Answering the Call Act of 2026
Latest action (20 Apr 2026): Introduced
What this bill does
H.R. 8367, the Answering the Call Act of 2026, would amend the Public Health Service Act to expand outreach for the 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline specifically toward first responders. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to address barriers such as stigma, lack of tailored services, and privacy concerns by promoting 9-8-8 through first responder organizations, awarding grants or contracts for public awareness campaigns integrated into training and wellness programs, collecting usage data (with privacy protections requiring aggregation and de-identification), and developing trauma-informed training for hotline counselors tailored to first responders. The bill also establishes a pilot program bringing together the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the U.S. Fire Administration, and first responder organizations to help tailor these outreach efforts, with a report to Congress due three years after enactment.
The bill primarily affects first responders—defined broadly to include law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, and public safety telecommunicators—along with the federal agencies and first responder organizations, such as labor unions and professional associations, that would help design and deliver these outreach and training efforts. It does not create new funding streams beyond authorizing grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements for the specified activities.
The bill was introduced on April 20, 2026, by Rep. Kat Cammack and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. As an introduced bill, it has not yet received committee action, and would need to pass the House and Senate and be signed by the President before becoming law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
This bill is in the first stage of the legislative process. It was introduced into Congress on April 20, 2026. It will typically be considered by committee next before it is possibly sent on to the House or Senate as a whole.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 8367 do?
- H.R. 8367, the Answering the Call Act of 2026, would amend the Public Health Service Act to expand outreach for the 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline specifically toward first responders. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to address barriers such as stigma, lack of tailored services, and privacy concerns by promoting 9-8-8 through first responder organizations, awarding grants or contracts for public awareness campaigns integrated into training and wellness programs, collecting usage data (with privacy protections requiring aggregation and de-identification), and developing trauma-informed training for hotline counselors tailored to first responders. The bill also establishes a pilot program bringing together the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the U.S. Fire Administration, and first responder organizations to help tailor these outreach efforts, with a report to Congress due three years after enactment. The bill primarily affects first responders—defined broadly to include law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, and public safety telecommunicators—along with the federal agencies and first responder organizations, such as labor unions and professional associations, that would help design and deliver these outreach and training efforts. It does not create new funding streams beyond authorizing grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements for the specified activities. The bill was introduced on April 20, 2026, by Rep. Kat Cammack and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. As an introduced bill, it has not yet received committee action, and would need to pass the House and Senate and be signed by the President before becoming law.
- Has H.R. 8367 become law?
- Not yet. As of 20 Apr 2026, H.R. 8367 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 8367?
- H.R. 8367 was sponsored by Rep. Katherine “Kat” Cammack [R-FL3] (Republican-FL), with 2 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 8367?
- Introduced (20 Apr 2026).
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