Introduced in Senate — S. 5305

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5305

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

August 6, 2026

Mr. McCormick (for himself, Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Kaine, and Ms. Hassan) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To amend the Public Health Service Act to modify the grant program for mental health and substance use disorder services for students in higher education and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline program to address youth suicide prevention and intervention, and for other purposes.

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Campus Lifeline Act.

Sec. 2. Student-led campus interventions for students experiencing mental health or substance use disorders

Section 520E–2 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–36b) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)(10)—

(A)

by inserting and student organizations that promote peer mental health awareness, suicide prevention, or substance use disorder education after athletic teams;

(B)

by striking activities to educate students and inserting “activities—

(A)
to educate students; and

(C)

in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), by striking health. and inserting the following: “health;

(B)
to recognize and intervene effectively and appropriately with peers experiencing warning signs of mental health and substance use disorders; and
(C)
to develop and disseminate public service announcements, including digital and social media campaigns, that encourage students experiencing symptoms of mental health conditions or substance use disorders to recognize when assistance may be needed and to seek available campus, local, or national behavioral health resources.;

(2)

in subsection (d)—

(A)

in paragraph (3), by striking services. and inserting services, including through student-led outreach activities to peers.; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(9)
A plan to seek input from students and student groups, as applicable, with experience leading mental health awareness and education for peers, in order to carry out the program under the grant.
(10)
A description of how the applicant will provide outreach and behavioral health resource information to students enrolled in online, hybrid, distance-learning, or other remote education programs, including students residing in rural or medically underserved communities.
(11)
A description of how the applicant will ensure that outreach, education, screening, referral, and peer support activities supported through a grant under this section are accessible to students enrolled in online, hybrid, distance-learning, or other remote education programs, including through virtual engagement and telehealth-enabled resources, as appropriate.; and

(3)

in subsection (h)—

(A)

by striking may and inserting shall, to the maximum extent practicable and subject to the availability of appropriations,;

(B)

by striking to grantees and inserting the following: “to—

(1)
grantees; and

(C)

in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by striking section. and inserting the following: “section; and

(2)
other institutions of higher education that applied for, but did not receive, a grant under this section but that plan to carry out activities similar to the activities funded by grants under this section.

Sec. 3. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline program youth awareness strategies

Section 520E–3 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–36c) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)(4), by inserting , by coordinating with and encouraging States, including State educational agencies, and institutions of higher education to list the telephone number for the suicide prevention hotline on newly issued school identification cards, and by encouraging institutions of higher education to conduct public service announcements and digital awareness campaigns promoting the suicide prevention hotline and other appropriate behavioral health resources for all students, including students who are enrolled in online, hybrid, distance-learning, or other remote education programs after public; and

(2)

in subsection (c)—

(A)

in paragraph (1)—

(i)

by striking subsection (b)(1) and maintaining and inserting subsection (b)(1), maintaining; and

(ii)

by inserting and improving awareness of the program under subsection (b)(4), after subsection (b)(2),;

(B)

in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting , including awareness activities under subsection (b)(4), after the program; and

(C)

in paragraph (3)—

(i)

by striking In developing and inserting the following:

(A) In general
In developing; and

(ii)

by adding at the end the following:

(B) Consultation with other departments and agencies
In developing a plan under this subsection for purposes of improving awareness of the program under subsection (b)(4), the Secretary shall consult with the heads of other relevant departments and agencies, including the Secretary of Education.