Answering the Call Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services to run targeted outreach and a pilot program to increase use of the 9-8-8 national suicide hotline by first responders.
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- First responders would get outreach that addresses stigma, privacy concerns, and the need for services tailored to their trauma and work stress. The bill defines first responders to include law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and public safety telecommunicators.
- First responder organizations and labor groups would be eligible for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to add 9-8-8 information to training programs, wellness policies, and member resources.
- The bill would require trauma-informed, evidence-based training for 9-8-8 counselors and collection of de-identified, aggregated data on first responder use to track trends. It would create a three-year pilot run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the U.S. Fire Administration, and first responder groups and require a report on pilot results.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More 9-8-8 help for first responders
If enacted, the Secretary of Health and Human Services would run outreach to help first responders use the 9-8-8 national suicide hotline. The outreach would address stigma, lack of tailored services, and privacy worries. The Secretary would coordinate with first responder organizations and would be able to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to add 9-8-8 information to training, wellness policies, and labor resources. The Secretary would collect de-identified, aggregated data focused on trends to measure hotline use while protecting privacy. The Secretary would develop and share trauma-informed, evidence-based training for 9-8-8 counselors and staff about first responder needs. The bill would create a pilot run by HHS, SAMHSA, and the U.S. Fire Administration with first responder groups. The Secretary would report the pilot results to Congress not later than three years after enactment. The bill would define who counts as first responders and which organizations qualify for these activities.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3]
FL • R
Cosponsors
Haridopolos
FL • R
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov