September 14, 2026 – The Tourette Association of America (TAA) is proud to announce its endorsement of the 988 and 911 Integration Act, newly introduced by Reps. Becca Balint (VT-AL) and Doris Matsui (CA-7). The bill is part of the broader, bipartisan 988 Implementation Act being introduced by Reps. Matsui and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), and it takes direct aim at a persistent gap in the country’s crisis response system: the lack of coordination between the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and traditional 911 emergency services.
If enacted, the legislation would establish a panel, jointly convened by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice, to study and recommend how 988 and 911 can work together more effectively. The panel would bring behavioral health professionals, law enforcement officers, and crisis response experts to the same table to address technical and operational integration between the two systems, set training and staffing protocols so dispatchers respond appropriately to callers in crisis, and ensure vulnerable populations receive appropriate care. It would also establish data collection and reporting standards to track outcomes for individuals who reach out to 911 or 988 during a mental health crisis, with recommendations updated every five years.
The TAA joins a broad coalition of patient and health advocacy organizations in endorsing the 988 and 911 Integration Act, including Active Minds, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, NAMI, The Trevor Project, Crisis Text Line, the Treatment Advocacy Center, and dozens of others. The TAA will continue to monitor the bill’s progress and advocate for policies that strengthen access to mental health care for individuals and families impacted by Tourette Syndrome and other Tic Disorders.
