I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3489 
To authorize the Secretary of Education to establish an Advisory Commission 
on Serving and Supporting Students with Mental Health Disabilities 
in Institutions of Higher Education, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 25, 2019 
Mr. TRONE (for himself, Ms. WILD, Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania, Ms. 
SHALALA, and Mr. FITZPATRICK) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of Education to establish an 
Advisory Commission on Serving and Supporting Stu-
dents with Mental Health Disabilities in Institutions of 
Higher Education, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Higher Education 
Mental Health Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
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(1) More than 75 percent of mental health con-
ditions begin before the age of 24. 
(2) More than 25 percent of students between 
the ages of 18 and 24 reported a mental health con-
cern. 
(3) More than 50 percent of students between 
the ages of 18 and 24 reported having a severe psy-
chological problem. 
(4) More than 50 percent of students between 
the ages of 18 and 24 reported feelings of hopeless-
ness. 
(5) Higher education counseling centers are de-
voting more time to rapid-response treatment with 
more than 25 percent of students who sought help 
reporting they had intentionally hurt themselves. 
(6) Over a 5-year period, counseling center uti-
lization increased by an average of 30 to 40 percent, 
while enrollment increased by only 5 percent, forcing 
institutions to stretch mental health services to more 
students without increasing resources. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are the fol-
lowing: 
(1) To ensure States and institutions of higher 
education are provided with accurate information on 
the mental health concerns facing students. 
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(2) To provide detailed recommendations that 
institutions of higher education, States, and the 
Federal Government can take to improve the mental 
health services available to students and properly 
treat the rising number of students with mental 
health issues. 
SEC. 3. ADVISORY COMMISSION ON SERVING AND SUP-
PORTING STUDENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH 
DISABILITIES IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER 
EDUCATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Education shall 
establish a commission to be known as the Advisory Com-
mission on Serving and Supporting Students with Mental 
Health Disabilities in Institutions of Higher Education 
(referred to in this section as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) TOTAL NUMBER OF MEMBERS.—The Com-
mission shall include not more than 20 members, 
who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Edu-
cation in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3). 
(2) MEMBERS
OF
THE
COMMISSION.—The 
Commission shall include 1 representative from each 
of the following: 
(A) The Office of Postsecondary Education 
of the Department of Education. 
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(B) The Office of Special Education and 
Rehabilitation Services of the Department of 
Education. 
(C) The Office of Civil Rights of the De-
partment of Education. 
(D) The Office of Civil Rights of the De-
partment of Justice. 
(E) The National Council on Disability. 
(F) A membership association for adminis-
trative and personnel professionals focused on 
creating an inclusive higher education environ-
ment for individuals with disabilities, as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
(G) An organization that represents the 
Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with 
Mental Illness program, as determined by the 
Secretary. 
(H) An organization operated by and rep-
resenting secondary and postsecondary edu-
cation students with mental health disabilities 
advocating for mental health services and sui-
cide prevention. 
(I) An organization representing college 
and university counseling directors. 
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