H.R. 6601

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6601 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6601

To increase access to mental health, substance use, and counseling 
services for first responders, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 10, 2025

Ms. Tokuda (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Balint, Mr. LaMalfa, and 
Mr. Tran) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To increase access to mental health, substance use, and counseling 
services for first responders, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Crisis Assistance and Resources in 
Emergencies for First Responders Act'' or the ``CARE for First 
Responders Act''.

SEC. 2. CRISIS COUNSELING ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING.

(a) In General.--Section 416(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5183(a)) is amended by 
inserting ``and to qualified emergency response providers responding to 
major disasters'' after ``victims of major disasters''.
(b) Definitions.--Section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
``(13) Public safety telecommunicator.--The term `public 
safety telecommunicator' means 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.
``(14) Qualified emergency response providers.--The term 
`qualified emergency response providers' means--
``(A) emergency response providers (as defined in 
section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 101)); and
``(B) public safety telecommunicators.''.

SEC. 3. SPECIALIZED SERVICES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.

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:

``SEC. 520O. SPECIALIZED SERVICES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.

``(a) Establishment.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
acting through the Assistant Secretary of the Substance Abuse and 
Mental Health Administration, shall develop and carry out a 
comprehensive program designed to provide mental health services 
specifically tailored to qualified emergency response providers. Such 
program shall--
``(1) provide for mental health care availability to 
qualified emergency response providers on a 24-hour basis;
``(2) provide for a qualified emergency response providers 
hotline operated through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 
under section 520E-3 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 290bb-36c) that is confidential and toll-free, 
sufficiently staffed by appropriately trained mental health 
personnel and available at all times; and
``(3) provide for outreach to, and education programs for, 
qualified emergency response providers and their families, with 
priority given to qualified emergency response providers of 
major disasters.
``(b) Best Practices Research.--
``(1) In general.--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.
``(2) Agencies specified.--The agencies specified in this 
paragraph are the following:
``(A) The Department of Homeland Security.
``(B) The Federal Emergency Management Agency.
``(C) The United States Fire Administration.
``(D) The National Institute of Mental Health.
``(E) The Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
``(F) The Department of Justice.
``(c) Information Addressed in Education Programs.--Education 
provided under subsection (a)(3) shall include information designed 
to--
``(1) remove the stigma associated with mental illness;
``(2) encourage qualified emergency response providers to 
seek treatment and assistance for mental illness;
``(3) promote skills for coping with mental illness; and
``(4) help families of qualified emergency response 
providers with--
``(A) 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;
``(B) identifying signs and symptoms of mental 
illness; and
``(C) encouraging qualified emergency response 
providers to seek assistance for mental illness.
``(d) Peer Support Counseling Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, as part of the 
comprehensive program under this section, establish and carry 
out a peer support counseling program, under which active and 
retired qualified emergency response providers may volunteer as 
peer counselors--
``(A) to assist other qualified emergency response 
providers with issues related to mental health, 
readiness, and readjustment; and
``(B) to conduct outreach to qualified emergency 
response providers and their families.
``(2) Administration.--In carrying out the peer support 
counseling program under this section, the Secretary shall--
``(A) 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
``(B) 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.
``(e) Other Components.--The Secretary may take such other actions 
to carry out the comprehensive program under this section as the 
Secretary determines appropriate for purposes of reducing the incidence 
of mental illness and suicide among qualified emergency response 
providers.
``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Major disaster.--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).
``(2) Public safety telecommunicators.--The term `public 
safety telecommunicator' means 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.
``(3) Qualified emergency response providers.--The term 
`qualified emergency response providers' means--
``(A) emergency response providers (as defined in 
section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 101)); and
``(B) public safety telecommunicators.

``SEC. 520P. ON-SITE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES GRANTS.

``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Assistant 
Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall award competitive 
grants to eligible entities to establish a new health care delivery 
site that is a mobile unit to provide integrated, short-term crisis 
services to qualified emergency response providers of a major disaster. 
Such services shall be--
``(1) linguistically and culturally appropriate;
``(2) trauma-informed; and
``(3) incorporate disaster behavioral interventions.
``(b) Use of Funds.--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--
``(1) initial support and triage via mobile crisis team 
visits;
``(2) on-site screening and evaluation of mental and 
behavioral health issues;
``(3) assessment of current supports and resources;
``(4) short-term crisis management throughout a major 
disaster;
``(5) referral for appropriate follow-up services, 
including sub-acute or acute hospital care;
``(6) supportive, collaborative crisis planning;
``(7) consultation with existing supports and services; and
``(8) self-care techniques and resilience training.
``(c) Authorized Purchase or Lease.--The Secretary may purchase or 
lease equipment for purposes of carrying out this section, which may 
include data and information systems (including the costs of repaying 
the principal of, and paying the interest on, loans for equipment).
``(d) Grant Terms.--
``(1) Maximum amount.--The amount of a grant awarded under 
subsection (a) may not exceed $150,000.
``(2) Duration.--The term of a grant awarded under 
subsection (a) shall be for a period of not less than 6 months. 
Such term is renewable for a single, additional term so that 
the total term of the grant does not exceed 2 years.
``(e) Evaluations and Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall--
``(1) evaluate the activities supported by grants awarded 
under subsection (a), and disseminate, as appropriate, the 
findings from the evaluation;
``(2) 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
``(3) identify best practices, as applicable, to improve 
the identification, assessment, treatment, and timely 
transition, as appropriate, to additional or follow-up care for 
qualified emergency response providers who are at risk for 
mental illness, suicide, and substance abuse, and enhance the 
coordination of care for such individuals during and after a 
major disaster, in support of activities supported by grants 
awarded under subsection (a).
``(f) Definitions.--
``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a 
State, local, territorial, or Tribal health department, 
community health center, rural health clinic, or nonprofit 
organization that--
``(A) is located in or around a major disaster 
area; and
``(B) has experience working with qualified mental 
health professionals in providing mental health, 
substance use, or counseling services.
``(2) Major disaster.--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).
``(3) Major disaster area.--The term `major disaster area' 
has the meaning given such term in section 625.2 of title 20, 
Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
``(4) Public safety telecommunicators.--The term `public 
safety telecommunicator' means 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.
``(5) Qualified emergency response providers.--The term 
`qualified emergency response providers' means--
``(A) emergency response providers (as defined in 
section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 101)); and
``(B) public safety telecommunicators.
``(6) Qualified mental health professional.--The term 
`qualified mental health professional' means a health care 
practitioner or social and human services provider who--
``(A) is licensed or certified under State law in 
the State involved; and
``(B) offers services for the purpose of improving 
an individual's mental health or to treat mental health 
or substance use disorders, including--
``(i) a physician, allopathic physicians, 
osteopathic physician, nurse practitioner, or 
physician assistant with a specialty in mental 
and psychiatry;
``(ii) a health service psychologist;
``(iii) a licensed clinical social worker;
``(iv) a psychiatric nurse specialist;
``(v) a marriage and family therapist;
``(vi) a licensed professional counselor;
``(vii) a substance use disorder counselor;
``(viii) an occupational therapist; or
``(ix) any other individual who--
``(I) has not yet been licensed or 
certified to serve as a professional 
listed in any of clauses (i) through 
(viii); and
``(II) 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.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2030.''.
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