A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Act or the HERO Act. It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of behavioral health issues among public safety officers. The bill sets up a data module to capture national public safety officer suicide incidence. It also authorizes grants for peer-support behavioral health and wellness programs within fire departments and emergency medical service agencies. Additionally, the legislation directs the development of educational resources for behavioral health professionals and public safety agencies.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +7
Does this make mental health care easier to get?
The bill provides grants for peer-support programs and develops best practices to treat behavioral health issues and PTSD in public safety officers.
- Scored +6
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill provides protections ensuring suicide data cannot be used to deny life insurance or survivor benefits, directly supporting public safety families.
- Scored +5
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill safeguards survivor benefits and life insurance payments, protecting the families of deceased public safety personnel.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(a) requires the Secretary to maintain a data module known as the Public Safety Officer Suicide Reporting System to collect data on the incidence of suicide among public safety officers and facilitate the study of successful interventions. This is positive because it helps track and understand the problem so it can be better addressed.
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Section 2(c) and Section 2(f) ensure data privacy and security protections, and explicitly prohibit the use of information from the reporting system to deny or rescind life insurance payments or other benefits to survivors. This protects families from losing financial support.
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Section 3(a) allows the Secretary to award grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to establish or enhance peer-support behavioral health and wellness programs within fire departments and emergency services agencies. This gives emergency workers direct support from their peers.
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Section 4(a) directs the development and public availability of resources to educate behavioral health professionals about the culture, stressors, and evidence-based therapies for firefighters and emergency medical services personnel. This ensures mental health professionals are better prepared to help these workers.
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Section 5(a) requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and assemble evidence-based best practices and other resources to identify, prevent, and treat posttraumatic stress disorder and other behavioral health issues in public safety officers. This provides practical tools to protect the mental health of those who keep us safe.
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Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Based strictly on the provided text, there are no specific sections or provisions identified that create negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill safeguards survivor benefits and life insurance payments, protecting the families of deceased public safety personnel. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Middle-aged public safety officers gain access to enhanced behavioral health programs, PTSD treatments, and educational resources. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Retired and older public safety officers are included in the behavioral health resources, data tracking, and wellness programs established by the bill. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Young adult public safety officers benefit directly from improved mental health support, peer counseling, and suicide prevention resources.
- Healthcare
- Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill provides grants for peer-support programs and develops best practices to treat behavioral health issues and PTSD in public safety officers. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The legislation improves behavioral health and wellness resources for public safety personnel and emergency medical responders. Does this put more money into medical research? — The bill establishes a data module and reporting system to study suicide incidence and successful interventions among public safety officers.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill provides protections ensuring suicide data cannot be used to deny life insurance or survivor benefits, directly supporting public safety families.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires regular reports to Congress and public availability of data regarding public safety officer suicide rates and characteristics.
- 11/10/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Deb FischerRepublican · Nebraska