1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2019 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, on average, there are 129 suicides per day in the United States. (2) To prevent future suicides, it is critical to transition the cumbersome, existing 10-digit National Suicide Hotline to a universal, easy-to-remember, 3-digit phone number and connect people in crisis with life-saving resources. (3) It is essential that people in the United States have access to a 3-digit national suicide hotline across all geographic locations. (4) The designated suicide hotline number will need to be both familiar and recognizable to all people in the United States. 3. Universal telephone number for national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system (a) In general Section 251(e) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 251(e) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (4) Universal telephone number for national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system 9–8–8 is designated as the universal telephone number within the United States for the purpose of the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system operating through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline maintained by the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use under section 520E–3 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 290bb–36c ) and through the Veterans Crisis Line maintained by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under section 1720F(h) of title 38, United States Code. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. (c) Required report Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit a report that details the resources necessary to make the use of 9–8–8, as