Answering the Call Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8367
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-13: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3446)
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-30T08:06:23Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Answering the Call Act of 2026 (H.R. 8367) aims to improve mental health support for first responders by enhancing outreach efforts for the 9-8-8 national suicide hotline (part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline program) under the Public Health Service Act. It addresses barriers like stigma, lack of customized services, and privacy worries to encourage use by high-stress workers such as police, firefighters, and EMTs.
Key Provisions
- Outreach Activities (new subsection (g) in Section 520E-3):
- Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) must promote the hotline through first responder organizations.
- Award grants or contracts for public awareness campaigns integrated into training, wellness policies, and union resources.
- Collect anonymized data on hotline usage by first responders to evaluate impact and refine strategies.
- Develop specialized training for hotline staff using trauma-informed, evidence-based practices tailored to first responders.
- Privacy Safeguards: Data collection focuses on trends (not personal details), uses aggregation/de-identification, and complies with federal/state privacy laws.
- Definitions:
- First responder: Law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), public safety telecommunicators (dispatchers).
- First responder organization: National, state, local, Tribal, or nonprofit groups, including unions and peer support networks.
- Pilot Program: HHS (via Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use) collaborates with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Fire Administration, and first responder groups to customize outreach. Requires a report to Congress within 3 years of enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 520E-3 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-36c) by inserting new subsection (g) on first responder outreach and redesignating the prior subsection (g) as (h).
- Introduces mandatory, targeted actions (e.g., grants, data collection, training) not previously specified for first responders in the hotline program.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload and funding needs for HHS/SAMHSA (e.g., outreach, grants, pilot); requires coordination with U.S. Fire Administration and reporting to Congress.
- Citizens: Better access to mental health crisis support for first responders, potentially reducing suicide rates in these groups through reduced barriers and tailored services.
- No notable international relations impacts.
Main Stakeholders
- First responders (police, firefighters, EMTs, dispatchers) and their families.
- First responder organizations (unions, associations, peer support groups at all government levels and nonprofits).
- HHS/SAMHSA (leads implementation, outreach, data efforts).
- U.S. Fire Administration (pilot collaborator).
- Congress (receives pilot report).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Privacy Alignment: Reinforces existing federal/state privacy laws (e.g., HIPAA-like protections via de-identification), minimizing legal risks.
- No major constitutional issues; focuses on public health funding and voluntary programs.
- Political Neutrality: Builds on established 9-8-8 infrastructure, emphasizing evidence-based mental health support for essential workers without partisan mandates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8], Rep. Mills, Cory [R-FL-7]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-13: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3446)
- 2026-04-20: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-04-20: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-20: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Answering the Call Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-20 — PDF (5 pages)