WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) applauded the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee for recently passing their bipartisan legislation to increase the efficiency of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline through assessing challenges to transmitting geolocation information.

“The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a vital tool that saves lives in Wyoming and across the country,” said Sen. Barrasso. “Our bipartisan bill makes important updates to this lifeline and will help us assess barriers to transmitting geolocation data with calls so we can better connect callers with local emergency services. With committee passage, we’re one step closer to getting this bill across the finish line in the Senate.”

“The 988 hotline is a vital resource for New Mexicans facing mental health crises and has saved lives across the country. Committee passage of our bipartisan legislation is an important step to make 988 more reliable and responsive for those in need,” said Sen. Luján. “This bill is an important step in understanding how to further improve location information for 988 calls, so we can ensure people are connected with local resources and emergency services when necessary.”

In 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took action to require service providers to route phone calls to 988 to the nearest call center based on geographic location. Last July, the FCC took steps to require geo-routing for texts. Previously, calls and texts were routed based on the phone’s area code, often resulting in a geographic mismatch.

The 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Risch (R-Idaho), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).

This legislation is supported by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International (APCO).

Background:

The 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act would:

• Instruct the FCC to open a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) to address the challenges to transmitting geolocation information with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

• Direct the FCC to consider legal authorities, protection of consumer privacy, feasibility, technical implementation standards, assessment of funds, technical challenges for callers with disabilities, and current technology available.

• Require GAO to conduct a study and submit to Congress a report on the opportunities and challenges related to implementing geolocation in consultation with representatives from telecommunications, emergency centers, 911 service providers, small and rural local governments, community mental health centers, and individuals who have experience providing services for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have hearing loss.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

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