SPEED Act

Bill: 116-s-2003
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2019-06-27
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Emergency communications systems

Health promotion and preventive care

Mental health

Telephone and wireless communication

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2019-06-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-06-27
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Suicide Prevention by Eliminating Excessive Digits Act of 2019 or the SPEED Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to designate a three-digit dialing code that veterans may use to reach a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2003 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 27, 2019 Mr. Manchin (for himself, Mr. Boozman , Mr. Tester , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Blumenthal , and Mr. Sullivan ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To require the Federal Communications Commission to designate a 3-digit dialing code for veterans in crisis.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Suicide Prevention by Eliminating Excessive Digits Act of 2019 or the SPEED Act . 2. Designation of 3-digit dialing code for veterans in crisis (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission; and (2) the term covered dialing code means a simple, easy-to-remember, 3-digit dialing code. (b) Designation As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall designate a covered dialing code that veterans may use to reach a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system, which system may be— (1) the Veterans Crisis Line; (2) the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline; or (3) another hotline. (c) Incorporation of study findings (1) In general In designating a covered dialing code under subsection (b), the Commission shall incorporate the findings of the study conducted under section 3(a) of the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018 ( Public Law 115–233 ; 132 Stat. 2424). (2) Prioritizing implementation speed Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to authorize the Commission to delay the designation of a covered dialing code under subsection (b) until after the Commission submits the report under section 3(b) of the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018 ( Public Law 115–233 ; 132 Stat. 2424).