The People’s Response Act

H.R. 4699, known as the People’s Response Act, proposes a shift in how the federal government handles public safety and mental health crises. The bill would establish a new Division of Community Safety within the Department of Health and Human Services to fund and coordinate non-police responses to emergency calls involving mental health, substance use, and homelessness.

For citizens, the practical impact would be the increased availability of specialized first responders, such as social workers and mental health clinicians, who would be dispatched instead of law enforcement in specific non-violent situations. Additionally, the bill provides grants to local governments and community organizations to launch neighborhood-based violence prevention programs and trauma-informed intervention services.