Campus Lifeline Act of 2026

The proposed amendment to the Public Health Service Act, aimed at enhancing programs for youth suicide prevention and intervention, falls within Congress's enumerated power to tax and spend for the general welfare of the United States. Such measures promote the health and stability of the populace, essential to the republican order and national vigor. This exercise is proper and necessary to effectuate the fiscal powers granted to the legislature, as prevention of self-destruction among the youth preserves human capital vital to the Union's prosperity and defense. The federal government, posse…

The proposed amendment to the Public Health Service Act for youth suicide prevention exceeds the enumerated powers of Congress. The Constitution grants Congress authority to tax and spend only for the common defense and general welfare, but this does not extend to matters of internal public health and individual welfare, which are not specified among the limited federal powers. Such programs intrude upon the reserved powers of the States and the people, as suicide prevention pertains to local police powers over health and morals, properly left to state legislatures. Federal involvement here vi…

The proposed bill amends the Public Health Service Act to enhance federal programs for youth suicide prevention, a matter concerning local public health, safety, and morals. Such subjects fall outside the enumerated powers of Congress in Article I, Section 8, which are few and defined, principally relating to external concerns like commerce among states, defense, and taxation for those objects. Interior police powers, including health interventions, remain with the states, as the powers not delegated are reserved to them or the people. In Federalist No. 45, the federal powers are described as …

The proposed amendment to the Public Health Service Act, aimed at enhancing programs for youth suicide prevention and intervention, falls within the enumerated powers of Congress. The Constitution grants Congress the authority to lay and collect taxes to provide for the general welfare of the United States, a power plainly expressed and essential to the national government. Such programs, directed at preserving life and mitigating public health crises, are appropriate means to promote the general welfare. Moreover, pursuant to the necessary and proper clause, Congress may select means that are…