Floor Statements

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a business meeting has been scheduled before Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The business meeting will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2009, at 9:30 a.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the business meeting is to consider pending energy legislation.

For further information, please contact Sam Fowler at (202) 224-7571 or Amanda Kelly at (202) 224-6836.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2009, at 2:15 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate office building. The Chairman intends to conclude the hearing by 3:00 p.m.

The purpose of the hearing is to consider the nomination of Catherine Radford Zoi, to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Energy, Efficiency, and Renewable Energy), the nomination of William F. Brinkman, to be Director of the Office of Science, Department of Energy, and the nomination of Anne Castle, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record may do so by sending it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510-6150, or by e-mail to Amanda [email protected].

For further information, please contact Sam Fowler at (202) 224-7571 or Amanda Kelly at (202) 224-6836.

Mr. President, today Senator Udall and I are introducing a bill that will help end a contentious dispute over water rights claims in the Rio Pojoaque general stream adjudication in New Mexico. This is accomplished by authorizing an Indian water rights settlement of the claims being pursued by the Nambe, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, and Tesuque Pueblos in the Rio Pojoaque basin north of Santa Fe.

This general stream adjudication is known as the Aamodt case, and I believe it is the longest active case in the Federal court system nationwide. The case began in 1966, and since that time has been actively litigated before the New Mexico District Court and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Forty years of litigation has resolved very little in the basin. Fortunately, the parties to the case took matters into their own hands. By engaging directly with each other they have resolved their differences, something the litigation could not accomplish. The Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act represents an agreement by the parties that will secure water to meet the present and future needs of the four Pueblos involved in the litigation; protect the interests and rights of longstanding water users, including century-old irrigation practices; and ensure that water is available for municipal and domestic needs for all residents in the Pojoaque basin. Negotiation of this agreement was a lengthy process. In the end, however, the parties' commitment to solving water supply issues in the basin prevailed.

Legislation to implement this settlement was introduced in the 110th Congress. Hearings were held in both the House and Senate and based on the submitted testimony a number of changes were made to address concerns with the legislation. These changes help standardize the Pueblos' waivers of claims as part of the settlement; limit the settlement's impact on the Federal budget; and allows for flexibility in developing the size and scope of the regional water system in response to local concerns.

This settlement is widely supported in the region and it is time to move swiftly to enact this legislation. The State of New Mexico deserves recognition for actively pursuing a settlement of this matter and committing significant resources so that the Federal government does not bear the entire cost of the settlement. The bill is critical to New Mexico's future since it provides certainty in allocating water in a perennially water-short area of the state. It also helps address a long-neglected responsibility of the Federal Government to protect the rights and interests of these Pueblos. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate as well as the House of Representatives to enact this legislation as soon as possible.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, today Senator Udall and I are introducing a bill that will help end a contentious dispute over water rights claims in the Rio Pojoaque general stream adjudication in New Mexico. This is accomplished by authorizing an Indian water rights settlement of the claims being pursued by the Nambe, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, and Tesuque Pueblos in the Rio Pojoaque basin north of Santa Fe.

This general stream adjudication is known as the Aamodt case, and I believe it is the longest active case in the Federal court system nationwide. The case began in 1966, and since that time has been actively litigated before the New Mexico District Court and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Forty years of litigation has resolved very little in the basin. Fortunately, the parties to the case took matters into their own hands. By engaging directly with each other they have resolved their differences, something the litigation could not accomplish. The Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act represents an agreement by the parties that will secure water to meet the present and future needs of the four Pueblos involved in the litigation; protect the interests and rights of longstanding water users, including century-old irrigation practices; and ensure that water is available for municipal and domestic needs for all residents in the Pojoaque basin. Negotiation of this agreement was a lengthy process. In the end, however, the parties' commitment to solving water supply issues in the basin prevailed.

Legislation to implement this settlement was introduced in the 110th Congress. Hearings were held in both the House and Senate and based on the submitted testimony a number of changes were made to address concerns with the legislation. These changes help standardize the Pueblos' waivers of claims as part of the settlement; limit the settlement's impact on the Federal budget; and allows for flexibility in developing the size and scope of the regional water system in response to local concerns.

This settlement is widely supported in the region and it is time to move swiftly to enact this legislation. The State of New Mexico deserves recognition for actively pursuing a settlement of this matter and committing significant resources so that the Federal government does not bear the entire cost of the settlement. The bill is critical to New Mexico's future since it provides certainty in allocating water in a perennially water-short area of the state. It also helps address a long-neglected responsibility of the Federal Government to protect the rights and interests of these Pueblos. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate as well as the House of Representatives to enact this legislation as soon as possible.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Obesity Prevention, Treatment and Research Act of 2009. This legislation would develop a national strategy to organize our efforts to combat childhood and adult obesity. It would help foster unprecedented collaborations and collective actions across agencies, and among private entities, individuals, and communities.

The prevalence of obesity in the U.S. has grown to staggering proportions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics, 66 percent of adults and 32 percent of children are considered either overweight or obese. Over the past 30 years, the obesity rate has more than doubled across all age groups. The U.S. now has the highest prevalence of obesity among the developed nations. In fact, the prevalence of obesity in the U.S. in 2006, 34 percent, is more than twice the average for other developed nations.

The Obesity Prevention, Treatment and Research Act of 2009 comprehensively addresses the obesity and overweight epidemic by focusing on coordinating and augmenting existing prevention and treatment activities. This legislation is based on recommendations of the Institutes of Medicine, IOM, to confront the obesity epidemic. It focuses on developing dynamic new collaborations and will improve access for beneficiaries in Medicare, Medicaid, and other Federal programs to nutritional counseling, prevention services, and physical education programs.

Obesity is a costly problem for the U.S. both in terms of health care expenditures and the loss of life. The incidence of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and progressive liver disease--ailments once associated only with adults--is rising among overweight children. These health risks compound with age, since overweight children and adolescents are more likely to become obese adults. For the first time in our history, the lifespan of a child born today may be less than that of his or her parents. Interventions aimed at significantly decreasing the prevalence of these illnesses are extremely cost effective and are critical to overall disease prevention and health promotion efforts. The Trust for America's Health recently reported that an investment of just $10 per person per year in proven community- based disease prevention programs would yield a $2.8 billion annual health expenditure reduction. Put another way, our nation would recoup nearly $1 over and above the cost of a comprehensive disease prevention and health promotion program for every $1 invested in the first 1 to 2 years of the program. To that end, my legislation creates grant programs to provide funding to schools, community health centers, academic institutions, State medical societies, State health departments, and communities to reduce the prevalence of obesity and improve the prevention and treatment of individuals who are obese or overweight.

The Obesity Prevention, Treatment and Research Act of 2009 establishes the U.S. Council on Overweight & Obesity Prevention, USCO- OP, which is charged with creating a comprehensive strategy to prevent, treat and reduce the prevalence of overweight individuals and obesity. This advisory council will update Federal guidelines; identify best practices; conduct ongoing surveillance and monitoring of existing Federal programs; and make recommendations to coordinate budgets, policies, and programs across Federal agencies in collaboration with private and public partners. In addition, the Council will help develop and update the daily physical activity requirements in our schools, and identify activities that families can do together.

It is also critical to recognize that certain populations are more vulnerable than others to the obesity epidemic. Minorities, especially from Hispanic and Native American communities, are disproportionately affected by this disease. For example, in my home State of New Mexico, approximately 26 percent of Hispanic and 32 percent of Native American adolescents, grades 9-12, are overweight or obese; the rate of prevalence is less than 20 percent among white, non-Hispanic adolescents. I have, therefore, prioritized grants in this legislation to these populations and required Federal reporting on research and data related to obesity in disproportionately affected groups. This includes grants aimed at behavioral risk factors such as sedentary lifestyles and poor nutrition.

This bill will help further develop and then increase funding to the Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. This will help ensure that low-income children will have access to healthier foods within their schools. In addition, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture will be tasked to consult with the USCO-OP to update and reform Federal oversight of food and beverage labeling. Such reforms include improving the transparency of labeling with regard to nutritional and caloric value of food and beverages.

I think it is imperative that we provide treatment to those individuals who are likely to develop obesity-related ailments before the full onset of disease. The Obesity Prevention, Treatment and Research Act of 2009 does this by expanding coverage of Medicare to include medical nutritional counseling for beneficiaries who are overweight or obese and are considered pre-diabetics. In addition, my legislation gives States the option to include medical nutrition therapy services in Medicaid and SCHIP.

There is no doubt that the obesity epidemic has grown immensely. I am confident, however, that it can be stopped but it requires a nationwide commitment for resolution. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact this legislation this year.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Obesity Prevention, Treatment and Research Act of 2009. This legislation would develop a national strategy to organize our efforts to combat childhood and adult obesity. It would help foster unprecedented collaborations and collective actions across agencies, and among private entities, individuals, and communities.

The prevalence of obesity in the U.S. has grown to staggering proportions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics, 66 percent of adults and 32 percent of children are considered either overweight or obese. Over the past 30 years, the obesity rate has more than doubled across all age groups. The U.S. now has the highest prevalence of obesity among the developed nations. In fact, the prevalence of obesity in the U.S. in 2006, 34 percent, is more than twice the average for other developed nations.

The Obesity Prevention, Treatment and Research Act of 2009 comprehensively addresses the obesity and overweight epidemic by focusing on coordinating and augmenting existing prevention and treatment activities. This legislation is based on recommendations of the Institutes of Medicine, IOM, to confront the obesity epidemic. It focuses on developing dynamic new collaborations and will improve access for beneficiaries in Medicare, Medicaid, and other Federal programs to nutritional counseling, prevention services, and physical education programs.

Obesity is a costly problem for the U.S. both in terms of health care expenditures and the loss of life. The incidence of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and progressive liver disease--ailments once associated only with adults--is rising among overweight children. These health risks compound with age, since overweight children and adolescents are more likely to become obese adults. For the first time in our history, the lifespan of a child born today may be less than that of his or her parents. Interventions aimed at significantly decreasing the prevalence of these illnesses are extremely cost effective and are critical to overall disease prevention and health promotion efforts. The Trust for America's Health recently reported that an investment of just $10 per person per year in proven community- based disease prevention programs would yield a $2.8 billion annual health expenditure reduction. Put another way, our nation would recoup nearly $1 over and above the cost of a comprehensive disease prevention and health promotion program for every $1 invested in the first 1 to 2 years of the program. To that end, my legislation creates grant programs to provide funding to schools, community health centers, academic institutions, State medical societies, State health departments, and communities to reduce the prevalence of obesity and improve the prevention and treatment of individuals who are obese or overweight.

The Obesity Prevention, Treatment and Research Act of 2009 establishes the U.S. Council on Overweight & Obesity Prevention, USCO- OP, which is charged with creating a comprehensive strategy to prevent, treat and reduce the prevalence of overweight individuals and obesity. This advisory council will update Federal guidelines; identify best practices; conduct ongoing surveillance and monitoring of existing Federal programs; and make recommendations to coordinate budgets, policies, and programs across Federal agencies in collaboration with private and public partners. In addition, the Council will help develop and update the daily physical activity requirements in our schools, and identify activities that families can do together.

It is also critical to recognize that certain populations are more vulnerable than others to the obesity epidemic. Minorities, especially from Hispanic and Native American communities, are disproportionately affected by this disease. For example, in my home State of New Mexico, approximately 26 percent of Hispanic and 32 percent of Native American adolescents, grades 9-12, are overweight or obese; the rate of prevalence is less than 20 percent among white, non-Hispanic adolescents. I have, therefore, prioritized grants in this legislation to these populations and required Federal reporting on research and data related to obesity in disproportionately affected groups. This includes grants aimed at behavioral risk factors such as sedentary lifestyles and poor nutrition.

This bill will help further develop and then increase funding to the Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. This will help ensure that low-income children will have access to healthier foods within their schools. In addition, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture will be tasked to consult with the USCO-OP to update and reform Federal oversight of food and beverage labeling. Such reforms include improving the transparency of labeling with regard to nutritional and caloric value of food and beverages.

I think it is imperative that we provide treatment to those individuals who are likely to develop obesity-related ailments before the full onset of disease. The Obesity Prevention, Treatment and Research Act of 2009 does this by expanding coverage of Medicare to include medical nutritional counseling for beneficiaries who are overweight or obese and are considered pre-diabetics. In addition, my legislation gives States the option to include medical nutrition therapy services in Medicaid and SCHIP.

There is no doubt that the obesity epidemic has grown immensely. I am confident, however, that it can be stopped but it requires a nationwide commitment for resolution. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact this legislation this year.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a business meeting has been scheduled before Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The business meeting will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 10:30 a.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate office building.

The purpose of the business meeting is to consider pending energy legislation.

For further information, please contact Sam Fowler at (202) 224-7571 or Amanda Kelly at (202) 224-6836.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a business meeting has been scheduled before Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The business meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 2:15 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the business meeting is to consider pending energy legislation.

For further information, please contact Sam Fowler at (202) 224-7571 or Amanda Kelly at (202) 224-6836.

Mr. President, I am introducing legislation today entitled the Strengthening America's Public Health System Act of 2009.

The ongoing swine flu pandemic makes clear the necessity for a robust public health system in the U.S. This legislation is designed to strengthen epidemiology and laboratory capacity in State and local health departments and, correspondingly, national surveillance and reporting of infectious diseases and other conditions of public health importance.

Currently, many parts of the local-state-federal disease surveillance system are fragmented and paper-based, and have not fully benefited from new technologies that could improve the completeness and timeliness of reporting. A 2007 survey found that 20 states are manually reporting diagnostic findings, albeit with a web interface, and 16 are completely paper-based. Only 2 State public health laboratories have bidirectional data flow and can both send and receive laboratory messages, the gold standard for disease reporting. The potential for new pathogen discovery, rapid electronic exchange of public health information, national bacterial and viral databases for DNA ``fingerprinting'' of infectious disease organisms has not been fully realized. My legislation focuses on improving electronic disease surveillance and reporting so that all state and local health departments and public health laboratories can readily and seamlessly receive, monitor, and report infectious diseases and other urgent conditions of public health importance. The bill also authorizes a process for determining a list of nationally notifiable diseases and conditions and, creates a national committee to evaluate best practices in public health surveillance.

The Strengthening America's Public Health System Act calls for the expansion of resources, renewed focus and mission, and new areas of special emphasis for several existing programs within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC. These programs support public health capacity to identify and monitor the occurrence of infectious diseases and other conditions of public health importance; detect new and emerging infectious disease threats, including laboratory capacity to detect antimicrobial resistant infections; identify and respond to disease outbreaks; and hire and train necessary professional staff.

The outbreak of swine flu that originated in Mexico highlights the need for cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico in the surveillance, reporting and control of infectious diseases that cross the border. Clear standards, however, have not yet been established for what information should be shared and how the sharing should take place. My legislation tasks the CDC to finalize and adopt the ``Guidelines for U.S.-Mexico Coordination on Epidemiological Events of Mutual Interest'' so that we have a clear mechanism in place for communication with public health officials in Mexico.

This important legislation has been endorsed by the: American Association of Public Health Veterinarians, American Public Health Association, American Society for Microbiology, Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology, Association of Public Health Laboratories, Association of Schools of Public Health, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Infectious Diseases Society of America, National Association of County and City Health Officials, National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, National Public Health Information Coalition, Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, and Trust for America's Health.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I am introducing legislation today entitled the Strengthening America's Public Health System Act of 2009.

The ongoing swine flu pandemic makes clear the necessity for a robust public health system in the U.S. This legislation is designed to strengthen epidemiology and laboratory capacity in State and local health departments and, correspondingly, national surveillance and reporting of infectious diseases and other conditions of public health importance.

Currently, many parts of the local-state-federal disease surveillance system are fragmented and paper-based, and have not fully benefited from new technologies that could improve the completeness and timeliness of reporting. A 2007 survey found that 20 states are manually reporting diagnostic findings, albeit with a web interface, and 16 are completely paper-based. Only 2 State public health laboratories have bidirectional data flow and can both send and receive laboratory messages, the gold standard for disease reporting. The potential for new pathogen discovery, rapid electronic exchange of public health information, national bacterial and viral databases for DNA ``fingerprinting'' of infectious disease organisms has not been fully realized. My legislation focuses on improving electronic disease surveillance and reporting so that all state and local health departments and public health laboratories can readily and seamlessly receive, monitor, and report infectious diseases and other urgent conditions of public health importance. The bill also authorizes a process for determining a list of nationally notifiable diseases and conditions and, creates a national committee to evaluate best practices in public health surveillance.

The Strengthening America's Public Health System Act calls for the expansion of resources, renewed focus and mission, and new areas of special emphasis for several existing programs within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC. These programs support public health capacity to identify and monitor the occurrence of infectious diseases and other conditions of public health importance; detect new and emerging infectious disease threats, including laboratory capacity to detect antimicrobial resistant infections; identify and respond to disease outbreaks; and hire and train necessary professional staff.

The outbreak of swine flu that originated in Mexico highlights the need for cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico in the surveillance, reporting and control of infectious diseases that cross the border. Clear standards, however, have not yet been established for what information should be shared and how the sharing should take place. My legislation tasks the CDC to finalize and adopt the ``Guidelines for U.S.-Mexico Coordination on Epidemiological Events of Mutual Interest'' so that we have a clear mechanism in place for communication with public health officials in Mexico.

This important legislation has been endorsed by the: American Association of Public Health Veterinarians, American Public Health Association, American Society for Microbiology, Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology, Association of Public Health Laboratories, Association of Schools of Public Health, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Infectious Diseases Society of America, National Association of County and City Health Officials, National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, National Public Health Information Coalition, Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, and Trust for America's Health.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I am pleased to have been able to introduce the Department of Energy Carbon Capture and Sequestration Program Amendments Act of 2009, S. 1013, along with Sens. Barasso, Dorgan, Tester, Udall, Bayh, Landrieu, Casey, and Voinovich. It is critical that we work towards reducing our greenhouse gas footprint while producing safe and secure, clean energy here in America. I believe this bill will go far to incentivize early project developers to start reducing their carbon dioxide emissions through carbon capture and geologic sequestration.

This bipartisan bill establishes a national indemnity program through the Department of Energy for up to 10 commercial-scale carbon capture and sequestration projects. There is a clear need for liability treatments and adequate project financing for early mover projects. An indemnity program is a strong step to building confidence for project developers and demonstrates that the projects will be conducted safely while addressing the growing concerns of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from industrial facilities, such as coal and natural gas fired utilities, cement plants, refineries and other carbon intensive industrial processes.

In addition, the legislation maps out a clear framework for closing down a geological storage site. It is essential to consider the issue of safe, long-term storage of carbon dioxide and take the steps needed for site stewardship during the injection phase, directly following closure and for long-term preventative maintenance of the geologic storage site. Many stakeholders associate maintenance issues with liability concerns, however they should be viewed as two separate entities. Maintenance is essential for reducing risk and limiting liabilities at a storage site, and it is critical to have robust monitoring and verification of an injected carbon dioxide plume at each of the storage sites that would continue well past site closure. With a proper site maintenance program developed for each project, risk will be minimized and developers will have greater confidence that liabilities will not be incurred. This legislation will require science-based monitoring and verification of the injected carbon dioxide plume throughout the life of the project to well beyond the closure phase.

Also, as carbon capture and sequestration projects grow in both scale and number, there will be an increasing need to train qualified regulators to oversee the permitting, operation, and closure of geologic storage sites. This bill creates a grant program whose goal

is to train State agencies and personnel who oversee the regulatory aspects of geologic storage of carbon dioxide.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a business meeting has been scheduled before Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The business meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2009, at 10 a.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the business meeting is to consider pending nominations and pending energy legislation.

For further information, please contact Sam Fowler at (202) 224-7571 or Amanda Kelly at (202) 224-6836.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2009, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate office building.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on S. 1013, the Department of Energy Carbon Capture and Sequestration Program Amendments Act of 2009.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record may do so by sending it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by e-mail to [email protected]

For further information, please contact Allyson Anderson at (202) 224-7143 or Rosemarie Calabro at (202) 224-5039.

Mr. President, I am introducing legislation today with Ms. Collins and Ms. Stabenow entitled Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2009.

This important legislation will address the national shortage of children's mental health professionals, including school-based professionals, by encouraging more individuals to enter these critical fields. The landmark 1999 Surgeon General's report on mental health brought a hidden mental health crisis to the attention of the U.S. public. According to that report, 13.7 million children in our country--about one in five--suffer from a diagnosable emotional or behavioral disorder. Such disorders as Anxiety Disorders, Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Depression are among the most common in this age group. Yet more than \2/3\ of these children do not receive any treatment. Long waiting lists for children seeking services, including those in crisis, are not uncommon. The primary reason is that severe shortages exist in qualified mental health professionals, including child and adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors. The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health also found that ``the supply of well-trained mental health professionals is inadequate in most areas of the country . . . particular shortages exist for mental health providers who serve children, adolescents, and older Americans.'' The situation is no better in our public schools, where children's mental health needs are often first identified. According to the National Center for Education Statistics within the Department of Education, there are approximately 479 students for each school counselor in U.S. schools, nearly twice the recommended ratio of 250 students for each counselor.

The situation in my home State of New Mexico is a case in point. Estimates suggest that 56,000 children and adolescents in New Mexico have an emotional or behavioral disorder. Of these, roughly 20,000 have serious disturbances that impair their ability to fulfill the demands of everyday life. In 2009, there were a total of 55 child and adolescent psychiatrists in the entire State of New Mexico. The impact of this shortage on the affected children and their communities is disconcerting. Research shows that children with untreated emotional and behavioral disorders are at higher risk for school failure and dropping out of school, violence, drug abuse, suicide, and criminal activity. For New Mexico youth, the suicide rate is twice the national average, the fourth highest in the nation, and the third leading cause of death. By one estimate, roughly 1 in 7 youth in New Mexico detention centers are in need of mental health treatment that is just not available.

New Mexico is not alone in its struggle to address the needs of these children. Nationwide, over 1,600 urban, suburban, and rural communities have been designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas by the Federal Government due to their severe lack of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other professionals to serve children and adults. Rural areas are especially hard hit. For example, in New Mexico there is one psychiatrist per 20,000 residents in rural areas, whereas in urban areas there is one per 3,000 residents. In rural and frontier counties, it is not unusual for the parents of a child in need of services to travel 60 to 90 miles to reach the nearest psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental health provider.

Finally, graduate programs providing the vital pipeline for the child mental health workforce have not sufficiently increased their funding, class sizes, and training programs to meet the ever growing need for these specialists. In the U.S., only 300 new child and adolescent psychiatrists are trained each year, despite projections by the Bureau of Health Professions that the shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrist will grow to 4,000 by the year 2020. Federal grant funding for graduate psychology education has also been significantly reduced in the past 2 years, which could reduce the numbers of child and adolescent psychologists entering the profession.

Clearly something needs to be done to address this serious shortage in mental health professionals to meet the growing needs of our Nation's youth. It is for this reason that I rise today to offer the Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2009. This bill creates incentives to help recruit and retain mental health professionals providing direct clinical care, and to help create, expand, and improve programs to train child mental health professionals. It provides loan repayments and scholarships for child mental health and school-based service professionals as well as internships and field placements in child mental health services and training for paraprofessionals who work in children's mental health clinical settings. The bill also provides grants to graduate schools to help develop and expand child and adolescent mental health programs. It restores the Medicare Graduate Medical Education Program funding for child and adolescent psychiatrists and extends the board eligibility period for residents and fellows from 4 years to 6 years. Across all mental health professions, priority for loan repayments, scholarships, and grants is given to individuals and programs serving children and adolescents in high-need areas.

Finally, the Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2009 requires the Secretary to prepare a report on the distribution and need for child mental health and school-based professionals, including disparities in the availability of services, on a State-by-State basis. This report will help Congress more clearly ascertain the mental health workforce needs that are facing our Nation.

This important legislation has been endorsed by the following organizations: Alliance for Children and Families, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, American Counseling Association, American Group Psychotherapy Association, American Mental Health Counselors Association, American Orthopsychiatric Association,

American Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, American Psychological Association, Anxiety Disorders Association of America, Association for the Advancement of Psychology, Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Attention Disorder, Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, Child Welfare League of America, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Children's Healthcare Is a Legal Duty, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Eating Disorders Coalition for Research Policy & Action, Mental Health America, National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association for Children's Behavioral Health, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Social Workers, National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, National Mental Health Awareness Campaign, Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, Therapeutic Communities of America, U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, Witness Justice.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I am introducing legislation today with Ms. Collins and Ms. Stabenow entitled Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2009.

This important legislation will address the national shortage of children's mental health professionals, including school-based professionals, by encouraging more individuals to enter these critical fields. The landmark 1999 Surgeon General's report on mental health brought a hidden mental health crisis to the attention of the U.S. public. According to that report, 13.7 million children in our country--about one in five--suffer from a diagnosable emotional or behavioral disorder. Such disorders as Anxiety Disorders, Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Depression are among the most common in this age group. Yet more than \2/3\ of these children do not receive any treatment. Long waiting lists for children seeking services, including those in crisis, are not uncommon. The primary reason is that severe shortages exist in qualified mental health professionals, including child and adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors. The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health also found that ``the supply of well-trained mental health professionals is inadequate in most areas of the country . . . particular shortages exist for mental health providers who serve children, adolescents, and older Americans.'' The situation is no better in our public schools, where children's mental health needs are often first identified. According to the National Center for Education Statistics within the Department of Education, there are approximately 479 students for each school counselor in U.S. schools, nearly twice the recommended ratio of 250 students for each counselor.

The situation in my home State of New Mexico is a case in point. Estimates suggest that 56,000 children and adolescents in New Mexico have an emotional or behavioral disorder. Of these, roughly 20,000 have serious disturbances that impair their ability to fulfill the demands of everyday life. In 2009, there were a total of 55 child and adolescent psychiatrists in the entire State of New Mexico. The impact of this shortage on the affected children and their communities is disconcerting. Research shows that children with untreated emotional and behavioral disorders are at higher risk for school failure and dropping out of school, violence, drug abuse, suicide, and criminal activity. For New Mexico youth, the suicide rate is twice the national average, the fourth highest in the nation, and the third leading cause of death. By one estimate, roughly 1 in 7 youth in New Mexico detention centers are in need of mental health treatment that is just not available.

New Mexico is not alone in its struggle to address the needs of these children. Nationwide, over 1,600 urban, suburban, and rural communities have been designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas by the Federal Government due to their severe lack of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other professionals to serve children and adults. Rural areas are especially hard hit. For example, in New Mexico there is one psychiatrist per 20,000 residents in rural areas, whereas in urban areas there is one per 3,000 residents. In rural and frontier counties, it is not unusual for the parents of a child in need of services to travel 60 to 90 miles to reach the nearest psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental health provider.

Finally, graduate programs providing the vital pipeline for the child mental health workforce have not sufficiently increased their funding, class sizes, and training programs to meet the ever growing need for these specialists. In the U.S., only 300 new child and adolescent psychiatrists are trained each year, despite projections by the Bureau of Health Professions that the shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrist will grow to 4,000 by the year 2020. Federal grant funding for graduate psychology education has also been significantly reduced in the past 2 years, which could reduce the numbers of child and adolescent psychologists entering the profession.

Clearly something needs to be done to address this serious shortage in mental health professionals to meet the growing needs of our Nation's youth. It is for this reason that I rise today to offer the Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2009. This bill creates incentives to help recruit and retain mental health professionals providing direct clinical care, and to help create, expand, and improve programs to train child mental health professionals. It provides loan repayments and scholarships for child mental health and school-based service professionals as well as internships and field placements in child mental health services and training for paraprofessionals who work in children's mental health clinical settings. The bill also provides grants to graduate schools to help develop and expand child and adolescent mental health programs. It restores the Medicare Graduate Medical Education Program funding for child and adolescent psychiatrists and extends the board eligibility period for residents and fellows from 4 years to 6 years. Across all mental health professions, priority for loan repayments, scholarships, and grants is given to individuals and programs serving children and adolescents in high-need areas.

Finally, the Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2009 requires the Secretary to prepare a report on the distribution and need for child mental health and school-based professionals, including disparities in the availability of services, on a State-by-State basis. This report will help Congress more clearly ascertain the mental health workforce needs that are facing our Nation.

This important legislation has been endorsed by the following organizations: Alliance for Children and Families, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, American Counseling Association, American Group Psychotherapy Association, American Mental Health Counselors Association, American Orthopsychiatric Association,

American Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, American Psychological Association, Anxiety Disorders Association of America, Association for the Advancement of Psychology, Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Attention Disorder, Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, Child Welfare League of America, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Children's Healthcare Is a Legal Duty, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Eating Disorders Coalition for Research Policy & Action, Mental Health America, National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association for Children's Behavioral Health, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Social Workers, National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, National Mental Health Awareness Campaign, Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, Therapeutic Communities of America, U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, Witness Justice.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate office building.

The purpose of the legislative hearing is to receive testimony on S. 967, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Modernization Act of 2009, and S. 283, a bill to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to modify the conditions for the release of products from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve Account.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record may do so by sending it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by e-mail to [email protected].

For further information, please contact Tara Billingsley at (202) 224-4756 or Rosemarie Calabro at (202) 224-5039.