National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill, S. 2661, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act by Senators Gardner, Baldwin, Moran, and Reed. It is the Senate companion of legislation I introduced with Representatives Stewart, Moulton, and Eddie Bernice Johnson.

It designates ``988'' as the universal telephone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline system. This means no matter where you are in the country, just like when you call 911, when you call 988, you will be connected to mental health resources.

This legislation also authorizes States to collect a fee limited to supporting local crisis call centers that are affiliated with the national network or enhancement of such services. It also sets a 1-year deadline to complete technical upgrades to enable the number.

Mr. Speaker, I am glad we have been able to work together on this measure and others to improve the network of services that make up the suicide prevention lifeline and to educate Americans about suicide prevention. These bills are badly needed by a Nation working to emerge from an unprecedented health and economic crisis, and it is badly needed in Montana where, tragically, we have one of the highest rates of suicide in the country.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Utah for his leadership. I urge adoption of this, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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