[Pages S4843-S4844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3102. Mrs. GILLIBRAND submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed by her to the bill S. 2296, to authorize appropriations for 
fiscal year 2026 for military activities of the Department of Defense, 
for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department 
of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal 
year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end of subtitle F of title X, insert the following:

     SEC. 1067. FIRST RESPONDERS MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE.

       Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 399V-8. FIRST RESPONDERS MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE.

       ``(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this section, the Secretary, acting through the 
     Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, 
     shall maintain, directly or by contract or grant, a national 
     first responders emergency hotline to provide peer and 
     emotional support, information, brief intervention, and 
     mental and behavioral health and substance use disorder 
     resources and referrals to first responders and to their 
     families or household members.
       ``(b) Requirements for Hotline.--The hotline established 
     under subsection (a) shall--
       ``(1) operate as a separate, widely recognizable number 
     with bidirectional transfer options with the 988 Suicide and 
     Crisis Lifeline established pursuant to section 520E-3;
       ``(2) provide 24/7 toll-free, real-time, live assistance;
       ``(3) provide voice and text support;
       ``(4) be sufficiently staffed by, at a minimum, culturally 
     competent first responder peer specialists or first responder 
     mental health services providers; and
       ``(5) provide peer support, mental and behavioral health 
     and substance use disorder assistance, and referral services 
     to meet the needs of first responders and family members or 
     household members at risk of experiencing mental or 
     behavioral health or substance use disorders.
       ``(c) Additional Requirements.--
       ``(1) In general.--In maintaining the hotline under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
       ``(A) consult with the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 
     the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and the Veterans Crisis 
     Line to ensure that first responders are connected in real-
     time to the appropriate specialized hotline service, when 
     applicable;

[[Page S4844]]

       ``(B) conduct a public awareness campaign for the hotline 
     under subsection (a) in coordination and consultation with 
     Federal departments and agencies, including the Substance 
     Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the 
     Department of Justice; and
       ``(C) consult with organizations that operate existing 
     crisis or peer support hotlines for first responders with 
     respect to best practices for operating such hotlines.
       ``(2) Existing hotlines.--The Secretary or an entity 
     receiving a grant or contract under subsection (a), as 
     applicable, shall form partnerships between the existing 
     national first responders mental health hotline and other 
     first responder helplines and websites.
       ``(3) Coordination.--The Secretary shall ensure that calls 
     from public safety personnel received through the 988 Suicide 
     and Crisis Lifeline are appropriately referred to the hotline 
     under subsection (a).
       ``(4) Minimum standards.--
       ``(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this section, the Secretary shall implement, in 
     coordination with mental health providers and first responder 
     associations or personnel, trauma-informed and culturally 
     competent training, guidance, and standards for culturally 
     competent peer specialists and 988 Suicide and Crisis 
     Lifeline network center personnel on the unique concerns, 
     resources, linkages, and stressors of first responders.
       ``(B) Minimum training requirements.--Culturally competent 
     first responder peer specialists and 988 Suicide and Crisis 
     Lifeline network center personnel shall complete not less 
     than 20 hours of foundation training, which shall include 
     instruction on--
       ``(i) the essential functions of first responders and 
     public safety organizations;
       ``(ii) the behavioral health conditions common to first 
     responders;
       ``(iii) common and novel stressors inherent in public 
     safety and emergency response work;
       ``(iv) normal and abnormal adaptation to occupational 
     stress and trauma;
       ``(v) the principles of confidentiality, testimonial 
     privilege, and ethical considerations;
       ``(vi) crisis intervention strategies;
       ``(vii) action planning, resource navigation, and referral 
     processes;
       ``(viii) general risk assessment, including suicide risk 
     indicators and safety planning intervention strategies; and
       ``(ix) first responders outreach and engagement practices.
       ``(C) Continuing education.--Culturally competent first 
     responder peer specialists and 988 Suicide and Crisis 
     Lifeline network center personnel shall complete a minimum of 
     8 hours annually of continuing education focused on emerging 
     behavioral health topics, best practices in peer support, and 
     updates in crisis intervention and referral protocols.
       ``(D) Identification of qualified training partners.--To 
     support the development, implementation, and continuous 
     evaluation of peer support training programs designed to 
     promote the safety, mental wellness, and operational 
     readiness of first responders and emergency service 
     personnel, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent 
     practicable, collaborate with nationally recognized nonprofit 
     organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986 that demonstrate--
       ``(i) expertise in training related to emergency response 
     and behavioral health with the first responder community; and
       ``(ii) documented cultural competency regarding the unique 
     operational environments, occupational stressors, and 
     behavioral health challenges faced by first responders.
       ``(d) Annual Report.--The Secretary shall submit an annual 
     report to Congress on the hotline under subsection (a) and 
     implementation of this section, including--
       ``(1) an evaluation of the effectiveness of activities 
     conducted or supported under subsection (a);
       ``(2) an evaluation of staffing levels necessary to 
     maintain adequate services;
       ``(3) a directory of entities or organizations to which 
     staff maintaining the hotline funded under this section may 
     make referrals; and
       ``(4) such additional information as the Secretary 
     determines appropriate.
       ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Culturally competent first responder peer 
     specialist.--The term `culturally competent first responder 
     peer specialist' means an individual--
       ``(A) with familiarity with, and understanding of, the 
     duties and unique stressors of first responders, which may 
     include experience working as a first responder; and
       ``(B) who completed a trauma-informed and culturally 
     competent training developed pursuant to subsection (c)(4).
       ``(2) First responder.--The term `first responder'--
       ``(A) means--
       ``(i) a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or member of 
     a rescue squad or ambulance crew (as such terms are defined 
     in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and 
     Safe Streets Act of 1968); or
       ``(ii) a public safety telecommunicator, including 9-1-1 
     operators and dispatchers; and
       ``(B) includes a retired first responder.
       ``(3) First responder mental health services provider.--The 
     term `first responder mental health services provider' 
     includes a State-licensed or State-certified counselor, 
     trauma counselor, psychologist or other State licensed or 
     certified mental health professional who--
       ``(A) is qualified under State law to provide mental or 
     behavioral health services; and
       ``(B) who completed a trauma-informed and culturally 
     competent training developed pursuant to subsection (c)(4).
       ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this 
     section, there are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 
     for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2032.''.
                                 ______