Crystal Lake Mental Health Program

Floor Speech

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Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to stand up for the community of Crystal Lake, Illinois, which, along with over 100 communities nationwide, just had a $5.6 million student mental health program abruptly canceled by the Trump administration.

This funding, which passed with support of both Republicans and Democrats under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, was created in response to the Uvalde school shooting to address the growing youth mental health crisis.

I think we all remember the Republican talking point at the time that we don't have a gun problem. We have a mental health problem. Well, fine. With this grant, the Crystal Lake District 47 was able to hire trained mental health professionals and give 7,100 students access to mental health care.

Canceling this grant will disrupt critical mental health care for students who are already receiving support, weaken the district's ability to identify and intervene in early warning signs of distress, trauma, or potential violence. It undermines years of progress made in breaking the stigma around mental health.

With suicide being the second leading cause of death for children aged 10-14, gutting this funding will be life-threatening. Our kids' safety and well-being should not be a partisan issue. I urge the administration to reverse these harmful cuts.

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