[Page H3311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            TEENAGE SUICIDE

  (Mr. CARDENAS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I have the honor of helping an American 
citizen familiarize herself with our United States Capitol--with her 
United States Capitol. Sophia is here with her eighth grade class from 
St. Philip The Apostle Catholic School in Pasadena, California.
  I felt it important for her to understand that we do listen, so I 
asked her before I gave this speech: What comes to mind? What issue 
would you like me to mention?
  She thought, and she thought, and she said: Teenage suicide rates are 
way too high.
  You had better believe it, America. They are. And there are many 
things we can do, both locally and here in Washington, to make sure 
that we curtail that and make sure that young people don't find 
themselves in the position to do such a thing to themselves, their 
family, and their community.
  I pledged to Sophia that many of us here in Washington are committed 
to doing what we can to make sure that suicide rates in general, but 
specifically suicide rates amongst young people, are curtailed and they 
hopefully stop and come down to zero soon.
  I thank Sophia for visiting us, and I thank her teachers and all of 
those who brought her here today.

                          ____________________