9-8-8 Call Center Improvement Act: Funding for Crisis Centers
To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to new or existing crisis call centers serving regional or local areas, and for other purposes.
This bill was sent to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on September 3, 2026. It has not moved since that date and remains in the early stages of the legislative process. The committee must review the bill before it can move forward to a vote.
While the bill has support from both parties, it was introduced late in the year and most bills do not make it past the committee stage.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline network that this bill funds includes routing for veterans in crisis, so better staffing and technology at local call centers can improve response times for veteran callers. The bill text does not specifically mention veterans, so this benefit is indirect rather than guaranteed.
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Lawmakers reintroduced the 988 Implementation Act, a package including the 988 Call Center Improvement Act, to provide $441 million in funding for local crisis centers. The bill aims to strengthen the 'someone to call' pillar by funding staff recruitment, training, and technology upgrades.
The 988 Call Center Improvement Act, part of a broader legislative push in September 2026, authorizes significant grants for regional call centers. The funding is designed to ensure 24/7 coverage and improve the technical integration of crisis services with local emergency response systems.
The 988 Call Center Improvement Act seeks to provide $441 million for over 250 regional and local lifeline call centers. The bill focuses on expanding the capacity of these centers to handle increased call volumes through better workforce training and sustainable federal grant support.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to new or existing crisis call centers serving regional or local areas, and for other purposes.
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