Floor SpeechUrgent2026-06-24

Text of Senate Amendment 6054

EnvironmentDefenseInfrastructure

Context

On 2026-06-24, Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6054" in the Senate.

Full Text

Text of Senate Amendment 6054

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3261-S3262] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6054. Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Tillis) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of part I of subtitle F of title V, insert the following: SEC. 553. PILOT PROGRAM FOR ROUTINE MENTAL WELLNESS SCREENINGS IN SCHOOLS OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY. (a) Requirement.--Beginning not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish and implement a pilot program to provide developmentally appropriate, nondiagnostic mental wellness screenings for all students in grades 6 through 12 enrolled in covered DoDEA schools. Such screenings shall include the identification of internalizing concerns, such as anxiety and depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicidal behaviors, for the limited purposes of early identification of distress, referral to existing supports, and prevention, consistent with existing school-based health and wellness practices. (b) Timing of Screenings.--Screenings conducted under the pilot program required by subsection (a) shall be offered-- (1) annually, aligned with existing student health screening schedules; and (2) at key educational transition points or other periods of heightened stress, including [[Page S3262]] transitions into a new school or grade span resulting from a permanent change in station, as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (c) Screening Characteristics.--Screenings conducted under the pilot program required by subsection (a) shall-- (1) use validated, reliable, and age-appropriate screening tools, with preference given to tools that are free or available at minimal cost; (2) include general questions related to emotional wellbeing, stress, mood, and functional concerns, including questions designed to detect internalizing symptoms and risk for suicidal thoughts or suicidal behaviors; and (3) be designed to identify potential need for additional support rather than to diagnose mental health conditions. (d) Selection of Schools.--The Secretary shall select three covered DoDEA schools to participate in the pilot program required by subsection (a), one from each of geographic region of the Department of Defense Education Activity. (e) Administration and Oversight.-- (1) In general.--Screenings conducted under the pilot program required by subsection (a)-- (A) may be completed by students independently using school-issued devices during noninstructional or noncurricular time, such as a homeroom period, advisory period, study hall, or other designated setting, in a quiet, structured school environment and consistent with school policies; and (B) shall be administered through school-approved platforms or systems that allow secure collection, storage, and access to screening information in accordance with applicable privacy laws. (2) Oversight.--Nurses, counselors, psychologists, or other appropriately trained personnel at covered DoDEA schools, in coordination with existing medical, educational, and student support systems of the Department of Defense, shall be responsible for oversight of-- (A) administration of screenings conducted under the pilot program required by subsection (a); (B) review and interpretation of results of such screenings; and (C) follow-up actions, as appropriate. (3) Use of funds.--Funds made available to carry out this section may be used to support training, professional development, and technical assistance to ensure screenings conducted under the pilot program required by subsection (a) are administered appropriately, ethically, and in accordance with evidence-informed, school-based practices, using existing personnel and systems to the maximum extent practicable. (f) Parental Rights and Communication.--In carrying out the pilot program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall-- (1) require advance written notification to parents or legal guardians describing the preventive, nondiagnostic purpose, general content, and intended use of the screenings conducted under the pilot program; (2) ensure the screenings are administered on an opt-out basis, requiring parents or guardians to acknowledge receipt of the notification under paragraph (1) and to allow or prevent the participation of their children without penalty, stigma, or adverse consequence; and (3) ensure parents or legal guardians are notified when screening results indicate a need for follow-up support, or upon request, with guidance on available resources available in the community or through the Department of Defense Education Activity. (g) Use and Limitations.--Screenings conducted under the pilot program required by subsection (a)-- (1) shall be designed to be age-appropriate, nondiagnostic, and sufficiently brief to be completed within a single noninstructional school period; and (2) may not-- (A) be used for disciplinary, evaluative, punitive, or diagnostic purposes; (B) require or constitute curriculum, instruction, lesson plans, classroom teaching, or educational programming of any kind; or (C) be used to mandate treatment or referral beyond existing legal requirements. (h) Privacy Protections.--All data generated by screenings conducted under the pilot program required by subsection (a)-- (1) shall be treated as confidential student information and protected in accordance with applicable Federal privacy laws, including the protection of education records under section 552a of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Privacy Act''), and applicable privacy regulations of the Department of Defense; and (2) may be accessed and reviewed only by appropriate personnel of a DoDEA covered school with a legitimate educational interest for purposes of student support, safety, and follow-up. (i) Evaluation and Reporting.-- (1) Biannual evaluations.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which the pilot program required by subsection (a) commences, and every 180 days thereafter under the termination date under subsection (k), the Secretary shall evaluate the pilot program to assess-- (A) the feasibility and ease of implementation of the pilot program; (B) participation and opt-out rates; (C) the extent to which the pilot program uses existing systems and efforts to reduce redundancy; and (D) indicators of student wellbeing, aggregated in a manner that ensures that the students are not identifiable. (2) Report required.--Not later than one year before the termination under subsection (k) of the pilot program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report-- (A) summarizing the findings from evaluations conducted under paragraph (1); (B) assessing the cost effectiveness of the pilot program; (C) assessing the efficiency of implementing the pilot program; and (D) making recommendations regarding potential expansion of the pilot program. (j) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent personnel of a covered DoDEA school from-- (1) taking appropriate action, including immediate action, when necessary, consistent with existing school safety, duty- of-care, or student support protocols; or (2) notifying the parents or legal guardians of a student when follow-up is indicated by the results of a screening conducted under the pilot program required by subsection (a) or upon the request of the parents or legal guardians. (k) Termination.--The pilot program required by subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after the program is implemented. (l) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Covered dodea school.--The term ``covered DoDEA school'' means an elementary or secondary school operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity, within or outside the United States. (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity. ______

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Text of Senate Amendment 6054 Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3261-S3262] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6054. Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Tillis) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of part I of subtitle F of title V, insert the following: SEC. 553. PILOT PROGRAM FOR ROUTINE MENTAL WELLNESS SCREENINGS IN SCHOOLS OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY. (a) Requirement.--Beginning not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish and implement a pilot program to provide developmentally appropriate, nondiagnostic mental wellness screenings for all students in grades 6 through 12 enrolled in covered DoDEA schools. Such screenings shall include the identification of internalizing concerns, such as anxiety and depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicidal behaviors, for the limited purposes of early identification of distress, referral to existing supports, and prevention, consistent with existing school-based health and wellness practices. (b) Timing of Screenings.--Screenings conducted under the pilot program required by subsection (a) shall be offered-- (1) annually, aligned with existing student health screening schedules; and (2) at key educational transition points or other periods of heightened stress, including [[Page S3262]] transitions into a new school or grade span resulting from a permanent change in station, as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (c) Screening Characteristics.--Screenings conducted under the pilot program required by subsection (a) shall-- (1) use validated, reliable, and age-appropriate screening tools, with preference given to tools that are free or available at minimal cost; (2) include general questions related to emotional wellbeing, stress, mood, and functional concerns, including questions designed to detect internalizing symptoms and risk for suicidal thoughts or suicidal behaviors; and (3) be designed to identify potential need for additional support rather than to diagnose mental health conditions. (d) Selection of Schools.--The Secretary shall select three covered DoDEA schools to participate in the pilot program required by subsection (a), one from each of geographic region of the Department of Defense Education Activity. (e) Administration and Oversight.-- (1) In general.--Screenings conducted under the pilot program required by subsection (a)-- (A) may be completed by students independently using school-issued devices during noninstructional or noncurricular time, such as a homeroom period, advisory period, study hall, or other designated setting, in a quiet, structured school environment and consistent with school policies; and (B) shall be administered through school-approved platforms or systems that allow secure collection, storage, and access to screening information in accordance with applicable privacy laws. (2) Oversight.--Nurses, counselors, psychologists, or other appropriately trained personnel at covered DoDEA schools, in coordination with existing medical, educational, and student support systems of the Department of Defense, shall be responsible for oversight of-- (A) administration of screenings conducted under the pilot program required by subsection (a); (B) review and interpretation of results of such screenings; and (C) follow-up actions, as appropriate. (3) Use of funds.--Funds made available to carry out this section may be used to support training, professional development, and technical assistance to ensure screenings conducted under the pilot program required by subsection (a) are administered appropriately, ethically, and in accordance with evidence-informed, school-based practices, using existing personnel and systems to the maximum extent practicable. (f) Parental Rights and Communication.--In carrying out the pilot program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall-- (1) require advance written notification to parents or legal guardians describing the preventive, nondiagnostic purpose, general content, and intended use of the screenings conducted under the pilot program; (2) ensure the screenings are administered on an opt-out basis, requiring parents or guardians to acknowledge receipt of the notification under paragraph (1) and to allow or prevent the participation of their children without penalty, stigma, or adverse consequence; and (3) ensure parents or legal guardians are notified when screening results indicate a need for follow-up support, or upon request, with guidance on available resources available in the community or through the Department of Defense Education Activity. (g) Use and Limitations.--Screenings conducted under the pilot program required by subsection (a)-- (1) shall be designed to be age-appropriate, nondiagnostic, and sufficiently brief to be completed within a single noninstructional school period; and (2) may not-- (A) be used for disciplinary, evaluative, punitive, or diagnostic purposes; (B) require or constitute curriculum, instruction, lesson plans, classroom teaching, or educational programming of any kind; or (C) be used to mandate treatment or referral beyond existing legal requirements. (h) Privacy Protections.--All data generated by screenings conducted under the pilot program required by subsection (a)-- (1) shall be treated as confidential student information and protected in accordance with applicable Federal privacy laws, including the protection of education records under section 552a of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Privacy Act''), and applicable privacy regulations of the Department of Defense; and (2) may be accessed and reviewed only by appropriate personnel of a DoDEA covered school with a legitimate educational interest for purposes of student support, safety, and follow-up. (i) Evaluation and Reporting.-- (1) Biannual evaluations.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which the pilot program required by subsection (a) commences, and every 180 days thereafter under the termination date under subsection (k), the Secretary shall evaluate the pilot program to assess-- (A) the feasibility and ease of implementation of the pilot program; (B) participation and opt-out rates; (C) the extent to which the pilot program uses existing systems and efforts to reduce redundancy; and (D) indicators of student wellbeing, aggregated in a manner that ensures that the students are not identifiable. (2) Report required.--Not later than one year before the termination under subsection (k) of the pilot program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report-- (A) summarizing the findings from evaluations conducted under paragraph (1); (B) assessing the cost effectiveness of the pilot program; (C) assessing the efficiency of implementing the pilot program; and (D) making recommendations regarding potential expansion of the pilot program. (j) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent personnel of a covered DoDEA school from-- (1) taking appropriate action, including immediate action, when necessary, consistent with existing school safety, duty- of-care, or student support protocols; or (2) notifying the parents or legal guardians of a student when follow-up is indicated by the results of a screening conducted under the pilot program required by subsection (a) or upon the request of the parents or legal guardians. (k) Termination.--The pilot program required by subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after the program is implemented. (l) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Covered dodea school.--The term ``covered DoDEA school'' means an elementary or secondary school operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity, within or outside the United States. (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity. ______