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
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.
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).