[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3505 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3505
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program
to facilitate the installation, on certain infrastructure, of evidence-
based suicide deterrents, including suicide prevention nets and
barriers, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 20, 2025
Mr. Beyer (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Moulton, Mrs. Watson
Coleman, Mr. Thanedar, Mrs. Trahan, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin,
Mr. Carson, Mr. Raskin, Ms. Davids of Kansas, and Ms. McCollum)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program
to facilitate the installation, on certain infrastructure, of evidence-
based suicide deterrents, including suicide prevention nets and
barriers, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Barriers to Suicide Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish
a program (in this section referred to as the ``Program'') to
facilitate the installation of evidence-based suicide deterrents,
including suicide prevention nets and barriers, on or at a covered
location.
(b) Grant Authority.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary
may make grants on a competitive basis in accordance with this section.
(c) Eligible Recipients.--The Secretary may make a grant under the
Program to--
(1) a State or a political subdivision of a State; and
(2) any other entity the Secretary determines to be
eligible.
(d) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an
entity described in subsection (c) shall submit to the Secretary an
application in such form, at such time, and containing such information
as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(e) Eligible Projects.--The Secretary may make a grant under the
Program only for a project that facilitates the installation on or at a
covered location of--
(1) a suicide prevention net;
(2) a suicide prevention barrier; or
(3) any other evidence-based suicide deterrent that is
determined by the Secretary to be appropriate.
(f) Priority.--In making a grant under the Program, the Secretary
shall give priority to a project located in an area with a high rate of
suicide, taking into consideration the number of suicides and rate of
suicides per capita in an area, or other priority characteristics, as
determined by the Secretary.
(g) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of a project
assisted with a grant under the Program may not exceed 80 percent.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered location.--The term ``covered location''
means--
(A) a bridge;
(B) building;
(C) parking garage;
(D) a highway-rail grade crossing; and
(E) a rail station.
(2) Evidence-based suicide deterrent.--The term ``evidence-
based suicide deterrent'' means a suicide deterrent that
demonstrates a rationale based on high-quality research
findings or positive evaluation that such deterrent is likely
to reduce or prevent suicide, and includes ongoing efforts to
examine the effects of such deterrent.
(3) State.--The term ``State'' means each State of the
United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth,
territory, or possession of the United States, and each
federally recognized Indian Tribe.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out the Program $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2030.
SEC. 3. TITLE 23 AMENDMENT.
Section 119(d)(2)(I) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``Highway System.'' and adding ``Highway System, including
installation of safety barriers and nets on bridges of the National
Highway System.''.
SEC. 4. STUDY ON EFFECTIVENESS OF SUICIDE PREVENTION NETS AND BARRIERS
FOR STRUCTURES OTHER THAN BRIDGES.
(a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall
conduct a study to identify--
(1) the types of structures, other than bridges, that
attract a high number of individuals attempting suicide-by-
jumping;
(2) the characteristics that distinguish structures
identified under paragraph (1) from similar structures that do
not attract a high number of individuals attempting suicide-by-
jumping;
(3) the types of nets or barriers, including manufactured
and natural barriers, that are effective at reducing suicide-
by-jumping with respect to the structures identified under
paragraph (1);
(4) methods of reducing suicide-by-jumping with respect to
the structures identified under paragraph (1) other than nets
and barriers;
(5) quantitative measures of the effectiveness of the nets
and barriers identified under paragraph (3);
(6) quantitative measures of the effectiveness of the
additional methods identified under paragraph (4);
(7) the entities that typically install the nets and
barriers identified under paragraph (3); and
(8) the costs of the nets and barriers identified under
paragraph (3).
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of the study
conducted under subsection (a).
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