[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 163 (Monday, September 21, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H4630-H4631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2020

  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4564) to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure the 
provision of high-quality service through the Suicide Prevention 
Lifeline, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4564

       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 ``Suicide Prevention Lifeline 
     Improvement Act of 2020''.

     SEC. 2. SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE.

       (a) Plan.--Section 520E-3 of the Public Health Service Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 290bb-36c) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
       ``(c) Plan.--
       ``(1) In general.--For purposes of maintaining the suicide 
     prevention hotline under subsection (b)(2), the Secretary 
     shall develop and implement a plan to ensure the provision of 
     high-quality service.
       ``(2) Contents.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       ``(A) Quality assurance provisions, including--
       ``(i) clearly defined and measurable performance indicators 
     and objectives to improve the responsiveness and performance 
     of the hotline, including at backup call centers; and
       ``(ii) quantifiable timeframes to track the progress of the 
     hotline in meeting such performance indicators and 
     objectives.
       ``(B) Standards that crisis centers and backup centers must 
     meet--
       ``(i) to participate in the network under subsection 
     (b)(1); and
       ``(ii) to ensure that each telephone call, online chat 
     message, and other communication received by the hotline, 
     including at backup call centers, is answered in a timely 
     manner by a person, consistent with the guidance established 
     by the American Association of Suicidology or other guidance 
     determined by the Secretary to be appropriate.
       ``(C) Guidelines for crisis centers and backup centers to 
     implement evidence-based practices including with respect to 
     followup and referral to other health and social services 
     resources.
       ``(D) Guidelines to ensure that resources are available and 
     distributed to individuals using the hotline who are not 
     personally in a time of crisis but know of someone who is.
       ``(E) Guidelines to carry out periodic testing of the 
     hotline, including at crisis centers and backup centers, 
     during each fiscal year to identify and correct any problems 
     in a timely manner.
       ``(F) Guidelines to operate in consultation with the State 
     department of health, local governments, Indian tribes, and 
     tribal organizations.
       ``(3) Initial plan; updates.--The Secretary shall--
       ``(A) not later than 6 months after the date of enactment 
     of the Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act of 2020, 
     complete development of the initial version of the plan 
     required by paragraph (1), begin implementation of such plan, 
     and make such plan publicly available; and
       ``(B) periodically thereafter, update such plan and make 
     the updated plan publicly available.''.
       (b) Transmission of Data to CDC.--Section 520E-3 of the 
     Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-36c) is amended by 
     inserting after subsection (c) of such section, as added by 
     subsection (a) of this section, the following:
       ``(d) Transmission of Data to CDC.--The Secretary shall 
     formalize and strengthen agreements between the National 
     Suicide Prevention Lifeline program and the Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention to transmit any necessary 
     epidemiological data from the program to the Centers, 
     including local call center data, to assist the Centers in 
     suicide prevention efforts.''.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (e) of 
     section 520E-3 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     290bb-36c) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       ``(1) In general.--To carry out this section, there are 
     authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each of fiscal 
     years 2021 through 2023.
       ``(2) Allocation.--Of the amount authorized to be 
     appropriated by paragraph (1) for each of fiscal years 2021 
     through 2023, at least 80 percent shall be made available to 
     crisis centers.''.

     SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM ON INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES.

       (a) Pilot Program.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental 
     Health and Substance Use, shall carry out a pilot program to 
     research, analyze, and employ various technologies and 
     platforms of communication (including social media platforms, 
     texting platforms, and email platforms) for suicide 
     prevention in addition to the telephone and online chat 
     service provided by the Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
       (2) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out 
     paragraph (1), there is authorized to be appropriated 
     $5,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2021 and 2022.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 24 months after the date on 
     which the pilot program under subsection (a) commences, the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the 
     Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, 
     shall submit to the Congress a report on the pilot program. 
     With respect to each platform of communication employed 
     pursuant to the pilot program, the report shall include--
       (1) a full description of the program;
       (2) the number of individuals served by the program;
       (3) the average wait time for each individual to receive a 
     response;
       (4) the cost of the program, including the cost per 
     individual served; and
       (5) any other information the Secretary determines 
     appropriate.

     SEC. 4. HHS STUDY AND REPORT.

       Not later than 24 months after the Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services begins implementation of the plan required by 
     section 520E-3(c) of the Public Health Service Act, as added 
     by section 2(a)(2) of this Act, the Secretary shall--
       (1) complete a study on--
       (A) the implementation of such plan, including the progress 
     towards meeting the objectives identified pursuant to 
     paragraph (2)(A)(i) of such section 520E-3(c) by the 
     timeframes identified pursuant to paragraph (2)(A)(ii) of 
     such section 520E-3(c); and
       (B) in consultation with the Director of the Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention, options to expand data 
     gathering from calls to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline in 
     order to better track aspects of usage such as repeat calls, 
     consistent with applicable Federal and State privacy laws; 
     and
       (2) submit a report to the Congress on the results of such 
     study, including recommendations on whether additional 
     legislation or appropriations are needed.

     SEC. 5. GAO STUDY AND REPORT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 24 months after the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services begins implementation 
     of the plan required by section 520E-3(c) of the Public 
     Health Service Act, as added by section 2(a)(2) of this Act, 
     the Comptroller General of the United States shall--
       (1) complete a study on the Suicide Prevention Lifeline; 
     and
       (2) submit a report to the Congress on the results of such 
     study.
       (b) Issues To Be Studied.--The study required by subsection 
     (a) shall address--
       (1) the feasibility of geolocating callers to direct calls 
     to the nearest crisis center;
       (2) operation shortcomings of the Suicide Prevention 
     Lifeline;
       (3) geographic coverage of each crisis call center;
       (4) the call answer rate of each crisis call center;
       (5) the call wait time of each crisis call center;
       (6) the hours of operation of each crisis call center;
       (7) funding avenues of each crisis call center;
       (8) the implementation of the plan under section 520E-3(c) 
     of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 2(a) of 
     this Act, including the progress towards meeting the 
     objectives identified pursuant to paragraph (2)(A)(i) of such 
     section 520E-3(c) by the timeframes identified pursuant to 
     paragraph (2)(A)(ii) of such section 520E-3(c); and
       (9) service to individuals requesting a foreign language 
     speaker, including--
       (A) the number of calls or chats the Lifeline receives from 
     individuals speaking a foreign language;
       (B) the capacity of the Lifeline to handle these calls or 
     chats; and
       (C) the number of crisis centers with the capacity to serve 
     foreign language speakers, in house.
       (c) Recommendations.--The report required by subsection (a) 
     shall include recommendations for improving the Suicide 
     Prevention Lifeline, including recommendations for 
     legislative and administrative actions.

     SEC. 6. DEFINITION.

       In this Act, the term ``Suicide Prevention Lifeline'' means 
     the suicide prevention hotline maintained pursuant to section 
     520E-3 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-
     36c).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from

[[Page H4631]]

Michigan (Mrs. Dingell) and the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Gianforte) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 4564.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4564, the Suicide Prevention 
Lifeline Improvement Act of 2020. This legislation will provide 
additional resources and authority for the National Suicide Prevention 
Lifeline, ensuring that it will have the infrastructure necessary to 
meet both current needs and the increased volume of outreach expected 
when the 988 number is formally adopted.
  The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline currently expects 12 million 
calls over the next 4 years, equivalent to the total number of calls 
from 2005 to 2017.
  Given this increased demand, the current authorization level of 
approximately $7.2 million per year is insufficient to meet expected 
need for the lifeline's critical services for those in crisis.
  This legislation increases the authorization for the lifeline to $50 
million each year through fiscal year 2022, allowing it to effectively 
manage the increased call volume while reducing wait times.
  Additionally, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act will 
create a new pilot program to deploy innovative technologies through 
social media, texting, and other platforms, connecting Americans where 
they are to the lifeline.
  It will also establish a plan for maintaining the lifeline program 
and provide additional study and recommendations from HHS on ways to 
further strengthen access to this program.
  I thank and appreciate Representatives Katko, Beyer, and Napolitano 
for their leadership in offering this legislation, and continuing to 
push for reforms to strengthen the National Suicide Prevention 
Lifeline.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan effort 
to strengthen access to this critical resource for Americans in crisis.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GIANFORTE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4564, the Suicide 
Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act, introduced by Representatives 
Katko, Cardenas, and Representatives Graves and Bishop from Georgia.
  This legislation will increase the authorization of the National 
Suicide Prevention Lifeline program to $50 million each year through 
fiscal year 2022.
  This bill ensures funding is available for the continued operation of 
the suicide hotline. When an individual in crisis calls the suicide 
hotline, they can't get a busy signal. This is crucial, again, in this 
time of economic distress and social isolation.
  I know we will also consider several other pieces of legislation, 
including designating 988 as the extension for the national suicide 
hotline.
  With more individuals in crisis, more calls will come. We must 
increase awareness of this critical resource and make it easier to 
remember the number.
  We must make sure the national suicide hotline is prepared to deal 
with those in crisis. This issue has been one of my top priorities in 
Congress, and I am glad we have been able to work together to get this 
done.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important 
bipartisan legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1830

  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer), who has helped 
champion this bill.
  Mr. BEYER. Madam Speaker, I too rise to ask my colleagues to support 
the Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act led by my colleague, 
Mr. Katko.
  This is a bill that the Mental Health Caucus co-chairs, Mr. Katko and 
Mrs. Napolitano, and I have been working on for several years.
  Two years ago, I spent a long afternoon at the local suicide lifeline 
in northern Virginia. It was fascinating; it was important; and I 
learned a great deal. Number one, I learned that an awful lot of young 
people want to do texts rather than phone calls, and they didn't have 
that capability. I learned that they were in desperate need of more 
staff. I learned that they needed more volunteers, and when I said that 
I would like to be a volunteer, I learned that it took four long 
weekends, then you had to commit to 40 hours of training, and then you 
had to commit to at least one 4- or 5-hour shift per week for the next 
year.
  I also found that it had a remarkable success rate. They said they 
had talked to something like 3,000 people the previous year.
  I asked: ``How many had been lost?'' Two out of 3,000.
  But I also found out that they have wait times sometimes up to 60 
minutes just to get on a call. A crisis can't afford to wait 60 
minutes, and that is why we developed this legislation to give the 
lifeline the resources it needs and the quick answering times it has to 
have to be successful.
  We also built in oversight capability so it can be more effectively 
reviewed and improved. It has to constantly evolve.
  The work is certainly even more important now that we know about the 
new 988 designation by the FCC. We have heard a lot about that this 
afternoon because we know there is going to be a lot higher demand.
  One of the things I have done the last couple of years at every event 
is I say: Okay, everybody here raise their hand who knows the suicide 
lifeline number.
  No one raises their hand ever. But that will be different. In fact, I 
am very confident that, within a few years, the 988 will go 
international, and it will be the standard all over the world.
  It is especially important now during the pandemic. I just looked it 
up while we were waiting that a survey this July--2 months ago--found 
that 36 percent of young people 18 to 29 years old are experiencing 
clinical depression.
  Madam Speaker, 48,000 Americans died by their own hand in 2018. We 
can't save every life, but the Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 
remarkably successful in helping people through that singular moment of 
despair in their lives.
  Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues again. It has been 
bipartisan, and it has been very important. Good friends like Mr. 
Gianforte, Mr. Katko, Frank Pallone, and Anna Eshoo helped us through, 
and my dear friend Debbie Dingell led here today. I thank them for 
prioritizing these mental health supports when we need it most.
  Mr. GIANFORTE. Madam Speaker, in closing, this is a critical issue in 
Montana. We have one of the highest suicide rates in the country, and 
making these services available is critical.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, during these unprecedented times, we 
need to ensure that we are putting the resources into those that need 
them.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4564, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________