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H.R. 3498 118th Congress House

HELP Act of 2023

Official title: To facilitate nationwide accessibility and coordination of 211 services and 988 services in order to provide information and referral to all residents and visi… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To facilitate nationwide accessibility and coordination of 211 services and 988 services in order to provide information and referral to all residents and visitors in the United States for mental health emergencies, homelessness needs, other social and human services needs, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 23, 2024 See on congress.gov
Social Welfare AgingChild care and developmentCommunity life and organizationDepartment of Health and Human Services
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Disability and paralysisDomestic violence and child abuseEmergency communications systemsEmergency medical services and trauma careExecutive agency funding and structureFamily servicesGovernment information and archivesHealth programs administration and fundingHealth promotion and preventive careHomelessness and emergency shelterHousing and community development fundingIndian social and development programsInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaLaw enforcement administration and fundingMental healthPerformance measurementSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsState and local government operationsTelephone and wireless communication
This bill died when the 118th Congress ended
It never became law before the 118th Congress (2023–2024) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 23, 2024
ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. McGarvey asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 3498, a bill originally introduced by Representative Higgins (NY), for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
May 18, 2023
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
May 18, 2023
Introduced in House
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 Latest action May 23, 2024

ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. McGarvey asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 3498, a bill originally introduced by Representative Higgins (NY), for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Human-Services Emergency Logistic Program Act of 2023 or the HELP Act of 2023

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to allot funding to states, tribal nations, and territories to improve the 2-1-1 and 9-8-8 telecommunication systems. The 2-1-1 system provides callers with information and referrals with respect to health and human services and other provider agencies, and the 9-8-8 system provides callers with mental health or suicide crisis support and resources through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

The funds must be used solely for making the call systems available to all individuals in the service area, enhancing community information and referrals with respect to human services, or both. As a condition of this funding, recipients must appoint a lead entity to manage activities to improve the call systems. Recipients must also establish a Human Services State Oversight Council to provide the lead entity with guidance and oversight related to the call systems.

In addition, HHS must establish a Human Services National Board, comprised of federal and non-federal representatives, to manage the allocation of funds and evaluate the call systems.

 

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 34
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3498: HELP Act of 2023. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-3498/
MLA
"H.R. 3498: HELP Act of 2023." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-3498/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3498, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-3498/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3498: HELP Act of 2023](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-3498/)
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