[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 163 (Monday, September 21, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H4627-H4630]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HELPING EMERGENCY RESPONDERS OVERCOME ACT

  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1646) to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
to improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health 
issues among public safety officers, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1646

       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 ``Helping Emergency Responders 
     Overcome Act'' or the ``HERO Act''.

     SEC. 2. DATA SYSTEM TO CAPTURE NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER 
                   SUICIDE INCIDENCE.

       The Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting 
     before section 318 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 247c) the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 317W. DATA SYSTEM TO CAPTURE NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY 
                   OFFICER SUICIDE INCIDENCE.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in coordination with the 
     Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
     and other agencies as the Secretary determines appropriate, 
     shall--
       ``(1) develop and maintain a data system, to be known as 
     the Public Safety Officer Suicide Reporting System, for the 
     purposes of--
       ``(A) collecting data on the suicide incidence among public 
     safety officers; and
       ``(B) facilitating the study of successful interventions to 
     reduce suicide among public safety officers; and
       ``(2) integrate such system into the National Violent Death 
     Reporting System, so long as the Secretary determines such 
     integration to be consistent with the purposes described in 
     paragraph (1).
       ``(b) Data Collection.--In collecting data for the Public 
     Safety Officer Suicide Reporting System, the Secretary shall, 
     at a minimum, collect the following information:

[[Page H4628]]

       ``(1) The total number of suicides in the United States 
     among all public safety officers in a given calendar year.
       ``(2) Suicide rates for public safety officers in a given 
     calendar year, disaggregated by--
       ``(A) age and gender of the public safety officer;
       ``(B) State;
       ``(C) occupation; including both the individual's role in 
     their public safety agency and their primary occupation in 
     the case of volunteer public safety officers;
       ``(D) where available, the status of the public safety 
     officer as volunteer, paid-on-call, or career; and
       ``(E) status of the public safety officer as active or 
     retired.
       ``(c) Consultation During Development.--In developing the 
     Public Safety Officer Suicide Reporting System, the Secretary 
     shall consult with non-Federal experts to determine the best 
     means to collect data regarding suicide incidence in a safe, 
     sensitive, anonymous, and effective manner. Such non-Federal 
     experts shall include, as appropriate, the following:
       ``(1) Public health experts with experience in developing 
     and maintaining suicide registries.
       ``(2) Organizations that track suicide among public safety 
     officers.
       ``(3) Mental health experts with experience in studying 
     suicide and other profession-related traumatic stress.
       ``(4) Clinicians with experience in diagnosing and treating 
     mental health issues.
       ``(5) Active and retired volunteer, paid-on-call, and 
     career public safety officers.
       ``(6) Relevant national police, and fire and emergency 
     medical services, organizations.
       ``(d) Data Privacy and Security.--In developing and 
     maintaining the Public Safety Officer Suicide Reporting 
     System, the Secretary shall ensure that all applicable 
     Federal privacy and security protections are followed to 
     ensure that--
       ``(1) the confidentiality and anonymity of suicide victims 
     and their families are protected, including so as to ensure 
     that data cannot be used to deny benefits; and
       ``(2) data is sufficiently secure to prevent unauthorized 
     access.
       ``(e) Reporting.--
       ``(1) Annual report.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
     of enactment of the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome 
     Act, and biannually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a 
     report to the Congress on the suicide incidence among public 
     safety officers. Each such report shall--
       ``(A) include the number and rate of such suicide 
     incidence, disaggregated by age, gender, and State of 
     employment;
       ``(B) identify characteristics and contributing 
     circumstances for suicide among public safety officers;
       ``(C) disaggregate rates of suicide by--
       ``(i) occupation;
       ``(ii) status as volunteer, paid-on-call, or career; and
       ``(iii) status as active or retired;
       ``(D) include recommendations for further study regarding 
     the suicide incidence among public safety officers;
       ``(E) specify in detail, if found, any obstacles in 
     collecting suicide rates for volunteers and include 
     recommended improvements to overcome such obstacles;
       ``(F) identify options for interventions to reduce suicide 
     among public safety officers; and
       ``(G) describe procedures to ensure the confidentiality and 
     anonymity of suicide victims and their families, as described 
     in subsection (d)(1).
       ``(2) Public availability.--Upon the submission of each 
     report to the Congress under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
     shall make the full report publicly available on the website 
     of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
       ``(f) Definition.--In this section, the term `public safety 
     officer' means--
       ``(1) a public safety officer as defined in section 1204 of 
     the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968; or
       ``(2) a public safety telecommunicator as described in 
     detailed occupation 43-5031 in the Standard Occupational 
     Classification Manual of the Office of Management and Budget 
     (2018).
       ``(g) Prohibited Use of Information.--Notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law, if an individual is identified as 
     deceased based on information contained in the Public Safety 
     Officer Suicide Reporting System, such information may not be 
     used to deny or rescind life insurance payments or other 
     benefits to a survivor of the deceased individual.''.

     SEC. 3. PEER-SUPPORT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS 
                   WITHIN FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL 
                   SERVICE AGENCIES.

       (a) In General.--Part B of title III of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:

     ``SEC. 320B. PEER-SUPPORT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS 
                   PROGRAMS WITHIN FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND EMERGENCY 
                   MEDICAL SERVICE AGENCIES.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to 
     eligible entities for the purpose of establishing or 
     enhancing peer-support behavioral health and wellness 
     programs within fire departments and emergency medical 
     services agencies.
       ``(b) Program Description.--A peer-support behavioral 
     health and wellness program funded under this section shall--
       ``(1) use career and volunteer members of fire departments 
     or emergency medical services agencies to serve as peer 
     counselors;
       ``(2) provide training to members of career, volunteer, and 
     combination fire departments or emergency medical service 
     agencies to serve as such peer counselors;
       ``(3) purchase materials to be used exclusively to provide 
     such training; and
       ``(4) disseminate such information and materials as are 
     necessary to conduct the program.
       ``(c) Definition.--In this section:
       ``(1) The term `eligible entity' means a nonprofit 
     organization with expertise and experience with respect to 
     the health and life safety of members of fire and emergency 
     medical services agencies.
       ``(2) The term `member'--
       ``(A) with respect to an emergency medical services agency, 
     means an employee, regardless of rank or whether the employee 
     receives compensation (as defined in section 1204(7) of the 
     Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968); and
       ``(B) with respect to a fire department, means any 
     employee, regardless of rank or whether the employee receives 
     compensation, of a Federal, State, Tribal, or local fire 
     department who is responsible for responding to calls for 
     emergency service.''.
       (b) Technical Correction.--Effective as if included in the 
     enactment of the Children's Health Act of 2000 (Public Law 
     106-310), the amendment instruction in section 1603 of such 
     Act is amended by striking ``Part B of the Public Health 
     Service Act'' and inserting ``Part B of title III of the 
     Public Health Service Act''.

     SEC. 4. HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS 
                   PROGRAMS.

       Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 243 et seq.), as amended by section 3, is further 
     amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 320C. HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND 
                   WELLNESS PROGRAMS.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to 
     eligible entities for the purpose of establishing or 
     enhancing behavioral health and wellness programs for health 
     care providers.
       ``(b) Program Description.--A behavioral health and 
     wellness program funded under this section shall--
       ``(1) provide confidential support services for health care 
     providers to help handle stressful or traumatic patient-
     related events, including counseling services and wellness 
     seminars;
       ``(2) provide training to health care providers to serve as 
     peer counselors to other health care providers;
       ``(3) purchase materials to be used exclusively to provide 
     such training; and
       ``(4) disseminate such information and materials as are 
     necessary to conduct such training and provide such peer 
     counseling.
       ``(c) Definitions.--In this section, the term `eligible 
     entity' means a hospital, including a critical access 
     hospital (as defined in section 1861(mm)(1) of the Social 
     Security Act) or a disproportionate share hospital (as 
     defined under section 1923(a)(1)(A) of such Act), a 
     Federally-qualified health center (as defined in section 
     1905(1)(2)(B) of such Act), or any other health care 
     facility.''.

     SEC. 5. DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES FOR EDUCATING MENTAL HEALTH 
                   PROFESSIONALS ABOUT TREATING FIRE FIGHTERS AND 
                   EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator of the United States 
     Fire Administration, in consultation with the Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services, shall develop and make publicly 
     available resources that may be used by the Federal 
     Government and other entities to educate mental health 
     professionals about--
       (1) the culture of Federal, State, Tribal, and local 
     career, volunteer, and combination fire departments and 
     emergency medical services agencies;
       (2) the different stressors experienced by firefighters and 
     emergency medical services personnel, supervisory 
     firefighters and emergency medical services personnel, and 
     chief officers of fire departments and emergency medical 
     services agencies;
       (3) challenges encountered by retired firefighters and 
     emergency medical services personnel; and
       (4) evidence-based therapies for mental health issues 
     common to firefighters and emergency medical services 
     personnel within such departments and agencies.
       (b) Consultation.--In developing resources under subsection 
     (a), the Administrator of the United States Fire 
     Administration and the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     shall consult with national fire and emergency medical 
     services organizations.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``firefighter'' means any employee, regardless 
     of rank or whether the employee receives compensation, of a 
     Federal, State, Tribal, or local fire department who is 
     responsible for responding to calls for emergency service.
       (2) The term ``emergency medical services personnel'' means 
     any employee, regardless of rank or whether the employee 
     receives compensation, as defined in section 1204(7) of the 
     Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 
     10284(7)).
       (3) The term ``chief officer'' means any individual who is 
     responsible for the overall operation of a fire department or 
     an emergency medical services agency, irrespective

[[Page H4629]]

     of whether such individual also serves as a firefighter or 
     emergency medical services personnel.

     SEC. 6. BEST PRACTICES AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR ADDRESSING 
                   POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN PUBLIC SAFETY 
                   OFFICERS.

       (a) Development; Updates.--The Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services shall--
       (1) develop and assemble evidence-based best practices and 
     other resources to identify, prevent, and treat posttraumatic 
     stress disorder and co-occurring disorders in public safety 
     officers; and
       (2) reassess and update, as the Secretary determines 
     necessary, such best practices and resources, including based 
     upon the options for interventions to reduce suicide among 
     public safety officers identified in the annual reports 
     required by section 317W(e)(1)(F) of the Public Health 
     Service Act, as added by section 2 of this Act.
       (b) Consultation.--In developing, assembling, and updating 
     the best practices and resources under subsection (a), the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services shall consult with, at 
     a minimum, the following:
       (1) Public health experts.
       (2) Mental health experts with experience in studying 
     suicide and other profession-related traumatic stress.
       (3) Clinicians with experience in diagnosing and treating 
     mental health issues.
       (4) Relevant national police, fire, and emergency medical 
     services organizations.
       (c) Availability.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services shall make the best practices and resources under 
     subsection (a) available to Federal, State, and local fire, 
     law enforcement, and emergency medical services agencies.
       (d) Federal Training and Development Programs.--The 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services shall work with 
     Federal departments and agencies, including the United States 
     Fire Administration, to incorporate education and training on 
     the best practices and resources under subsection (a) into 
     Federal training and development programs for public safety 
     officers.
       (e) Definition.--In this section, the term ``public safety 
     officer'' means--
       (1) a public safety officer as defined in section 1204 of 
     the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 
     U.S.C. 10284); or
       (2) a public safety telecommunicator as described in 
     detailed occupation 43-5031 in the Standard Occupational 
     Classification Manual of the Office of Management and Budget 
     (2018).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Mrs. Dingell) and the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Gianforte) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 1646.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1646, the Helping Emergency 
Responders Overcome, or HERO Act of 2019.
  We have seen the extraordinary actions of America's first responders 
in recent months in helping to keep our Nation safe. From the courage 
and the bravery of firefighters in Western States as they confront an 
unprecedented fire season, to public safety and paramedics responding 
to hurricanes on the Gulf Coast, to the frontline health workers 
fighting COVID-19, we all owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude.
  This includes supporting the mental health needs of these 
individuals. Exposure to stressful, life-threatening situations, and 
traumatic events can impact one's mental health.
  Unfortunately, we see this impact every day with first responders 
facing higher rates of suicide and other mental health issues. However, 
we still lack data on the full scope of the problem, as well as 
treatment strategies to address the unique stresses that our Nation's 
first responders face.
  The HERO Act would create a National Public Safety Officer Suicide 
Reporting System to help us better understand the prevalence of these 
tragedies within the public safety officer community regardless of 
their employer.
  It would also establish a grant program for peer support, behavioral 
health, and wellness programs within fire departments and EMS agencies.
  The legislation also will develop and disseminate resources to 
educate health professionals about the unique mental health challenges 
facing our Nation's first responders and evidence-based therapies to 
address these issues.
  I would like to thank Ami Bera for his leadership and thoughtful 
advocacy on the HERO Act and urge my colleagues to support its passage.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
         House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, 
           and Technology,
                               Washington, DC, September 15, 2020.
     Hon. Frank Pallone, Jr.,
     Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Pallone: I am writing you concerning H.R. 
     1646, the ``Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Act of 
     2019,'' which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
     Commerce and then to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
     Technology (``Science Committee'') on March 8, 2019.
       As a result of our consultation, I agree to work 
     cooperatively on H.R. 1646 and in order to expedite 
     consideration of the bill the Science Committee will waive 
     formal consideration of this legislation. However, this is 
     not a waiver of any future jurisdictional claims by the 
     Science Committee over the subject matter contained in H.R. 
     1646 or similar legislation. I also request that you support 
     my request to name members of the Science Committee to any 
     conference committee to consider this legislation.
       Additionally, thank you for your assurances to include a 
     copy of our exchange of letters on this matter in the 
     committee report for H.R. 1646 and in the Congressional 
     Record during floor consideration thereof.
           Sincerely,

                                        Eddie Bernice Johnson,

                                 Chairwoman, Committee on Science,
     Space, and Technology.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                             Committee on Energy and Commerce,

                               Washington, DC, September 15, 2020.
     Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson,
     Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairwoman Johnson: Thank you for consulting with the 
     Committee on Energy and Commerce and agreeing to discharge 
     H.R. 1646, the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Act of 
     2019, from further consideration, so that the bill may 
     proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
       I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure 
     does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of 
     your committee or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives 
     on this measure or similar legislation in the future. I would 
     support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate 
     number of conferees from your committee to any House-Senate 
     conference on this legislation.
       I will ensure our letters on H.R. 1646 are entered into the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. 
     I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and 
     look forward to continuing to work together as this measure 
     moves through the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                               Frank Pallone, Jr.,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. GIANFORTE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1646, the Helping 
Emergency Responders Overcome, or HERO Act, which was introduced by 
Representative Bera.
  This legislation would create a database at the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention to capture public safety officer suicide 
incidents and study successful interventions.
  It would also authorize a grant program for peer support and wellness 
programs within fire and emergency medical service agencies, as well as 
for frontline healthcare workers. It also directs the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services to develop best practices and share resources 
for addressing post-traumatic stress in public safety officers.
  This legislation is incredibly timely. Emergency workers and doctors 
and nurses are under incredible strain, and many are unable to be with 
their families due to their efforts to prevent the spread.
  Losing those who keep us safe will only make the crisis worse. My 
home State of Montana, unfortunately, has one of the highest suicide 
rates in the country.
  I do want to recognize all those who supported the Yellowstone Valley 
Out of the Darkness suicide awareness event over this past weekend in 
Billings, Montana. I appreciate you making sure others realize they are 
not alone.
  We must ensure that all these heroes across America on the front 
lines of healthcare and law enforcement and public safety have the 
support they need to continue working to keep us safe.
  Madam Speaker, this is an importantly critical piece of legislation. 
I

[[Page H4630]]

urge adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, once more we thank our Nation's first 
responders for all they are doing for us, and I urge my colleagues to 
support them by supporting this legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1646, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________