Senate Passes Six Bills in Support of Law Enforcement, First Responders

This week, a unanimous Senate passed six bills in support of law enforcement officers and their families, providing additional support for mental health issues, and ensuring that officers receive resources and training for community policing. A wide variety of law enforcement stakeholders and mental health organizations supported the legislation.

“With every disturbance call, every domestic violence incident, every 911 report of shots fired—officers put themselves in harm’s way to protect our communities,” stated Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, “As our country discusses how to best ensure accountability in our justice system and make our communities safer, it is important that we continue offering support for law enforcement officers who are serving us with dignity and integrity.”

Both chambers of Congress passed two of the bills which now go to the President for his signature, and the House of Representatives will consider the remaining four.

To the President's Desk

The Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022 (H.R. 6943) amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (P.L. 90-351) and authorizes Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program aid to first responders who die by trauma-linked suicide.

The act directs the PSOB to designate work-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder as line of duty injuries for eligible officers as well as for those permanently disabled by attempted suicide. Additionally, it allows families of first responders who commit suicide because of traumatic circumstances to apply for death benefits if there is evidence that the suicide was caused by PTSD or acute stress disorder.

Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) stated that the legislation would ensure first responders experiencing PTSD and families who lose a loved one to suicide can get the support they deserve.

“Today, the Senate took an important action to recognize that our nation must honor and support surviving family members of police officers, firefighters and emergency responders that tragically died by suicide after experiencing work-related trauma or exposure to traumatic events while serving their communities,” added Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).

The Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and PTSD Law Enforcement Training Act (H.R. 2992) instructs the Attorney General to develop crisis intervention tools for first responders who interact with those suffering from TBI or PTSD. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) examine the prevalence and incidence of concussions among first responders.

“It’s important that our police and all first responders are empowered with the resources they need to address a variety of emergencies,” stated Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), an original Senate sponsor of the legislation along with Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA).

A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report based on data from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and historical spending patterns estimates that the legislation would cost $203 million during 2023 to 2027, and $67 million after 2027 if appropriations are made.

The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) endorsed both measures during Police Week, and said the measures addressed an unprecedented increase in law enforcement suicides and aligned law enforcement benefits with military benefits.

“To improve wellness across federal law enforcement, it was imperative that the Public Safety Officers Benefit Program recognize injuries caused by post-traumatic stress. When an officer is unable to obtain the support services needed to address this stress and tragically takes their own life, PSOB must also address the aftermath left behind and the devastating effect on family, friends, and colleagues,” said FLEOA President Larry Cosme.

To the House

To respond to individuals suffering from mental or behavioral crises, the Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act of 2022 (S. 4003) provides federal support for local law enforcement agencies to adopt de-escalation training. This bill would authorize $90 million in grant funding over two fiscal years for the Justice Department to develop and implement de-escalation training curricula.

The Invest to Protect Act of 2022 (S. 3860) would provide $250 million in grants over five years through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office to support smaller law enforcement agencies. The grant funds could be used to invest in de-escalation training, domestic violence training, law enforcement safety training, equipment, mental health support, recruitment, and retention.

In the same vein, the Strong Communities Act (S. 2151) aims to strengthen community policing by encouraging recruitment from within communities themselves. In effect, it will permit local police recruits to attend law enforcement training programs using COPS grant funds if they agree to serve in their local precincts.

The Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2022 (S. 4007) directs the Attorney General and the COPS Office to propose programs that provide evidence-based trauma-informed care and support for public safety officers and 911 dispatchers to help treat and prevent job-related post-traumatic stress disorder or acute stress disorder. As part of the report preparation process, the Attorney General must consult with relevant stakeholders.