Floor SpeechUrgent2026-05-11

988 LIFELINE LOCATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2025

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Context

On 2026-05-11, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) delivered a floor speech titled "988 LIFELINE LOCATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2025" in the Senate.

Full Text

988 LIFELINE LOCATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2025

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 79 (Monday, May 11, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 79 (Monday, May 11, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S2204-S2205] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] 988 LIFELINE LOCATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2025 Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar 379, S. 3199. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 3199) to establish a multi-stakeholder advisory committee tasked with providing detailed recommendations to address challenges to transmitting geolocation information with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and for other purposes. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) 911 system service provider.--The term ``911 system service provider'' has the meaning given the term ``covered 911 service provider'' in section 9.19(a)(4) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. (2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means-- (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; (B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and (C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives. (3) Dispatchable location.--The term ``dispatchable location'' has the meaning given that term in section 9.3 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. (4) Emergency communications center.--The term ``emergency communications center'' means-- [[Page S2205]] (A) a facility that is designed to receive a 911 request for emergency assistance; or (B) a public safety answering point, as defined in section 9.3 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. (5) Telecommunications service provider.--The term ``telecommunications service provider'' has the meaning given the term ``service provider'' in section 52.5(e) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. SEC. 3. NOTICE OF INQUIRY. (a) In General.--Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall initiate a notice of inquiry to address the challenges to transmitting geolocation information with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. (b) Evaluation Considerations.--In evaluating responses to the notice of inquiry under subsection (a), the Federal Communications Commission shall consider-- (1) legal authorities with respect to mandating the transmission of geolocation information, including dispatchable location information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; (2) the protection of consumer privacy with respect to mandating the transmission of geolocation information, including dispatchable location information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; (3) the feasibility and technical implementation standards for telecommunications service providers, 911 system service providers, public safety answering points, and local crisis centers with respect to mandating the transmission of geolocation information; (4) an assessment of the potential costs, funding requirements, and options for recovery of costs for telecommunications service providers, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line, and local crisis centers with respect to mandating the transmission of geolocation information; (5) technical challenges associated with mandating the transmission of geolocation information for users who access the 988 American Sign Language line through direct video calling and video relay service; and (6) the technologies currently available to provide dispatchable location information and methods for transferring location information from 988 centers to 911 centers. SEC. 4. GAO REPORT. (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the opportunities and challenges related to implementing geolocation for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, including-- (1) policy considerations regarding consumer privacy and legal authority with respect to mandating transmission of geolocation information, including dispatchable location information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; (2) technical implementation standards for telecommunications service providers, 911 system service providers, emergency communications centers, and local crisis centers; and (3) the potential recovery of costs or additional funding requirements for telecommunications service providers, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line, and local crisis centers. (b) Consultation.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States shall consult with-- (1) representatives from-- (A) telecommunications service providers or organizations that represent telecommunications service providers; (B) handset manufacturers or organizations that represent handset manufacturers; (C) emergency communications centers or organizations that represent emergency communications centers; (D) 911 system service providers or organizations that represent 911 system service providers; (E) State government, including those representing low population States; (F) local government, including those representing small and rural communities; (G) the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; (H) local crisis centers or organizations that represent local crisis centers; (I) the Veterans Crisis Line; (J) the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; (K) mental health services organizations; and (L) community mental health centers; and (2) individuals with experience providing services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing or have hearing loss, such as providing access to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline through direct video calling and video relay service. Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; that the committee-reported title amendment be agreed to; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, was agreed to. The bill (S. 3199), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed. The committee-reported title amendment was agreed to as follows: Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to instruct the Federal Communications Commission to initiate a notice of inquiry and instruct the Government Accountability Office to complete a study and report providing detailed recommendations to address challenges to transmitting geolocation information with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and for other purposes.''. ____________________

Referenced legislation: S3199, S3199

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988 LIFELINE LOCATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2025 Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 79 (Monday, May 11, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 79 (Monday, May 11, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S2204-S2205] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] 988 LIFELINE LOCATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2025 Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar 379, S. 3199. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 3199) to establish a multi-stakeholder advisory committee tasked with providing detailed recommendations to address challenges to transmitting geolocation information with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and for other purposes. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) 911 system service provider.--The term ``911 system service provider'' has the meaning given the term ``covered 911 service provider'' in section 9.19(a)(4) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. (2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means-- (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; (B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and (C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives. (3) Dispatchable location.--The term ``dispatchable location'' has the meaning given that term in section 9.3 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. (4) Emergency communications center.--The term ``emergency communications center'' means-- [[Page S2205]] (A) a facility that is designed to receive a 911 request for emergency assistance; or (B) a public safety answering point, as defined in section 9.3 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. (5) Telecommunications service provider.--The term ``telecommunications service provider'' has the meaning given the term ``service provider'' in section 52.5(e) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. SEC. 3. NOTICE OF INQUIRY. (a) In General.--Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall initiate a notice of inquiry to address the challenges to transmitting geolocation information with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. (b) Evaluation Considerations.--In evaluating responses to the notice of inquiry under subsection (a), the Federal Communications Commission shall consider-- (1) legal authorities with respect to mandating the transmission of geolocation information, including dispatchable location information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; (2) the protection of consumer privacy with respect to mandating the transmission of geolocation information, including dispatchable location information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; (3) the feasibility and technical implementation standards for telecommunications service providers, 911 system service providers, public safety answering points, and local crisis centers with respect to mandating the transmission of geolocation information; (4) an assessment of the potential costs, funding requirements, and options for recovery of costs for telecommunications service providers, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line, and local crisis centers with respect to mandating the transmission of geolocation information; (5) technical challenges associated with mandating the transmission of geolocation information for users who access the 988 American Sign Language line through direct video calling and video relay service; and (6) the technologies currently available to provide dispatchable location information and methods for transferring location information from 988 centers to 911 centers. SEC. 4. GAO REPORT. (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the opportunities and challenges related to implementing geolocation for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, including-- (1) policy considerations regarding consumer privacy and legal authority with respect to mandating transmission of geolocation information, including dispatchable location information, with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; (2) technical implementation standards for telecommunications service providers, 911 system service providers, emergency communications centers, and local crisis centers; and (3) the potential recovery of costs or additional funding requirements for telecommunications service providers, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line, and local crisis centers. (b) Consultation.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States shall consult with-- (1) representatives from-- (A) telecommunications service providers or organizations that represent telecommunications service providers; (B) handset manufacturers or organizations that represent handset manufacturers; (C) emergency communications centers or organizations that represent emergency communications centers; (D) 911 system service providers or organizations that represent 911 system service providers; (E) State government, including those representing low population States; (F) local government, including those representing small and rural communities; (G) the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; (H) local crisis centers or organizations that represent local crisis centers; (I) the Veterans Crisis Line; (J) the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; (K) mental health services organizations; and (L) community mental health centers; and (2) individuals with experience providing services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing or have hearing loss, such as providing access to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline through direct video calling and video relay service. Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; that the committee-reported title amendment be agreed to; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, was agreed to. The bill (S. 3199), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed. The committee-reported title amendment was agreed to as follows: Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to instruct the Federal Communications Commission to initiate a notice of inquiry and instruct the Government Accountability Office to complete a study and report providing detailed recommendations to address challenges to transmitting geolocation information with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and for other purposes.''. ____________________ Referenced legislation: S3199, S3199