Bill seeks to strengthen DHS law enforcement mental health resources

A group of lawmakers recently introduced a bill to enhance Department of Homeland Security (DHS) law enforcement personnel’s mental health resources.

U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced the DHS Suicide Prevention and Resiliency for Law Enforcement Act, which would establish a Law Enforcement Mental Health and Resiliency Program within DHS while providing additional oversight, guidance, and resources to DHS components performing law enforcement duties.

U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, and U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) have introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“Dedicated law enforcement officers and agents at the Department of Homeland Security carry out our country’s toughest national security missions, and they deserve more federal resources to support their wellbeing,” said Peters, chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “This commonsense, bipartisan bill will expand needed mental health resources for these dedicated professionals who put their lives on the line every day to protect our nation.”

Other bill provisions include requiring DHS components to prioritize mental health, wellbeing, resilience, and suicide prevention programs, as well as requiring each DHS component to assign a representative to the program, ensuring the sharing of best practices and resources department-wide.

“It is beyond tragic that CBP has seen a record number of officers and agents lost to suicide in recent years,” Thompson, House Homeland Security Committee ranking member, said. “That’s why I am sponsoring this much-needed bipartisan legislation to address this clear health care crisis among DHS’s law enforcement workforce, which includes CBP. We need a program at DHS that can not only provide mental health support, development, and resources but ensure that the workforce can access those resources without risking their careers.”