believe these symbolic proposals matter, that the Federal Government should reserve honorifics for individuals whose lives advanced American values and ideals, not detracted from them.

Today, the National Park Service is dedicated to telling the story of those who were enslaved at the Arlington House. I am hopeful that this name change will help to do just a little bit more to encapsulate the full history of the site, which included the presence of many families and generations throughout history, such as the Syphax, Burke, Parks, and Gray families.

I am pleased that companion legislation is also being introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by my colleague, Representative Don Beyer, who has led this effort for years.

Madam President, I rise to introduce the Supporting Mental Health for Military Children Act. This legislation would establish a routine mental-health and well-being checkup pilot program in Department of Defense Education Activity, DODEA, Schools.

In response to the growing youth mental health crisis in America, this bill would establish a biannual mental health screening program to ensure students have the resources they need to support their mental health, combat the stigmatization of seeking help, and promote healthy lifestyles.

Our Nation's young people are facing an unprecedented mental health crisis. An estimated 49.5 percent of American adolescents have had a mental health disorder at some point in their lives, with 50 percent of all lifetime mental illnesses beginning by age 14; 75 percent by age 24. This state of affairs was only worsened by the pandemic.

While these numbers are already staggering, military children are at even greater risk of mental/behavioral health problems than the general population given their unique vulnerability to adverse childhood experiences. As such, early screening and treatment are essential to decreasing the risk of suicide and improving management of/recovery from mental health conditions amongst this vulnerable segment of youth.

The evidence is clear: Ubiquitous mental health screening and education protocols, offered by 55 percent of U.S. public schools in 2019 to 2022, are well-tested, relatively low-resource, and high-impact ways to swiftly diagnose and treat mental health conditions amongst youth.

I would like to thank Congressman Moulton for his leadership and efforts on the House side. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Supporting Mental Health for Military Children Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. Speaker, in order to attend a funeral of a student who was a victim in the Perry school shooting in my District, I was unable to be present for the floor votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 4, Motion to Reconsider H. Res. 947; ``yea'' on rollcall No. 5, Adopiton of the Rule; ``nay'' on rollcall No. 6, Motion to Recommit; ``yea'' on rollcall No. 7, H.R. 788; and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 8, S.J. Res. 38.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 4. Motion to Reconsider H. Res. 947, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 5, H. Res. 947, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 6, Motion to Recommit, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 7, H.R. 788 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 8, S.J. Res. 35.

personal explanation