I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9550 
To establish a task force on the prevention of suicide by U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection personnel, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 14, 2022 
Mr. TONY GONZALES of Texas (for himself, Mrs. FLORES, Mr. CUELLAR, Mr. 
GOLDEN, Mr. FLEISCHMANN, and Ms. SLOTKIN) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
A BILL 
To establish a task force on the prevention of suicide by 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Taking Action to Pre-
vent Suicide Act’’ or the ‘‘TAPS Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. TASK FORCE ON THE PREVENTION OF SUICIDE BY 
U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION 
PERSONNEL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commissioner of U.S. Cus-
toms and Border Protection (CBP) and the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services (HHS) shall jointly establish 
a task force to examine matters relating to prevention of 
suicide by U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel. 
(b) COMPOSITION.— 
(1) PERSONNEL.—The task force established in 
accordance with subsection (a) shall consist of not 
more than 14 members appointed by the Commis-
sioner of CBP from among individuals described in 
paragraph (2). 
(2) INDIVIDUALS DESCRIBED.—The individuals 
described in this paragraph are the following: 
(A) At least one CBP agent. 
(B) The Deputy Commissioner of CBP. 
(C) The Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol. 
(D) The Executive Assistant Commissioner 
of Air and Marine Operations of CBP. 
(E) The Executive Assistant Commissioner 
of Field Operations of CBP. 
(F) At least one member of the National 
Border Patrol Council. 
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(G) At least one member of the National 
Treasury Employees Union. 
(H) The Assistant Secretary for Mental 
Health and Substance Abuse of the Department 
of Health and Human Services. 
(I) Persons who have experience in the fol-
lowing: 
(i) National suicide prevention policy. 
(ii) CBP personnel policy. 
(iii) Research in the field of suicide 
prevention. 
(iv) Clinical care in mental health. 
(J) At least one family member of a CBP 
Customs Officer who has experience working 
with families of CBP personnel. 
(K) At least one family member of a U.S. 
Border Patrol agent who has experience work-
ing with families of CBP personnel. 
(3) LIMITATION.—To the greatest extent prac-
ticable, the Commissioner of CBP and the Secretary 
of HHS shall make every effort to ensure there is 
an equal representation of Federal and non-Federal 
members of the task force. 
(4) DEADLINE
FOR
APPOINTMENT.—All ap-
pointments of individuals to the task force shall be 
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made not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
(5) CO-CHAIRS OF TASK FORCE.—There shall 
be two co-chairs of the task force, as follows: 
(A) One of the co-chairs shall be des-
ignated from among CBP personnel members. 
Such designation shall be made by the Commis-
sioner of CBP at the time of appointment. 
(B) One of the co-chairs shall be des-
ignated from among non-CBP personnel mem-
bers. Such designation shall be made by such 
non-CBP personnel members. 
(c) ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON SUI-
CIDE PREVENTION POLICY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date on which all personnel of the task 
force have been appointed, the task force shall sub-
mit to the Commissioner of CBP a report containing 
recommendations (including recommendations for 
legislative or administrative action) regarding a com-
prehensive policy designed to prevent suicide by 
CBP personnel. 
(2) UTILIZATION OF OTHER EFFORTS.—In pre-
paring the report required under paragraph (1), the 
task force shall take into consideration completed 
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and ongoing efforts by CBP to improve the efficacy 
of suicide prevention programs. 
(3) ELEMENTS.—The recommendations re-
ferred to in paragraph (1) shall include measures to 
address the following: 
(A) Methods to identify trends and com-
mon causal factors in suicides by CBP per-
sonnel. 
(B) Methods to establish or update suicide 
education and prevention programs conducted 
by CBP based on identified trends and causal 
factors. 
(C) An assessment of current suicide edu-
cation and prevention programs of CBP. 
(D) An assessment of current mental 
health education programs and services avail-
able to CBP personnel, and the significance of 
any stigma with respect to such programs and 
services. 
(E) An assessment of suicide incidence by 
CBP personnel. 
(F) The appropriate type and method of 
investigation to determine the causes and fac-
tors surrounding each suicide by CBP per-
sonnel. 
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(G) The qualifications of individuals ap-
pointed to conduct an investigations of suicides 
by CBP personnel. 
(H) The information required by an inves-
tigation to determine the causes and factors re-
garding suicides by CBP personnel. 
(I) The appropriate reporting requirements 
after the conclusions of investigations conducted 
on suicides by CBP personnel. 
(J) The appropriate official or executive 
agent within the Department of Homeland Se-
curity to receive and analyze reports on inves-
tigations of suicides by CBP personnel. 
(K) The appropriate use of the information 
gathered during investigations of suicides by 
CBP personnel. 
(L) Methods for protecting confidentiality 
of information contained in reports of investiga-
tions of suicides by CBP personnel. 
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.— 
(1) COMPENSATION.—Each member of the task 
force who is a Federal employee shall serve without 
compensation. Non-Federal members of the task 
force shall be treated for purposes of section 3161 
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of title 5, United States Code, as having been ap-
pointed under subsection (b) of such section. 
(2) OVERSIGHT.—The Commissioner of CBP 
and the Secretary of HHS shall oversee the activi-
ties of the task force. 
(3) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Commis-
sioner of CBP and the Secretary of HHS shall pro-
vide the task force with such personnel, facilities, 
and other administrative support as may be nec-
essary for the performance of the duties of the task 
force. 
(e) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the appointment of all individuals to the task 
force, the task force shall submit to the Secretary of 
Homeland Security a report on its activities under 
this section. The report shall include the following: 
(A) A description of the activities of the 
task force. 
(B) The assessment and recommendations 
required under subsection (c). 
(C) Such other matters relating to the ac-
tivities of the task force that the task force con-
siders appropriate. 
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(2) TRANSMITTAL
TO
CONGRESS.—Not later 
than 90 days after receipt of the report under para-
graph (1), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
transmit the report to the Committee on Homeland 
Security of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate. The Secretary may include in 
the transmittal such comments regarding the report 
as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
(f) PLAN REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days after 
receipt of the report under subsection (e)(1), the Secretary 
of Homeland Security shall develop a plan based on the 
assessments and recommendations of the task force and 
submit such plan to the Committee on Homeland Security 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Sen-
ate. 
(g) TERMINATION.—The task force shall terminate 
90 days after the date on which the report of the task 
force is submitted to the Committee on Homeland Secu-
rity of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate pursuant to subsection (e)(2). 
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(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 to carry out 
this section. 
Æ 
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