Answering the Call Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8367 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8367

  To amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance outreach to first
  responders in the implementation of the National Suicide Prevention
               Lifeline program, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 20, 2026

 Mrs. Cammack introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

  To amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance outreach to first
  responders in the implementation of the National Suicide Prevention
               Lifeline program, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Answering the Call Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE PROGRAM: OUTREACH TO FIRST
              RESPONDERS.

    (a) In General.--Section 520E-3 of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 290bb-36c) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:
    ``(g) Outreach to First Responders.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct outreach
        activities to address barriers to use of the 9-8-8 national
        suicide hotline by first responders, including stigma, lack of
        tailored services, and privacy concerns.
            ``(2) Activities.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the
        Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) in coordination with first responder
                organizations, carry out programs and activities to
                promote the 9-8-8 national suicide hotline as a key
                mental health resource for first responders;
                    ``(B) award grants, contracts, or cooperative
                agreements to support public awareness campaigns that
                integrate information about the 9-8-8 national suicide
                hotline into first responder training programs,
                wellness policies, and resources maintained by labor
                organizations;
                    ``(C) collect data on the use of the 9-8-8 national
                suicide hotline by first responders to measure the
                impact of the hotline and inform future outreach
                strategies of the Secretary; and
                    ``(D) develop and disseminate training programs for
                counselors and other staff of the 9-8-8 national
                suicide hotline that incorporate evidence-based,
                trauma-informed, and behavioral-health-focused best
                practices that are specific to first responders.
            ``(3) Privacy protections.--In collecting data under
        paragraph (2)(C), the Secretary--
                    ``(A) shall ensure that the data collected is
                administered in a manner that protects personal
                privacy, consistent with applicable Federal and State
                privacy laws, including through aggregation and de-
                identification of the data;
                    ``(B) shall focus on identifying trends in
                presenting issues and utilization of the 9-8-8 national
                suicide hotline for populations served among first
                responders, rather than collecting personally
                identifiable information; and
                    ``(C) may work in collaboration with State and
                local partners and use existing public health reporting
                mechanisms.
            ``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) First responder.--The term `first responder'
                includes law enforcement officers, firefighters,
                emergency medical technicians, and public safety
                telecommunicators.
                    ``(B) First responder organization.--The term
                `first responder organization' includes national,
                State, local, Tribal, and nonprofit firefighter, law
                enforcement, emergency medical services, and public
                safety telecommunicator organizations that are
                recognized for their experience and expertise in fire
                prevention and safety programs and activities,
                including labor organizations, professional
                associations, and peer support and behavioral health
                organizations serving first responders.''.
    (b) First Responder Organizations Collaboration Pilot Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human
        Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental
        Health and Substance Use, shall conduct a pilot program to
        provide for collaboration between--
                    (A) the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
                Administration;
                    (B) the United States Fire Administration; and
                    (C) first responder organizations.
            (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the pilot program shall be to
        ensure that outreach activities conducted under section 520E-
        3(g) of the Public Health Service Act (as inserted by
        subsection (a) of this section) are appropriately tailored to
        increase awareness of the 9-8-8 national suicide hotline among
        first responders.
            (3) Report to congress.--Not later than 3 years after the
        date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and
        Human Services shall submit to Congress a report on the results
        of the pilot program conducted under this subsection.
            (4) Definitions.--The definitions in section 520E-3(g) of
        the Public Health Service Act (as inserted by subsection (a) of
        this section) shall apply to this subsection.
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