S. 5305

119 S5305 IS: Campus Lifeline Act
 U.S. Senate
 2026-08-06
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 EN
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 II  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.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Campus Lifeline Act  .
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.
 .
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.
 .