Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act
Public Law 108-355 · S. 2634 · 108th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by George W. Bush (R) on Oct 21, 2004 · Health
Sponsor: Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
Cosponsors (39): Sen. Mike DeWine, Sen. Jack Reed,
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 352 yea, 64 nay352–64
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to award a grant to an additional research, training, and technical assistance center to provide information, training, and technical assistance to various entities, including for: (1) developing or continuing statewide or tribal suicide early intervention and prevention strategies; (2) ensuring the surveillance of such strategies; (3) studying the costs and effectiveness of such strategies; (4) promoting the sharing of data regarding youth suicide; and (5) evaluating and disseminating outcomes and best practices of mental and behavioral health services at institutions of higher education.
Requires the Secretary to award grants or cooperative agreements to various entities to design early intervention and prevention strategies that will complement the State-sponsored statewide or tribal youth suicide prevention strategies developed under this Act, including by: (1) providing for the timely assessment, treatment, or referral for mental health or substance abuse services of youth at risk for suicide; (2) offering access to services and care to youth with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds; and (3) conducting annual self-evaluations of outcomes and activities. Provides grants for three years.
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to award grants or cooperative agreements to States or Indian tribes to: (1) develop and implement the suicide prevention strategies in schools, juvenile justice systems, and other child and youth support entities; (2) support organizations actively involved in such strategies and in developing and continuing such strategies; (3) provide grants to institutions of higher education to coordinate the implementation of such strategies; (4) collect and analyze data to monitor the effectiveness of suicide prevention services and for research, technical assistance, and policy developments; and (5) assist eligible entities in achieving their targets for youth suicide reductions. Limits grant or cooperative agreement awards to one per State.
Requires States to give preference to certain entities in providing assistance, including those that: (1) provide suicide prevention services to at-risk youth and that are integrated with child and youth support organizations; (2) provide immediate support and information resources to families of at-risk youth; (3) offer appropriate post-suicide intervention services, care, and information; (4) train professionals in suicide prevention services and in effectively identifying youth who are at risk; and (5) obtain informed written consent from a parent or legal guardian of an at-risk child before involving the child in an intervention and prevention program. Requires 85 percent of grant funds to be used to provide direct services and at least 5% to be awarded to institutions of higher education.
Requires the Secretary to coordinate and collaborate on policy development with relevant Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies and suicide working groups and to consult with the private sector on policy development with respect to suicide prevention strategies.
States that this Act does not: (1) require suicide assessment, early intervention, or treatment services for youth whose parents or legal guardians object based on the parents' or legal guardians' religious beliefs or moral objections; or (2) allow school personnel to require that a student obtain any medication as a condition of attending school or receiving services.
Prohibits funds appropriated under this Act from being used to pay for or refer for abortion.
Requires that States and entities receiving funding under this Act obtain prior written, informed consent from the child's parent or legal guardian for assessment services, school-sponsored programs, and treatment involving medication related to youth suicide conducted in elementary and secondary schools, except in: (1) an emergency where it is necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student; or (2) other instances defined by the State where parental consent cannot be reasonably obtained.
Provides that States that have rates of suicide that significantly exceed the national average be given preference in the event of limited appropriations.
Allows the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Center for Mental Health Services, to award competitive matching grants to institutions of higher education to enhance services for students with mental and behavioral health problems that can lead to school failure, such as depression, substance abuse, and suicide attempts, so that students can successfully complete their studies. Provides that institutions receiving such grants must agree to use such funds only for: (1) educational seminars; (2) the operation of hot lines; (3) the preparation of informational material, including materials for families to increase awareness of potential mental and behavioral health issues of students; (4) training programs for students and campus personnel to respond effectively to students with mental and behavioral health problems that can lead to school failure; or (5) the creation of a networking infrastructure to link colleges and universities that do not have mental health services with health care providers who can treat mental and behavioral health problems. Sets forth application requirements.
Sets forth reporting requirements.
Authorizes appropriations.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 108th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 352 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
352 yea64 nay18 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(200)
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-14
Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-13
Rep. Maxine WatersD-CA-35
Rep. Barbara LeeD-CA-9
Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-51
Rep. Jan SchakowskyD-IL-9
Rep. Dennis KucinichD-OH-10
Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. Michael CapuanoD-MA-8
Rep. Raúl GrijalvaD-AZ-7
Rep. John OlverD-MA-1
Rep. Alcee HastingsD-FL-23
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
Rep. Jesse JacksonD-IL-2
Rep. Maurice HincheyD-NY-22
Rep. Tammy BaldwinD-WI-2
Rep. Jim McGovernD-MA-3
Rep. John TierneyD-MA-6- Rep. Major OwensD-NY-11
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Diane WatsonD-CA-33
Rep. Nydia VelázquezD-NY-12- Rep. Stephanie JonesD-OH-11
Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-10
Rep. Hilda SolisD-CA-32
Rep. Wm. ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
Rep. Bernie SandersD-VT
Rep. Mike HondaD-CA-15
Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4
Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17
Rep. Linda SánchezD-CA-39
Rep. Bill DelahuntD-MA-10
Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8
Rep. Danny DavisD-IL-7
Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28- Rep. Julia CarsonD-IN-7
Rep. Carolyn KilpatrickD-MI-13
Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-30
Rep. Lloyd DoggettD-TX-10
Rep. Sherrod BrownD-OH-13
Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
Rep. Nancy PelosiD-CA-8
Rep. Luis GutiérrezD-IL-4
Rep. Bobby RushD-IL-1
Rep. Rush HoltD-NJ-12
Rep. Xavier BecerraD-CA-31
Rep. Tom UdallD-NM-3
Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
- Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-4
Rep. Diana DeGetteD-CO-1- Rep. Jerry KleczkaD-WI-4
Rep. Chaka FattahD-PA-2
Rep. Grace NapolitanoD-CA-38
Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-34
Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6- Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonaldD-CA-37
Rep. John LarsonD-CT-1
Rep. Zoe LofgrenD-CA-16
Rep. Earl BlumenauerD-OR-3
Rep. Lois CappsD-CA-23
Rep. Richard NealD-MA-2
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
Rep. Patrick KennedyD-RI-1
Rep. Tom AllenD-ME-1
Rep. Betty McCollumD-MN-4
Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3- Rep. Ted StricklandD-OH-6
Rep. Mark UdallD-CO-2
Rep. Robert BradyD-PA-1
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5- Rep. Marty MeehanD-MA-5
Rep. Chris Van HollenD-MD-8
Rep. Anthony WeinerD-NY-9
Rep. Brad ShermanD-CA-27
Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1- Rep. Karen McCarthyD-MO-5
Rep. Brian BairdD-WA-3
Rep. John DingellD-MI-15
Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14
Rep. Neil AbercrombieD-HI-1
Rep. Loretta SanchezD-CA-47- Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-12
- Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-5
Rep. Bart StupakD-MI-1
Rep. Rahm EmanuelD-IL-5
Rep. William JeffersonD-LA-2
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-28
Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1
Rep. Michael McNultyD-NY-21
Rep. Jay InsleeD-WA-1
Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17
Rep. Mike ThompsonD-CA-1
Rep. Rick LarsenD-WA-2
Rep. Ciro RodriguezD-TX-28
Rep. Gregory MeeksD-NY-6- Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-5
Rep. Jim LangevinD-RI-2
Rep. Bill PascrellD-NJ-8
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
Rep. Timothy BishopD-NY-1
Rep. Brad MillerD-NC-13
Rep. Steven RothmanD-NJ-9
Rep. Bob MenendezD-NJ-13
Rep. Joe CrowleyD-NY-7- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-9
- Rep. Joseph HoeffelD-PA-13
Rep. Adam SchiffD-CA-29- Rep. Chris BellD-TX-25
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
Rep. Michael DoyleD-PA-14- Rep. Peter DeutschD-FL-20
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3
Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29
Rep. Nick LampsonD-TX-9
Rep. Shelley BerkleyD-NV-1
Rep. Stephen LynchD-MA-9
Rep. Ellen TauscherD-CA-10
Rep. David WuD-OR-1
Rep. Joe BacaD-CA-43
Rep. Marion BerryD-AR-1
Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12
Rep. Susan DavisD-CA-53- Rep. Albert WynnD-MD-4
Rep. Benjamin CardinD-MD-3
Rep. Carolyn McCarthyD-NY-4
Rep. Michael MichaudD-ME-2
Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11- Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
Rep. David PriceD-NC-4
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. Artur DavisD-AL-7
Rep. Bob EtheridgeD-NC-2
Rep. Jane HarmanD-CA-36
Rep. Rubén HinojosaD-TX-15
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
Rep. Steve IsraelD-NY-2
Rep. Charlie GonzalezD-TX-20
Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
Rep. Darlene HooleyD-OR-5- Rep. Jim DavisD-FL-11
Rep. A. Dutch RuppersbergerD-MD-2
Rep. Ron KindD-WI-3
Rep. Mike RossD-AR-4
Rep. Silvestre ReyesD-TX-16- Rep. Max SandlinD-TX-1
Rep. Baron HillD-IN-9
Rep. G.K. ButterfieldD-NC-1
Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-5
Rep. Leonard BoswellD-IA-3
Rep. Dennis MooreD-KS-3
Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
Rep. Vic SnyderD-AR-2
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
Rep. Adam SmithD-WA-9
Rep. John TannerD-TN-8
Rep. Stephanie Herseth SandlinD-SD
Rep. Dennis CardozaD-CA-18
Rep. Mike McIntyreD-NC-7
Rep. Ed CaseD-HI-2
Rep. Earl PomeroyD-ND
Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9
Rep. Ben ChandlerD-KY-6
Rep. David ScottD-GA-13
Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-17
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4- Rep. Jim TurnerD-TX-2
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. William LipinskiD-IL-3
Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-11
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6- Rep. Cal DooleyD-CA-20
- Rep. Brad CarsonD-OK-2
Rep. Lincoln DavisD-TN-4
Rep. Gene TaylorD-MS-4
Rep. Jim MarshallD-GA-3
Rep. Allen BoydD-FL-2
Rep. Jim MathesonD-UT-2- Rep. Chris JohnD-LA-7
Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7- Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
- Rep. Ken LucasD-KY-4
Rep. Rodney AlexanderD-LA-5
Rep. Bud CramerD-AL-5
Republicans who voted yea(152)
- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-2
Rep. Michael CastleR-DE
Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4
Rep. Timothy JohnsonR-IL-15- Rep. Rob SimmonsR-CT-2
- Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-24
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
Rep. Heather WilsonR-NM-1
Rep. Frank LoBiondoR-NJ-2
Rep. John McHughR-NY-23
Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6
Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-14- Rep. Jack QuinnR-NY-27
Rep. Ray LaHoodR-IL-18- Rep. Sue KellyR-NY-19
Rep. Jim SaxtonR-NJ-3
Rep. Shelley CapitoR-WV-2- Rep. Curt WeldonR-PA-7
- Rep. John SweeneyR-NY-20
- Rep. Amo HoughtonR-NY-29
Rep. Pete KingR-NY-3
Rep. Jon PorterR-NV-3
Rep. Jim GerlachR-PA-6
Rep. Vernon EhlersR-MI-3
Rep. Jo Ann EmersonR-MO-8
Rep. Mike FergusonR-NJ-7- Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-5
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
Rep. Phil EnglishR-PA-3
Rep. Jim WalshR-NY-25
Rep. Tom LathamR-IA-4
Rep. Rodney FrelinghuysenR-NJ-11
Rep. Rick RenziR-AZ-1
Rep. Todd PlattsR-PA-19- Rep. Bob NeyR-OH-18
Rep. Mary Bono MackR-CA-45
Rep. Mark KirkR-IL-10- Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-22
Rep. Ed WhitfieldR-KY-1
Rep. Tom DavisR-VA-11
Rep. Greg WaldenR-OR-2
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
Rep. Dave HobsonR-OH-7- Rep. Tom OsborneR-NE-3
Rep. Ralph HallD-TX-4
Rep. Tim MurphyR-PA-18
Rep. Candice MillerR-MI-10
Rep. Ken CalvertR-CA-44
Rep. Wayne GilchrestR-MD-1- Rep. Paul GillmorR-OH-5
- Rep. Jeb BradleyR-NH-1
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21- Rep. Mark FoleyR-FL-16
Rep. Chip PickeringR-MS-3
Rep. Thad McCotterR-MI-11
Rep. Deborah PryceR-OH-15- Rep. Anne NorthupR-KY-3
Rep. Michael TurnerR-OH-3
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-41
Rep. Jerry WellerR-IL-11
Rep. Judy BiggertR-IL-13
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-10- Rep. Jim KolbeR-AZ-8
Rep. Mike RogersR-AL-3
Rep. Joe KnollenbergR-MI-9
Rep. Mike SimpsonR-ID-2
Rep. Ander CrenshawR-FL-4
Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5
Rep. Ginny Brown-WaiteR-FL-5
Rep. Rob PortmanR-OH-2
Rep. Kay GrangerR-TX-12
Rep. Henry BrownR-SC-1- Rep. Jim NussleR-IA-1
- Rep. Max BurnsR-GA-12
Rep. Darrell IssaR-CA-49
Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-24- Rep. Duke CunninghamR-CA-50
Rep. Roger WickerR-MS-1- Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-22
Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25
Rep. David DreierR-CA-26
Rep. Jerry MoranR-KS-1
Rep. Zach WampR-TN-3
Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21
Rep. Denny RehbergR-MT- Rep. Jennifer DunnR-WA-8
Rep. Mike RogersR-MI-8
Rep. John BoozmanR-AR-3
Rep. John MicaR-FL-7- Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
Rep. Bill ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Tom ColeR-OK-4
Rep. Thomas ReynoldsR-NY-26
Rep. Spencer BachusR-AL-6
Rep. Charlie BassR-NH-2
Rep. Kenny HulshofR-MO-9
Rep. Steve PearceR-NM-2- Rep. Bill JenkinsR-TN-1
Rep. Doc HastingsR-WA-4- Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
Rep. Robin HayesR-NC-8
Rep. Adam PutnamR-FL-12
Rep. Pat TiberiR-OH-12
Rep. Jim McCreryR-LA-4
Rep. Mark SouderR-IN-3
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-52- Rep. Jo Ann DavisR-VA-1
- Rep. Richard BakerR-LA-6
Rep. Steve BuyerR-IN-4- Rep. Katherine HarrisR-FL-13
Rep. Virgil GoodeR-VA-5
Rep. Randy ForbesR-VA-4- Rep. Charles TaylorR-NC-11
Rep. Todd TiahrtR-KS-4
Rep. John BoehnerR-OH-8- Rep. Melissa HartR-PA-4
Rep. Roy BluntR-MO-7
Rep. John ShimkusR-IL-19
Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6
Rep. Jim RamstadR-MN-3
Rep. Sam GravesR-MO-6
Rep. Vito FossellaR-NY-13- Rep. Tom DeLayR-TX-22
- Rep. Mark GreenR-WI-8
Rep. Ric KellerR-FL-8- Rep. Jim RyunR-KS-2
Rep. Mario Diaz-BalartR-FL-25
Rep. David VitterR-LA-1
Rep. Lee TerryR-NE-2- Rep. Scott McInnisR-CO-3
- Rep. Jim GibbonsR-NV-2
- Rep. Bob BeauprezR-CO-7
Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6
Rep. Pete HoekstraR-MI-2
Rep. Johnny IsaksonR-GA-6- Rep. J.D. HayworthR-AZ-5
- Rep. Mark KennedyR-MN-6
- Rep. Chris ChocolaR-IN-2
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
Rep. Gary MillerR-CA-42
Rep. Michael BurgessR-TX-26
Rep. Joe WilsonR-SC-2
Rep. Kevin BradyR-TX-8
Rep. Joseph PittsR-PA-16
Rep. Steve ChabotR-OH-1
Rep. Marsha BlackburnR-TN-7
Rep. Pete SessionsR-TX-32
Rep. Jim DeMintR-SC-4
Rep. Jimmy DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1107 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Related bills
3 bills the Library of Congress relates to this one.
H.R. 4557Related bill
Youth Suicide Early Intervention and Prevention Expansion Act of 2004
H.R. 4799Identical bill
Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act
S. 2175Related bill
Youth Suicide Early Intervention and Prevention Expansion Act of 2004
Data notes
Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 21 actions.
- Oct 21, 2004Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 108-355.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 13, 2004FloorFloor · Presented to President.
- Sep 10, 2004FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Sep 9, 2004Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments to Senate bill by Unanimous Consent.
- FloorFloor · Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.
- FloorFloor · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 352 - 64 (Roll no. 433).House roll call 433
- FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
- OtherOther · Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendments to Senate bill by Unanimous Consent.
- Sep 8, 2004FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2634.
- FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Barton (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Jul 19, 2004CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Jul 9, 2004FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- FloorFloor · Received in the House.
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Jul 8, 2004FloorFloor · Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in Senate
Data notes
Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.
Amendments
No amendments to this bill are on record.
Data notes
Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.
Official record
The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.