summary
Introduced
03/02/2021
03/02/2021
In Committee
03/03/2021
03/03/2021
Crossed Over
05/13/2021
05/13/2021
Passed
Dead
01/03/2023
01/03/2023
Introduced Session
117th Congress
Bill Summary
AN ACT To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues among public safety officers, and for other purposes.
AI Summary
This bill, the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome (HERO) Act, aims to improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues among public safety officers. Key provisions include:
1. Establishing the Public Safety Officer Suicide Reporting System to collect data on suicide incidence among public safety officers, including firefighters, emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, and public safety telecommunicators.
2. Authorizing grants to eligible entities, such as nonprofit organizations, to establish or enhance peer-support behavioral health and wellness programs within fire departments and EMS agencies.
3. Authorizing grants to eligible entities, such as hospitals and Federally-qualified health centers, to establish or enhance behavioral health and wellness programs for healthcare providers.
4. Requiring the development of resources to educate mental health professionals on the unique stressors and challenges faced by firefighters, EMS personnel, and their supervisors and leaders.
5. Directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and update evidence-based best practices and resources to identify, prevent, and treat post-traumatic stress disorder and co-occurring disorders in public safety officers.
The overall goal of the bill is to support the mental health and well-being of the crucial public safety workforce, including first responders and healthcare providers.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry, Health and Social Services
Sponsors (53)
Ami Bera (D)*,
Don Bacon (R),
Joyce Beatty (D),
Lisa Blunt Rochester (D),
Anthony Brown (D),
Michael Burgess (R),
Salud Carbajal (D),
André Carson (D),
Judy Chu (D),
David Cicilline (D),
Steve Cohen (D),
Angie Craig (D),
Madeleine Dean (D),
Mark DeSaulnier (D),
Teresa Fernandez (D),
Brian Fitzpatrick (R),
Bill Foster (D),
Raúl Grijalva (D),
Alcee Hastings (D),
Jahana Hayes (D),
Sheila Jackson-Lee (D),
Robin Kelly (D),
Andy Kim (D),
Ann Kuster (D),
Conor Lamb (D),
Al Lawson (D),
Barbara Lee (D),
Stephen Lynch (D),
Lucy McBath (D),
Frank Mrvan (D),
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D),
Tom O'Halleran (D),
Jimmy Panetta (D),
Chris Pappas (D),
Bill Pascrell (D),
Ed Perlmutter (D),
Terri Sewell (D),
Brad Sherman (D),
Adam Smith (D),
Elise Stefanik (R),
Marilyn Strickland (D),
Tom Suozzi (D),
Dina Titus (D),
Paul Tonko (D),
David Trone (D),
Jeff Van Drew (R),
Filemón Vela (D),
Nydia Velázquez (D),
Jackie Walorski (R),
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D),
Peter Welch (D),
Susan Wild (D),
Nikema Williams (D),
Last Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (on 05/13/2021)
Official Document
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