[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3199 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 379
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3199
[Report No. 119-119]
To establish a multi-stakeholder advisory committee tasked with
providing detailed recommendations to address challenges to
transmitting geolocation information with calls to the 988 Suicide and
Crisis Lifeline, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 19, 2025
Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. Lujan, Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Capito, Mr.
Crapo, Mr. Daines, Mrs. Fischer, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Hassan, Ms.
Klobuchar, Mr. Risch, Mr. Warnock, and Mr. Ossoff) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
April 22, 2026
Reported by Mr. Cruz, with an amendment and an amendment to the title
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a multi-stakeholder advisory committee tasked with
providing detailed recommendations to address challenges to
transmitting geolocation information with calls to the 988 Suicide and
Crisis Lifeline, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``988 Lifeline Location
Improvement Act of 2025''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> In this Act:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) 911 system service provider.--The term ``911
system service provider'' has the meaning given the term
``covered 911 service provider'' in section 9.19(a)(4) of title
47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor
regulation.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce
of the House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Committee.--The term ``committee'' means the
advisory committee established under section 3.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Community based mental health organization.--
The term ``community based mental health organization'' means
an organization that serves individuals with mental health
conditions and the families of those individuals in a community
setting.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) Dispatchable location.--The term
``dispatchable location'' has the meaning given that term in
section 9.3 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any
successor regulation.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) Handset manufacturer.--The term ``handset
manufacturer'' means a manufacturer of cellular
phones.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) Local crisis center.--The term ``local crisis
center'' means a call center intended to receive calls from the
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the Veterans Crisis
Line.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (8) Local government.--The term ``local
government'' means the government of any political subdivision
of a State.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (9) Low population state.--The term ``low
population State'' means a State that has no urbanized areas
with a population greater than 250,000, as reported in the
decennial census.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (10) Mental health services organization.--The
term ``mental health services organization'' means an
organization or association that represents providers of mental
health crisis services or crisis respite services.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (11) Public safety answering point.--The term
``public safety answering point'' has the meaning given that
term in section 9.3 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations,
or any successor regulation.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (12) Small and rural communities.--The term
``small and rural communities'' means a noncore area, a
micropolitan area, or a small metropolitan statistical area
with a population of not more than 250,000, as reported in the
decennial census.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (13) State.--The term ``State'' means any of the
several States of the United States, the District of Columbia,
and any territory or possession of the United States.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (14) Telecommunications service provider.--The
term ``telecommunications service provider'' has the meaning
given the term ``service provider'' in section 52.5(e) of title
47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor
regulation.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission, in
coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall
establish an advisory committee to provide recommendations to address
challenges to transmitting geolocation information, including
dispatchable location information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and
Crisis Lifeline.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Membership.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Composition.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) In general.--The committee shall be
composed of 15 members, to be appointed in accordance
with subparagraphs (B) and (C).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Appointments by federal communications
commission.--Of the 15 members of the committee
appointed under this paragraph, the Federal
Communications Commission shall appoint--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) 1 member from a
telecommunications service provider or an
organization that represents telecommunications
service providers;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) 1 member from a handset
manufacturer or an organization that represents
handset manufacturers;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) 1 member from a public
safety answering point or an organization that
represents public safety answering
points;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) 1 member from a 911 system
service provider or an organization that
represents 911 system service
providers;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (v) 2 members from a State
government, with at least 1 member representing
a low population State; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (vi) 2 members from a local
government, with at least 1 member representing
small and rural communities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) Appointments by the secretary of
health and human services.--Of the 15 members of the
committee appointed under this paragraph, the Secretary
of Health and Human Services shall appoint--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) 1 member from the 988 Suicide
and Crisis Lifeline;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) 1 member from a local crisis
center or an organization that represents local
crisis centers;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) 1 member from the Veterans
Crisis Line;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) 1 member from the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (v) 1 member from a mental health
services organization;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (vi) 1 member from a community
based mental health organization; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (vii) 1 member with experience
providing services for people who are deaf or
hard of hearing or have hearing loss, such as
access to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
through direct video calling and video relay
service.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Date.--The appointments of the members of the
committee shall be made not later than 30 days after the date
of enactment of this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--A member of the committee shall
be appointed for the life of the committee.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the committee--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) shall not affect the powers of the
committee; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) shall be filled in the same manner as
the original appointment.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Meetings.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after
the date on which all members of the committee have been
appointed, the committee shall hold the first meeting of the
committee.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Frequency.--The committee shall meet at the
call of the Chairperson.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the
committee shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of
members may hold hearings.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The committee shall
select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the members of the
committee.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMITTEE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Study.--The committee shall conduct a study on--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) policy considerations regarding consumer
privacy and legal authority with respect to mandating
transmission of geolocation information, including dispatchable
location information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis
Lifeline;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) technical implementation standards for
telecommunications service providers, 911 system service
providers, public safety answering points, and local crisis
centers; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) potential recovery of costs or additional
funding requirements for telecommunications service providers,
the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line,
and local crisis centers.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Recommendations.--Based on the results of the study
conducted under subsection (a), the committee shall develop
recommendations on potential legislation that would address challenges
relating to the inclusion of geolocation information, including
dispatchable location information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and
Crisis Lifeline.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the committee shall submit to appropriate
committees of Congress and the Federal Communications Commission a
report that contains a detailed statement of the findings and
conclusions of the committee, together with the recommendations of the
committee for such legislation and administrative actions as the
committee considers appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 5. POWERS OF COMMITTEE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Hearings.--The committee may hold such hearings, sit
and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such
evidence as the committee considers advisable to carry out this
Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Information From Federal Agencies.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--The committee may secure directly
from a Federal department or agency such information as the
committee considers necessary to carry out this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Furnishing information.--On request of the
Chairperson of the committee, the head of the department or
agency shall furnish the information to the
committee.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Postal Services.--The committee may use the United
States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other
departments and agencies of the Federal Government.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Gifts.--The committee may accept, use, and dispose of
gifts or donations of services or property.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 6. COMMITTEE PERSONNEL MATTERS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Travel Expenses.--A member of the committee shall be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at
rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes
or regular places of business in the performance of services for the
committee.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Staff.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--The Chairperson of the committee
may, without regard to the civil service laws (including
regulations), appoint and terminate an executive director and
such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable
the committee to perform its duties, except that the employment
of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by
the committee.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Compensation.--The Chairperson of the
committee may fix the compensation of the executive director
and other personnel without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter
III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to
classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates,
except that the rate of pay for the executive director and
other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of
the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of that
title.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Detail of Government Employees.--A Federal Government
employee may be detailed to the committee without reimbursement, and
such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service
status or privilege.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--
The Chairperson of the committee may procure temporary and intermittent
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates
for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual
rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule
under section 5316 of that title.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF COMMITTEE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> The committee shall terminate 30 days after the date on
which the committee submits the report required under section
4(c).</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 8. FUNDING.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act shall be carried out using amounts otherwise
appropriated, and no additional amounts are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this Act.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``988 Lifeline Location Improvement
Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) 911 system service provider.--The term ``911 system
service provider'' has the meaning given the term ``covered 911
service provider'' in section 9.19(a)(4) of title 47, Code of
Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate; and
(C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives.
(3) Dispatchable location.--The term ``dispatchable
location'' has the meaning given that term in section 9.3 of
title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor
regulation.
(4) Emergency communications center.--The term ``emergency
communications center'' means--
(A) a facility that is designed to receive a 911
request for emergency assistance; or
(B) a public safety answering point, as defined in
section 9.3 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations,
or any successor regulation.
(5) Telecommunications service provider.--The term
``telecommunications service provider'' has the meaning given
the term ``service provider'' in section 52.5(e) of title 47,
Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
SEC. 3. NOTICE OF INQUIRY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 270 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall
initiate a notice of inquiry to address the challenges to transmitting
geolocation information with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis
Lifeline.
(b) Evaluation Considerations.--In evaluating responses to the
notice of inquiry under subsection (a), the Federal Communications
Commission shall consider--
(1) legal authorities with respect to mandating the
transmission of geolocation information, including dispatchable
location information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis
Lifeline;
(2) the protection of consumer privacy with respect to
mandating the transmission of geolocation information,
including dispatchable location information, with calls to the
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline;
(3) the feasibility and technical implementation standards
for telecommunications service providers, 911 system service
providers, public safety answering points, and local crisis
centers with respect to mandating the transmission of
geolocation information;
(4) an assessment of the potential costs, funding
requirements, and options for recovery of costs for
telecommunications service providers, the 988 Suicide and
Crisis Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line, and local crisis
centers with respect to mandating the transmission of
geolocation information;
(5) technical challenges associated with mandating the
transmission of geolocation information for users who access
the 988 American Sign Language line through direct video
calling and video relay service; and
(6) the technologies currently available to provide
dispatchable location information and methods for transferring
location information from 988 centers to 911 centers.
SEC. 4. GAO REPORT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall conduct a study and submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress a report on the opportunities and challenges related to
implementing geolocation for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline,
including--
(1) policy considerations regarding consumer privacy and
legal authority with respect to mandating transmission of
geolocation information, including dispatchable location
information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline;
(2) technical implementation standards for
telecommunications service providers, 911 system service
providers, emergency communications centers, and local crisis
centers; and
(3) the potential recovery of costs or additional funding
requirements for telecommunications service providers, the 988
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line, and
local crisis centers.
(b) Consultation.--In conducting the study under subsection (a),
the Comptroller General of the United States shall consult with--
(1) representatives from--
(A) telecommunications service providers or
organizations that represent telecommunications service
providers;
(B) handset manufacturers or organizations that
represent handset manufacturers;
(C) emergency communications centers or
organizations that represent emergency communications
centers;
(D) 911 system service providers or organizations
that represent 911 system service providers;
(E) State government, including those representing
low population States;
(F) local government, including those representing
small and rural communities;
(G) the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline;
(H) local crisis centers or organizations that
represent local crisis centers;
(I) the Veterans Crisis Line;
(J) the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration;
(K) mental health services organizations; and
(L) community mental health centers; and
(2) individuals with experience providing services for
people who are deaf or hard of hearing or have hearing loss,
such as providing access to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
through direct video calling and video relay service.
Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to instruct the
Federal Communications Commission to initiate a notice of
inquiry and instruct the Government Accountability Office to
complete a study and report providing detailed recommendations
to address challenges to transmitting geolocation information
with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and for
other purposes.''.
Calendar No. 379
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3199
[Report No. 119-119]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a multi-stakeholder advisory committee tasked with
providing detailed recommendations to address challenges to
transmitting geolocation information with calls to the 988 Suicide and
Crisis Lifeline, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
April 22, 2026
Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the title