September 17 (legislative day, September 16), 2025
Ms. Baldwin (for herself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to dedicate sufficient resources for the support of LGBTQ+ youth seeking help from the 9–8–8 suicide prevention hotline, and for other purposes.
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 988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act of 2025
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Sec. 2. Findings
Congress finds that—
(1)
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 45 percent of high school students who seriously considered attempting suicide in 2021 identified as LGBTQ+;
(2)
since its launch, the Specialized Services for LGBTQ+ youth within the 988 Suicide Prevention and Crisis Lifeline have received nearly 1,500,000 calls, texts, and chats, with an average of 2,200 contacts per day as of May 2025; and
(3)
given that LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide as compared to their peers, the Specialized Services for LGBTQ+ youth are equipped with crucial training addressing LGBTQ+ specific challenges and needs.
Sec. 3. Suicide prevention hotline services for LGBTQ+ youth
(a) In general
Section 520E–3(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–36c(b)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (4), by striking and
at the end;
(2)
in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(6)
dedicating sufficient resources, including establishing, re-establishing, operating, and maintaining specialized services (known as the Press 3 option or Integrated Voice Response (IVR)), for the support of youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (LGBTQ+) seeking help from the suicide prevention hotline.
(b) Funding
Section 520E–3(f) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–36c(f)) is amended by adding at the end the following: Of the amounts appropriated under this subsection for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve not less than 9 percent for carrying out subsection (b)(6).
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