HR 6601
CARE for First Responders Act
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Bill overview
The CARE for First Responders Act aims to improve access to mental health and substance use services for first responders, including public safety telecommunicators. It expands crisis counseling assistance, establishes a specialized program for first responders, and creates a mobile crisis response unit to provide on-site support during major disasters. The bill also promotes research on best practices and supports a peer support counseling program.
Key provisions
- Expands crisis counseling assistance to include emergency response providers and public safety telecommunicators.
- Creates a comprehensive program to provide mental health services specifically tailored for qualified emergency response providers.
- Establishes a 24-hour hotline operated through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
- Funds a mobile crisis response unit to provide integrated crisis services during major disasters.
- Supports research on best practices for supporting first responders' mental health.
- Creates a peer support counseling program for active and retired first responders.
- Defines ‘public safety telecommunicator’ for the purpose of this legislation.
- Authorizes appropriations for grants to establish mobile crisis response units.
Who is affected
- First Responders (including emergency response providers and public safety telecommunicators)
- Mental Health Professionals
- Individuals affected by major disasters
- Federal Agencies (DHS, FEMA, USFA, NIHM, CDC, DOJ)
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Becca [D-VT-At Large] Balint
Arguments in favor
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 6601
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To increase access to mental health, substance use, and counseling services for first responders, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Crisis Assistance and Resources in Emergencies for First Responders Act CARE for First Responders Act
or the
.
and to qualified emergency response providers responding to major disastersafter
victims of major disasters.
The term qualified emergency response providers means—
Subpart 3 of part B of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–31) is amended by adding at the end the following:
The Secretary shall, in consultation with the heads of the agencies specified in paragraph (2), conduct or support research on best practices for providing mental health services to, and prevent suicide among, qualified emergency response providers.
The agencies specified in this paragraph are the following:
The Department of Homeland Security.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The United States Fire Administration.
The National Institute of Mental Health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Department of Justice.
Education provided under subsection (a)(3) shall include information designed to—
remove the stigma associated with mental illness;
encourage qualified emergency response providers to seek treatment and assistance for mental illness;
promote skills for coping with mental illness; and
help families of qualified emergency response providers with—
understanding issues arising from the transition of qualified emergency response providers back into family life and regular work, following the end of a disaster assignment;
identifying signs and symptoms of mental illness; and
encouraging qualified emergency response providers to seek assistance for mental illness.
to assist other qualified emergency response providers with issues related to mental health, readiness, and readjustment; and
to conduct outreach to qualified emergency response providers and their families.
In carrying out the peer support counseling program under this section, the Secretary shall—
provide for adequate training of individuals who volunteer to serve as peer counselors, including training carried out under section 416(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act; and
coordinate with such community organizations, State and local governments, institutions of higher education, chambers of commerce, local business organizations, organizations that provide mental health services, and other organizations as the Secretary considers appropriate.
public safety telecommunicatormeans a public safety telecommunicator as designated in detailed occupation 43–5031 in the Standard Occupational Classification Manual of the Office of Management and Budget issued in 2018, or any successor designation.
linguistically and culturally appropriate;
trauma-informed; and
incorporate disaster behavioral interventions.
An eligible entity that receives a grant under this subsection may use funds received through the grant to provide mobile crisis response, stabilization, and intervention services, including—
initial support and triage via mobile crisis team visits;
on-site screening and evaluation of mental and behavioral health issues;
assessment of current supports and resources;
short-term crisis management throughout a major disaster;
referral for appropriate follow-up services, including sub-acute or acute hospital care;
supportive, collaborative crisis planning;
consultation with existing supports and services; and
self-care techniques and resilience training.
The amount of a grant awarded under subsection (a) may not exceed $150,000.
The Secretary shall—
evaluate the activities supported by grants awarded under subsection (a), and disseminate, as appropriate, the findings from the evaluation;
provide appropriate information, training, and technical assistance, as appropriate, to eligible entities that receive a grant under this section, to help such entities to meet the requirements of this section, including assistance with selection and implementation of evidence-based interventions and frameworks to protect the mental health of qualified emergency response providers; and
The term major disaster has the meaning given such term in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122).
is licensed or certified under State law in the State involved; and
offers services for the purpose of improving an individual’s mental health or to treat mental health or substance use disorders, including—
a physician, allopathic physicians, osteopathic physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant with a specialty in mental and psychiatry;
a licensed clinical social worker;
a psychiatric nurse specialist;
a marriage and family therapist;
a licensed professional counselor;
a substance use disorder counselor;
an occupational therapist; or
any other individual who—
has not yet been licensed or certified to serve as a professional listed in any of clauses (i) through (viii); and
will serve at a Federally qualified health center (as defined in section 1861(aa)(4) of the Social Security Act) under the supervision of a licensed individual or certified professional so listed.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.