[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 189 (Wednesday, October 27, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H5944-H5948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONFIDENTIALITY OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEER SUPPORT COUNSELING ACT

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (S. 1502) to make Federal law enforcement officer peer support 
communications confidential, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 1502

       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 ``Confidentiality 
     Opportunities for Peer Support Counseling Act'' or the ``COPS 
     Counseling Act''.

     SEC. 2. CONFIDENTIALITY OF PEER SUPPORT COMMUNICATIONS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Law enforcement agency.--The term ``law enforcement 
     agency'' means a Federal agency that employs a law 
     enforcement officer.
       (2) Law enforcement officer.--The term ``law enforcement 
     officer'' has the meaning given the term ``Federal law 
     enforcement officer'' in section 115 of title 18, United 
     States Code.
       (3) Peer support communication.--The term ``peer support 
     communication'' includes--
       (A) an oral or written communication made in the course of 
     a peer support counseling session;
       (B) a note or report arising out of a peer support 
     counseling session;
       (C) a record of a peer support counseling session; or
       (D) with respect to a communication made by a peer support 
     participant in the course of a peer support counseling 
     session, another communication, regarding the first 
     communication, that is made between a peer support specialist 
     and--
       (i) another peer support specialist;
       (ii) a staff member of a peer support counseling program; 
     or
       (iii) a supervisor of the peer support specialist.
       (4) Peer support counseling program.--The term ``peer 
     support counseling program'' means a program provided by a 
     law enforcement agency that provides counseling services from 
     a peer support specialist to a law enforcement officer of the 
     agency.
       (5) Peer support counseling session.--The term ``peer 
     support counseling session'' means any counseling formally 
     provided through a peer support counseling program between a 
     peer support specialist and 1 or more law enforcement 
     officers.
       (6) Peer support participant.--The term ``peer support 
     participant'' means a law enforcement officer who receives 
     counseling services from a peer support specialist.
       (7) Peer support specialist.--The term ``peer support 
     specialist'' means a law enforcement officer who--
       (A) has received training in--
       (i) peer support counseling; and
       (ii) providing emotional and moral support to law 
     enforcement officers who have been involved in or exposed to 
     an emotionally traumatic experience in the course of 
     employment; and
       (B) is designated by a law enforcement agency to provide 
     the services described in subparagraph (A).
       (b) Prohibition.--Except as provided in subsection (c), a 
     peer support specialist or a peer support participant may not 
     disclose the contents of a peer support communication to an 
     individual who was not a party to the peer support 
     communication.
       (c) Exceptions.--Subsection (b) shall not apply to a peer 
     support communication if--
       (1) the peer support communication contains--
       (A) an explicit threat of suicide by an individual in which 
     the individual--
       (i) shares--

       (I) an intent to die by suicide; and
       (II) a plan for a suicide attempt or the means by which the 
     individual plans to carry out a suicide attempt; and

       (ii) does not solely share that the individual is 
     experiencing suicidal thoughts;
       (B) an explicit threat by an individual of imminent and 
     serious physical bodily harm or death to another individual;
       (C) information--
       (i) relating to the abuse or neglect of--

       (I) a child; or
       (II) an older or vulnerable individual; or

       (ii) that is required by law to be reported; or
       (D) an admission of criminal conduct;
       (2) the disclosure is permitted by each peer support 
     participant who was a party to, as applicable--
       (A) the peer support communication;
       (B) the peer support counseling session out of which the 
     peer support communication arose;
       (C) the peer support counseling session of which the peer 
     support communication is a record; or
       (D) the communication made in the course of a peer support 
     counseling session that the peer support communication is 
     regarding;
       (3) a court of competent jurisdiction issues an order or 
     subpoena requiring the disclosure of the peer support 
     communication; or
       (4) the peer support communication contains information 
     that is required by law to be disclosed.
       (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in subsection (b) shall 
     be construed to prohibit the disclosure of--
       (1) an observation made by a law enforcement officer of a 
     peer support participant outside of a peer support counseling 
     session; or
       (2) knowledge of a law enforcement officer about a peer 
     support participant not gained from a peer support 
     communication.
       (e) Disclosure of Rights.--Before the initial peer support 
     counseling session of a peer support participant, a peer 
     support specialist shall inform the peer support participant 
     in writing of the confidentiality requirement under 
     subsection (b) and the exceptions to the requirement under 
     subsection (c).

     SEC. 3. BEST PRACTICES AND SUPPORT.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) First responder.--The term ``first responder'' has the 
     meaning given the term ``public safety officer'' in section 
     1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets 
     Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10284).
       (2) First responder agency.--The term ``first responder 
     agency'' means a Federal, State, local, or Tribal agency that 
     employs or otherwise engages the services of a first 
     responder.
       (3) Peer support counseling program.--The term ``peer 
     support counseling program'' means a program provided by a 
     first responder agency that provides counseling services from 
     a peer support specialist to a first responder of the first 
     responder agency.
       (4) Peer support participant.--The term ``peer support 
     participant'' means a first responder who receives counseling 
     services from a peer support specialist.
       (5) Peer support specialist.--The term ``peer support 
     specialist'' means a first responder who--
       (A) has received training in--
       (i) peer support counseling; and
       (ii) providing emotional and moral support to first 
     responders who have been involved in or exposed to an 
     emotionally traumatic experience in the course of the duties 
     of those first responders; and
       (B) is designated by a first responder agency to provide 
     the services described in subparagraph (A).
       (b) Report on Best Practices.--Not later than 2 years after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, in 
     coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
     shall develop a report on best practices and professional 
     standards for peer support counseling programs for first 
     responder agencies that includes--
       (1) advice on--
       (A) establishing and operating peer support counseling 
     programs; and
       (B) training and certifying peer support specialists;
       (2) a code of ethics for peer support specialists;
       (3) recommendations for continuing education for peer 
     support specialists;
       (4) advice on disclosing to first responders any 
     confidentiality rights of peer support participants; and
       (5) information on--
       (A) the different types of peer support counseling programs 
     in use by first responder agencies;
       (B) any differences in peer support counseling programs 
     offered across categories of first responders; and
       (C) the important role senior first responders play in 
     supporting access to mental health resources.
       (c) Implementation.--The Attorney General shall support and 
     encourage the implementation of peer support counseling 
     programs in first responder agencies by--
       (1) making the report developed under subsection (b) 
     publicly available on the website of the Department of 
     Justice; and
       (2) providing a list of peer support specialist training 
     programs on the website of the Department of Justice.

     SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that Federal, State, local, and 
     Tribal police officers, sheriffs, and other law enforcement 
     officers across the United States who serve with valor, 
     dignity, and integrity deserve the gratitude and respect of 
     Congress.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from

[[Page H5945]]

Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Bentz) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 1502, 
the COPS Counseling Act, a bill that will encourage the adoption of law 
enforcement peer counseling programs across the country and protect the 
privacy of Federal officers as they seek mental health support.
  It is important to all of us that we promote the mental health and 
well-being of our law enforcement officers, not only in order to help 
individual officers but also because it helps bolster the safety of our 
communities and the people our officers take a solemn oath to protect.
  Law enforcement officers play a special role in our communities. They 
are specifically called upon to protect and serve. Often they see, 
encounter, and respond to horrendous situations that are both dangerous 
and stressful and often life-threatening.
  I don't know how many times, Mr. Speaker, we have heard on the news 
where officers have said: I have never seen this in my lifetime. I have 
never seen this horrific scene. I have never seen a car crash. I have 
never seen the violence.
  With the pandemic of COVID-19, we have seen officers coming to scenes 
that they expressed that they have never seen. That has an impact even 
though they must continue to rise the next day and serve.
  They are indeed first responders, on the scene when unthinkable and 
tragic events take place, whether they be mass shootings, terrible 
incidents of domestic or sexual violence, and other horrific instances 
of victimization. Even after the incidents are over and the threats 
addressed, these situations can long remain with officers. As they seek 
to protect us, we must also seek to protect them when they are in need.
  We have a hearing today on issues dealing with gun safety. That is 
not this bill. But what I will say is that the officers in times of 
crisis are always the first ones to come to school shootings, violent 
scenes where they see children who are wounded or tragically are dead. 
Imagine an officer having to pick him or herself up and carry on after 
you have seen, yes, little children--high school, middle school, 
elementary school--who have been fallen because of school shootings. 
That is a particularly unique circumstance. But there are many, many 
others.
  That is why I support this bill which would help officers who seek 
counseling. The bill provides confidentiality to Federal law 
enforcement officers by restricting individuals who participate in a 
peer support counseling session from disclosing communications arising 
out of peer support counseling session.
  In doing so, however, the bill defines clear and necessary exceptions 
to confidentiality in circumstances including explicit threats of 
suicide; any admission of criminal conduct; any explicit threat of 
imminent and serious physical harm or death to an individual; any 
information relating to the abuse or neglect of a child, older person, 
or vulnerable person; or any information that is required by law to be 
reported. That had to be clarified.
  Additionally, this bill encourages implementation of peer counseling 
programs within the entire first responder community by requiring the 
Department of Justice to make best practices publicly available on its 
website. Information I have found has been the key in helping to 
restore the stability of these individuals who are needing the kind of 
counseling that we offer.
  The Department of Justice is also required to provide a list of 
training programs for public safety officers to become peer support 
mentors. Always we have been told that to have a like fellow traveler, 
a like experienced person, a like person in your career or profession, 
Mr. Speaker, is sometimes the best medicine, the best cure, and the 
best direction toward treatment.
  These are important steps that will help our officers and the 
communities they serve.
  As we take action on this Senate-passed bill, I want to recognize our 
colleague from Maryland, Representative   David Trone, for his work in 
introducing the House companion legislation. I thank the chairman of 
our committee, Mr. Nadler, for being focused on this legislation, and I 
am delighted that my subcommittee is also very interested in this kind 
of work.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an important bill, I am proud to support it, and 
I ask my colleagues to do the same.
  Today, I ask that my colleagues join me in supporting S. 1502, the 
``COPS Counseling Act,'' a bill that will encourage the adoption of law 
enforcement peer counseling programs across the country and protect the 
privacy of federal officers as they seek mental health support.
  It is important to all of us that we promote the mental health and 
well--being of our law enforcement officers, not only in order to help 
individual officers but also because it helps bolster the safety of our 
communities and the people our officers take a solemn oath to protect.
  Law enforcement officers play a special role in our communities, 
specifically called upon to protect and serve.
  Often, they see, encounter, and respond to horrendous situations that 
are both dangerous and stressful, and often life-threatening.
  They are indeed first responders, on the scene when unthinkable and 
tragic events take place, whether they be mass shootings, terrible 
incidents of domestic or sexual violence, and other horrific instances 
of victimization.
  Even after the incidents are over and the threats addressed, these 
situations can long remain with officers. As they seek to protect us, 
we must also seek to help them when they are in need.
  That is why I support this bill, which would help officers who seek 
counseling.
  The bill provides confidentiality to federal law enforcement officers 
by restricting individuals who participate in a peer support counseling 
session from disclosing communications arising out of a peer support 
counseling session.
  In doing so, however, the bill defines clear and necessary exceptions 
to confidentiality in circumstances including: explicit threats of 
suicide; any admission of criminal conduct; any explicit threat of 
imminent and serious physical harm or death to an individual; any 
information relating to the abuse or neglect of a child, older person 
or vulnerable person; or any information that is required by law to be 
reported.
  Additionally, this bill encourages implementation of peer counseling 
programs within the entire first responder community by requiring the 
Department of Justice to make best practices publicly available on its 
website.
  The Department of Justice is also required to provide a list of 
training programs for public safety officers to become peer support 
mentors.
  These are important steps that will help our officers and the 
communities they serve.
  As we take action on this Senate-passed bill, I want to recognize our 
colleague from Maryland, Representative David Trone, for his work in 
introducing the House companion legislation.
  This is an important bill. I am proud to support it and ask that my 
colleagues do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1502, the COPS Counseling Act of 
2021.
  With recent attacks on law enforcement agencies from the left, 
including calls to defund the police, officers around the country have 
suffered from persistent and increasing physical and mental stress.
  Police departments are experiencing dropping retention rates and 
officers are left with fewer colleagues to support them while also 
facing more crime. As a result the need for new and better performing 
peer support groups with State and local law enforcement agencies has 
risen.
  This bill would help alleviate some of that strain from dealing with 
the ever-increasing amount of violent crime over the last year by 
supporting and encouraging the use of peer support groups. Some people 
feel like there is a stigma related to addressing mental health needs, 
making mental wellness difficult to address.
  Peer support programs can help address this challenge in the law 
enforcement community. Officers who are in

[[Page H5946]]

need of help may be most comfortable reaching out to their fellow 
officers especially if their confidentiality is protected. This bill 
requires the Department of Justice, in consultation with the Department 
of Health and Human Services, to develop a report of best practices for 
peer support programs. These best practices required under the COPS 
Counseling Act will help State and local law enforcement agencies 
establish new peer counseling programs and enhance existing ones.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1315

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I want to again emphasize the massive number of law enforcement 
officers across the Nation. There are, first of all, 18,000 police 
departments of varying levels, meaning that we think of police, 
constables, or sheriffs, all of them law enforcement officers. And 
every day, as we speak, they are out on the front lines and, again, 
seeing enormous tragedy.
  I really want to emphasize what it means to come upon a scene dealing 
with an injury to a child. Gun violence, car crashes, fires, police go 
to those scenes as well. For too long, we have not stopped for a moment 
to provide these resources and to provide these services.
  I hope that, as we pass this legislation, this will be the catalyst 
for local entities to build on their mental health relief and that they 
will also focus on peer-directed mental health relief.
  We can imagine, in the course of all the scenes that we have seen in 
this body, on this floor, in this year, starting with January 6, where 
police officers were involved, that there is no doubt that this 
legislation is crucial. But it works across the Nation, and it should 
be a tool for ensuring the strength and the stability of our officers 
who are out there, men and women, family members, every single day.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Rutherford).
  Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and 
I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for bringing this bill forward. It 
is very much needed.
  I rise, Mr. Speaker, to support the COPS Counseling Act, which is now 
one step away from reaching the President's desk, I hope.
  I spent almost 40 years in law enforcement, including 12 as the 
sheriff of Duval County, Florida. So I can tell you, I have seen, 
firsthand, the challenges that some officers face in dealing with not 
just acute stress for many years but the chronic stress over every day 
that they go to work.
  Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that law enforcement is a dangerous 
profession. But these officers face potential life-threatening 
situations every day they go to work, and that is the chronic stress 
that really has a significant mental health impact upon these officers. 
Every day, they put their lives in that breach in defense of our 
communities.
  In recent years, we have seen a rise in ambush killings of officers 
and just overall assaults on officers, attacking them simply for the 
uniform that they wear. In fact, by just the middle of this year, we 
experienced as many shootings and killings of police officers as we did 
for the entire year of 2020.
  We also witness now the demoralization, the delegitimization, and the 
defunding of police currently taking place around the U.S.
  We have also watched law enforcement work through a deadly pandemic, 
losing so many officers to COVID-19 over these last 2 years.
  To make things more difficult, many officers struggle to ask for 
help, even when they need it. Some officers feel traditional forms of 
counseling cannot truly understand what they are going through. They 
also might be concerned that seeking counseling could negatively impact 
on their careers. It could be seen as a weakness.
  That is why the COPS Counseling Act is so very important.
  Again, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas. This provides the 
opportunity for law enforcement officers to receive confidential and 
peer-led support services.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is going to save lives. It is going to 
save officers' lives, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' 
on the COPS Counseling Act to get this bill signed into law.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I am very glad that we are able to come together, recognizing that 
our law enforcement officers face dangers every day. When I look to the 
support for that community, I really look to the family of citizens, 
the family of the community, no matter where you are, and I think that 
should be the statement and the litmus test.
  When you speak to community persons who generally go about their 
daily business, and local governments, you can be assured that there is 
an embodiment of support.
  There is the sense of horror when we see circumstances that 
tragically hit this very Congress, this very House, on January 6, when 
that was not how brave law enforcement officers were treated. But we 
are well aware of the everyday work that is done.
  Before I left to come to Washington, I had the tragic duty of going 
to the funeral of a fallen. What an amazing individual that Deputy 
Atkins was, and the outpouring of love and affection by the community 
reflected that.
  To show the humanity of officers--they have moms and dads and wives 
and children--they read a letter from his mother. I just simply want to 
put this letter in from his mother.
  ``When I last saw you, before you said good-bye, I said the prayer I 
taught you, `As I lay me down to sleep.' Nadia heard me and told me you 
always said that prayer.'' Nadia was his wife.
  ``And that made me really feel good, Kareem. I love you so much and I 
will never stop loving you,'' the letter said.
  A mother, a father, a fallen son. These are the true human aspects of 
service.
  So this help to officers who have seen, or been engaged, or seen 
fellow officers lose their lives, or been wounded, or, again, come upon 
that scene that they will be interviewed, saying that they have never 
seen it before, never seen something so devastating like it before, 
this is an important step forward, as was the real justice bill for 
veterans, some of whom turn out to be police officers.
  I think we are moving so much in the right direction to be 
effectively concerned about the whole person, and that is what this 
legislation, I believe, will move forward on.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record an article from the Houston 
Chronicle.

              [From the Houston Chronicle, Oct. 25, 2021]

   Deputies Line Up by the Dozen To Honor Slain Pct. 4 Deputy Kareem 
                                 Atkins

       Hundreds gathered at a north Houston church Monday 
     afternoon to pay their respects to Kareem Atkins, the 
     Precinct 4 deputy constable who was fatally shot while trying 
     to stop a robbery.
       The day began with a private service for Atkins' family. 
     Officers lined up hours before the memorial service at 
     Champion Forest Baptist Church to take a last look at their 
     friend, removing their hats and saying a few words over the 
     flag-draped casket at the front of the massive church hall.
       A slideshow played on screens next to the altar, with 
     images of Atkins cuddling with his wife, Nadia Aweineh, and 
     their young children, Adalynn, a toddler, and Aiden, a 
     newborn. In other photos, Atkins was pictured in uniform with 
     fellow deputies and posing for group shots while out on the 
     town with friends, a broad smile on his face.
       While some attendees silently wiped away tears after 
     viewing Atkins' casket, others laughed and shared stories, 
     remembering Atkins as the ``loving, protective, funny, great 
     dancing (or at least so he thought), outgoing and flashy 
     guy'' described in the funeral's program.
       ``It seemed to me Kareem had many, many, best friends, and, 
     on a daily basis, I saw his co-workers routinely look to him 
     for guidance,'' Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said at the 
     memorial. ``Despite his young age, he was someone you could 
     count on to be calm, cool and collected. He had a unique 
     strength about him. He was the rock we all leaned on.''
       ``If I had 100 more Kareem Atkinses (in my department), 
     this boss would sleep much better at night,'' Herman said.
       Atkins' godsister and former babysitter also spoke, sharing 
     a letter Atkins' mother, Celine Pemberton-Atkins, wrote to 
     her son after his death. In the letter, Pemberton-Atkins 
     reminisced about the times her son would surprise her with 
     visits home to New York City, where he was born, and about 
     the inside jokes they shared that would not make sense to 
     anyone else.

[[Page H5947]]

       His mother noted in her letter that she'd just learned he 
     was planning to travel home and surprise her for 
     Thanksgiving.
       ``When I last saw you, before you said goodbye, I said the 
     prayer I taught you, `As I lay me down to sleep.' Nadia heard 
     me and told me you always said that prayer . . . and that 
     made me feel really good, Kareem. I love you so much and I 
     will never stop loving you,'' the letter said.


                              end of watch

       After the service, attendees filed out of the church for a 
     color guard ceremony. The rows of friends, family and 
     officers sat in silence amid a few isolated sobs as 
     pallbearers wheeled Atkins' casket to the family. The color 
     guard folded the American flag that was covering the casket 
     and handed it to the constable, who gave it to Atkins' wife.
       Police dispatchers declared the ``end of watch'' over the 
     air. A three-volley salute followed. Then Atkins' coffin was 
     placed in a hearse to be taken to Klein Memorial Park 
     Cemetery in Tomball.
       The funeral came more than a week after Atkins was shot and 
     killed--and two other Precinct 4 deputies were wounded--while 
     attempting to arrest a robbery suspect at 45 Norte Sports 
     Bar, where they worked side jobs as security guards.
       The shooter, who opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle, 
     wounded Deputies Darryl Garrett and Juqaim Barthen, according 
     to police. Garrett remained in the intensive care unit 
     Monday, while Barthen, who attended the service, is still 
     recovering.
       On HoustonChronicle.com: `They were the 3 amigos,' fiancee 
     of wounded Precinct 4 deputy says after ambush in north 
     Houston.
       Police have not identified or apprehended any suspects in 
     the shooting. A reward for information leading to the 
     assailant's arrest and conviction was increased Wednesday to 
     $75,000.


                      making time fly on the shift

       In comments during the funeral, Harris County Judge Lina 
     Hidalgo declared Oct. 25 ``Deputy Kareem Atkins Day'' in 
     Harris County from this year forward.
       ``When somebody ambushed Deputy Barthen, Deputy Garrett and 
     Deputy Atkins, that attack on our protectors, that attack on 
     you all, was an attack on our entire community,'' Hidalgo 
     said.
       ``They tried to tear down what makes our community great, 
     to tear down that spirit of service, to break that trust that 
     binds us, to bring fear, but we won't tolerate that. The way 
     we fight back against that, and honor Deputy Atkins' life, is 
     by living by the values he embodied,'' Hidalgo said.
       Others attending the funeral remarked about Atkins' good 
     humor and generous spirit.
       Indrani Boodram and her co-workers came to support Atkins' 
     father, who worked with them at a medical center in north 
     Cypress.
       She remembered how the younger Atkins helped her move about 
     five years ago, despite never having met Boodram. ``He had 
     just moved here from New York and he knew no one. He even 
     bought pizza when he came and told me he would stay with me 
     until I was completely done.''
       Canray Warren, who worked other security jobs with Atkins 
     at bars and clubs around the area, remembered the 30-year-old 
     as someone who made the time fly on nights when the staff 
     were tired and wanted to check out for the night. When it was 
     nearing time to start closing shop, the pair would simply 
     exchange looks and start cracking up.
       ``He kept us laughing and kept a smile on our face,'' he 
     said. ``We'd joke about telling the DJ to play boring songs 
     so everybody could move out of the club faster,'' Warren 
     said.
       Warren explained he wouldn't want to take a shift if he 
     learned that Atkins wasn't working with him. And now, looking 
     forward, work won't be the same without him.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Reschenthaler).
  Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend and 
colleague, Congressman Bentz, for yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to speak in support of the COPS 
Counseling Act. It is a piece of bipartisan legislation that I 
introduced with my good friend,   David Trone from Maryland. 
Congressman Trone has been an incredible partner. I am really grateful 
for all of his hard work, and as everybody in this body knows, no one 
works harder than   David Trone when he is pushing a bill. It is quite 
amazing to see and watch.
  Mr. Speaker, every day, our Nation's law enforcement officers put 
their own lives at risk to keep us safe. That service does not come 
without sacrifice.
  Last year, 178 current or Active-Duty law enforcement officers died 
by suicide. Just this year, 121 officers have already taken their own 
lives.
  S. 1502 seeks to alleviate the stressors law enforcement experiences 
by establishing clear confidentiality standards for peer-to-peer 
counseling.
  A Fraternal Order of Police survey showed that 73 percent of surveyed 
officers found peer-to-peer support counseling to be the most helpful 
mental health resource offered by police departments. Unfortunately, an 
officer's peer support communications can be discoverable on public 
record; it can be used in court proceedings; and worse, it can even 
impact and affect their employment.
  By creating clear standards for confidentiality, the COPS Counseling 
Act would provide officers with peace of mind that their privacy is 
protected when they seek peer support services.
  This legislation also encourages State and local first responder 
agencies to adopt peer counseling programs so more officers can take 
advantage of this important mental health resource.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support our Nation's law 
enforcement officers by voting for this legislation.
  Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As I indicated in my discussions, I think the idea of the COPS 
Counseling Act is a profound statement that we see the whole person in 
law enforcement. We don't just see the person's uniform externally, but 
we see the whole person.
  The reading of the words of Deputy Atkins' mother was to indicate we 
see the family members, the children; we see the neighbors; we see the 
communities. In order to do that, we must then have a holistic approach 
to the service of these officers.
  I can't help but think about officers coming upon an injury to a 
child in whatever form it is, and I have heard them speak of it. It is 
the worst investigation case to have. It is the worst scene that they 
have ever seen because it is a child.
  The COPS Counseling Act will help our law enforcement officers and 
also the communities they serve. We can and must do both. When officers 
are in need of counseling, we should remove barriers and disincentives 
that are standing in the way.
  Therefore, I ask my colleagues to see the whole person as they serve 
the community and the Nation, and join me in supporting this 
legislation so that the President can sign it into law.
  Mr. Speaker, the COPS Counseling Act will help our law enforcement 
officers and also the communities they serve.
  We can and must do both.
  When officers are in need of counseling, we should remove barriers 
and disincentives standing in the way.
  Therefore, I ask that my colleagues join me in supporting this 
legislation so that the President can sign it into law.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the COPS Counseling Act 
and thank my friend from Maryland, Mr. Trone for leading this important 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, Every day police officers protect our communities with 
the uncommon character that's common in police departments. The men and 
women in blue proudly protect and serve, braving challenging 
circumstances and running toward danger to keep us safe. Both they and 
their families feel this stress. I know this firsthand as my father is 
a retire NYPD Detective.
  As well, in the course of duty, police officers face dangerous and 
sometimes traumatic situations. Oftentimes, only a police officer can 
truly understand the stress their fellow officers are dealing with.
  Peer counseling has proven to be an effective method for officers to 
cope with this stress, in fact 73 percent of officers say it's the most 
helpful mental health resource available to them. The COPS Counseling 
Act ensures more officers can access this important resource and 
protects officers' privacy, eliminating the stigma of seeking help. 
Police officers do a dangerous and necessary job to protect our 
communities. The COPS Counseling Act helps police officers help keep 
each other safe so they can keep us all safe. I urge a yes vote.
  Miss GONZALEZ-COLON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 
1502, the COPS Counseling Act of 2021. I was also proud to cosponsor 
the House companion to this bill--H.R. 3070--introduced by 
Representatives David Trone of Maryland and Guy Reschenthaler of 
Pennsylvania.
  This bipartisan and bicameral legislation would encourage the 
adoption of law enforcement peer counseling programs across the nation 
by requiring the U.S. Department of Justice to issue and make publicly 
available a report on best practices for such programs. To

[[Page H5948]]

further support their implementation, the bill would also direct the 
Department to provide a list of training programs for individuals to 
become peer support mentors.
  Our law enforcement officers often face challenging and at times 
traumatic experiences while performing their duties and keeping our 
communities safe. It's critical we ensure they have the necessary level 
of support to address these situations, and peer-to-peer counseling can 
serve as an effective mental health outlet to share their personal 
experiences; access and identify resources; and receive help and 
guidance within a trusted network of colleagues.
  To ensure peer counseling programs are effective, it's also important 
we protect the privacy of those officers seeking mental health 
services. That's why I'm pleased the COPS Counseling Act would require 
that the information disclosed during peer support counseling sessions 
by Federal law enforcement officers is kept confidential, except under 
certain circumstances such as threats of physical harm and admission of 
criminal activity. This guarantee of privacy will go a long way in 
building confidence and encouraging more Federal law enforcement 
officers to take advantage of the opportunities provided through these 
programs.
  Every day, our brave men and women in law enforcement put their lives 
on the line to protect our communities. As Members of Congress, we must 
redouble our efforts to support them, including through mental health 
and counseling services. That's why I support the COPS Counseling Act 
and urge my colleagues to do the same.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 1502.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

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