Introductory Statement on S. 5558

On 2026-09-24, Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) delivered a floor speech titled "Introductory Statement On S. 5558" in the Senate.

Introductory Statement on S. 5558

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 152 (Thursday, September 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 152 (Thursday, September 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S5004] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Tillis, and Mr. Merkley): S. 5558. A bill to direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program to facilitate the installation of evidence- based suicide deterrents, including suicide prevention nets and barriers, on certain infrastructure, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the bipartisan Barriers to Suicide Act. This legislation would establish competitive grants to help State and local governments fund nets and barriers that have been shown to reduce suicide on bridges and other high-risk infrastructure. This bipartisan bill would establish a grant program for States and localities to apply for Federal funding under the National Highway Performance Program to install nets, barriers, and other evidence-based suicide deterrents on bridges, buildings, parking garages, highway-rail grade crossings, and at rail stations. This bill would also authorize a study to identify the types of structures most commonly used for suicide attempts, types of barriers that are most effective in prevention, and additional strategies to reduce jumping deaths. The CDC estimated that about 12.8 million people seriously thought about suicide, 3.7 million made a plan, and 1.5 million attempted suicide in 2023. There were over 49,000 deaths from suicide in 2023 and between 2010 and 2020, 11,154 Americans lost their lives through suicide-by-jumping. Research shows that physical barriers on bridges and high structures can reduce suicide deaths at those sites by up to 90 percent. States and localities should have access to a grant program that allows them to proactively prevent suicide-by-jumping by building safety nets and barriers on bridges, buildings, parking garages, and at rail stations and highway-rail grade rail crossings, with the goal of preventing suicides. I would like to thank Senator Tillis for introducing this important legislation with me, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Barriers to Suicide Act as soon as possible. ______

Referenced legislation: S5558