Reps. Balint, Tokuda, Fitzpatrick, LaMalfa, Tran, Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Access to Mental Health Care Services for First Responders

Yesterday, U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), joined by colleagues Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01), and Derek Tran (D-CA-45), introduced legislation to increase access to specialized mental health, substance abuse, and crisis counseling services for first responders.

The Crisis Assistance and Resources in Emergencies (CARE) for First Responders Act aims to strengthen resources and support systems for the individuals who are often first on the scene during emergencies. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, rescue workers, 911 operators, and other emergency response personnel regularly face significant yet frequently unseen trauma and challenges as they confront disasters and assist survivors in their moments of greatest need.

The CARE for First Responders Act would prioritize the needs of first responders by:

"Because of the difficult work they do on the frontlines, Vermont's first responders are facing serious mental health challenges," said Rep. Balint. "I'm proud to join Rep. Tokuda once again in fighting to ensure that our emergency personnel, firefighters, 911 dispatchers, and law enforcement officers have access to the mental health resources they deserve. Our first responders shouldn't have to shoulder the weight of their jobs alone."

"Our first responders go above and beyond, carrying the weight of trauma that no one should have to bear alone. After the devastating fires on Maui two years ago, I saw firsthand the toll that disasters can take on first responders and their families," said Rep. Tokuda. "I'm proud once again to introduce the CARE for First Responders Act to ensure our frontliners who protect our communities have the specialized health support they desperately need and deserve. I'm grateful to my Republican and Democratic colleagues for their partnership in this effort because crises don't care about politics, and neither should we when it comes to supporting our first responders."

"I've met too many local firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and telecommunicators who carry the heaviest parts of this job by themselves, not because they want to, but because the support isn't there when the shift ends. The CARE for First Responders Act changes that: true 24/7 confidential crisis care, tailored mental-health services during major disasters, and peer counselors who have lived the same calls. No one who saves lives should ever feel like they have to save their own alone," said Rep. Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force.

"First responders, medical personnel, and wildland firefighters carry an incredibly heavy burden," said Rep. LaMalfa. "They run toward danger when the rest of us run away, and the toll it takes on their mental and emotional health is real. Too often, getting the support they need is complicated or delayed. The CARE for First Responders Act will hopefully relieve some of that burden and let our first responders know that their work is not unnoticed or unappreciated."

"From fighting crime to managing natural disaster response, California's first responders are on the front lines of keeping our community safe. This work is essential, but it also poses unique burdens on those who protect us day-in and day-out. First responders face serious mental health risks but often lack access to specialized treatment plans that properly manage their needs. I'm proud to co-lead this bipartisan legislation to provide our first responders with the mental health support they deserve," said Rep. Tran.

The legislation is endorsed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), APCO International, and the National Association for Rural Mental Health.

Full text of the bill can be viewed here.

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