S. 1925

Referred to Committee

HERO Act

Introduced 6/12/2023•118th Congress•Senate

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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

6/12/2023 • Senate

Summary

Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Act or the HERO Act

This bill establishes and authorizes behavioral health programs for law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, 9-1-1 operators, and other public safety officers.

Specifically, the Fire Administration within the Federal Emergency Management Agency must develop resources for educating mental health care providers about treating firefighters and emergency medical services personnel.

In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must develop best practices and resources for identifying, preventing, and treating post-traumatic stress disorder and co-occurring disorders in public safety officers. HHS must work with relevant federal departments to incorporate these resources into federal training programs for public safety officers.

The bill also authorizes HHS to set up a public safety officer suicide-reporting system and a grant program for peer-support behavioral health and wellness programs within fire departments and emergency medical services agencies.

Introduced in Senate • 6/12/2023

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Topics & Subjects

Policy Area: Health

Census and government statisticsCongressional oversightEmployment and training programsFirst responders and emergency personnelGovernment information and archivesHealth personnelHealth programs administration and fundingHealth promotion and preventive careMedical tests and diagnostic methodsMental healthSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsTax-exempt organizationsWorker safety and health