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Krishnamoorthi leads push to restart 988 services for LGBTQ+ youth
Lawmakers have urged HHS to restart LGBTQ+ youth crisis support by the end of this month.
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Anushka Pathak - Thu, 12, Feb 2026
- 12:11 EST
- 17
US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi / X/@CongressmanRaja
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi is leading a bipartisan effort urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to immediately reinstate specialized LGBTQ+ youth services under the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline using funds already appropriated by Congress.
In a Feb. 11 letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Krishnamoorthi and Reps. Sharice Davids, Seth Moulton, Mike Lawler, and Brian Fitzpatrick cited the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, which directs HHS to allocate US$33.1 million for the 988 Lifeline’s Press 3 specialized services.
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The letter states that the funding represents “bipartisan, Congressional recognition that tailored crisis support for populations at higher risk of suicide, including LGBTQ+ youth, is not optional; it is essential.”
Krishnamoorthi and the co-signers wrote that “inhibiting Press 3 services undermines that commitment, Congressional intent, and best practices for suicide prevention.” They noted HHS’s longstanding acknowledgment that LGBTQ+ youth face disproportionately high rates of mental health distress and suicidality.
Since its launch, the specialized Press 3 service has handled nearly 1.6 million calls, texts, and chats, with recent daily averages of about 2,100 contacts.
The lawmakers also referenced the establishment of the 988 Lifeline during President Trump’s first term, calling it “a resource for any American experiencing mental distress” and stating that specialized services for high-risk groups are “a core part of fulfilling that mission.”
They warned that maintaining the discontinuation of the LGBTQ+ youth services “poses serious risks and does not align with your department’s commitment to improving health outcomes nationwide.”
The letter concludes by urging HHS to “honor Congressional direction, uphold the department’s stated commitment to suicide prevention, and immediately restart the LGBTQ+ youth specialized services within the 988 Lifeline by the end of this month.”
Krishnamoorthi’s office stated that the move continues his work related to the 988 Lifeline, including prior opposition to proposed funding cuts and the introduction of bipartisan legislation aimed at preserving access to specialized crisis support for LGBTQ+ youth.
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