A bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) that would provide mental health resources to America’s first responders and health care providers on June 22 received approval from the U.S. House of Representatives as part of a larger health package.
Rep. Fitzpatrick on March 2 signed on as the lead original cosponsor of the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome (HERO) Act, H.R. 1480, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) and 29 other original cosponsors. The bill was included in the House-approved Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act, H.R. 7666, which expands and modifies numerous federal programs, grants, and related activities focused on mental and behavioral health.
“First responders are an essential part of our communities, and it is necessary that we take the proper steps as legislators to ensure their physical and mental health is protected,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said. “The HERO Act in today’s legislation calls for the formation of peer-support programs, mental health education, and new resources for PTSD, all of which will go towards helping those who help us every day.”
The HERO Act would direct the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to report to Congress each year on first responder suicide rates, including identifying risk factors and interventions, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Fitzpatrick’s office.
The measure also would require HHS to develop and distribute best practices on preventing and treating post-traumatic stress among first responders, the summary says, and would create two grant programs to train individual firefighters and paramedics on providing mental health support.
The larger H.R. 7666, introduced on May 6 by U.S. Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), received House approval with a 402-20 vote and on June 23, was sent to the U.S. Senate, which referred the measure to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for consideration.
“The Senate must act on this commonsense bill to ensure our first responders and healthcare workers get the help they so desperately need,” said Rep. Bera.