Representative Tran Co-Leads Bipartisan Legislation to Improve First Responders’ Access to Care
Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Derek Tran (D-CA-45), alongside Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), and Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01), introduced legislation to increase access to specialized mental health, substance abuse, and crisis counseling services for first responders. The Crisis Assistance and Resources in Emergencies (CARE) for First Responders Act aims to strengthen resources and support systems for the individuals who are often first on the scene during emergencies.
Full text of the bill can be viewed here.
“From fighting crime to managing natural disaster response, California’s first responders are on the front lines of keeping our communities safe. This work is essential, but it also poses unique burdens on those who protect us day in and day out. First responders face serious mental health risks, but often lack access to specialized treatment plans that properly manage their needs. I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan legislation to provide our first responders with the mental health support they deserve,” said Representative Tran.
Law enforcement officers, firefighters, rescue workers, 911 operators, and other emergency response personnel regularly face significant yet frequently unseen trauma and challenges as they confront disasters and assist survivors in their moments of greatest need. The CARE for First Responders Act would prioritize the needs of first responders by:
Ensuring access to FEMA counseling and mental health services after major disasters.
Funding on-site and mobile support through a grant program for mental health and substance use services.
Expanding an existing, confidential 24-hour hotline to provide specialized first responder support.
Establishing a peer counseling program at HHS to assist first responders and their families.
Directing research on best practices for mental health care and suicide prevention for first responders.
“Our first responders go above and beyond, carrying the weight of trauma that no one should have to bear alone. After the devastating fires on Maui two years ago, I saw firsthand the toll that disasters can take on first responders and their families,” said Representative Tokuda. “I’m proud once again to introduce the CARE for First Responders Act to ensure our frontliners who protect our communities have the specialized health support they desperately need and deserve. I’m grateful to my Republican and Democratic colleagues for their partnership in this effort because crises don’t care about politics, and neither should we when it comes to supporting our first responders.”
“I’ve met too many local firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and telecommunicators who carry the heaviest parts of this job by themselves, not because they want to, but because the support isn’t there when the shift ends. The CARE for First Responders Act changes that: true 24/7 confidential crisis care, tailored mental-health services during major disasters, and peer counselors who have lived the same calls. No one who saves lives should ever feel like they have to save their own alone,” said Representative Fitzpatrick, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force.
“Because of the difficult work they do on the frontlines, Vermont’s first responders are facing serious mental health challenges,” said Representative Balint. “I’m proud to join Rep. Tokuda once again in fighting to ensure that our emergency personnel, firefighters, 911 dispatchers, and law enforcement officers have access to the mental health resources they deserve. Our first responders shouldn’t have to shoulder the weight of their jobs alone.”
“First responders, medical personnel, and wildland firefighters carry an incredibly heavy burden,” said Representative LaMalfa. “They run toward danger when the rest of us run away, and the toll it takes on their mental and emotional health is real. Too often, getting the support they need is complicated or delayed. The CARE for First Responders Act will hopefully relieve some of that burden and let our first responders know that their work is not unnoticed or unappreciated.”
The legislation is endorsed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), APCO International, and the National Association for Rural Mental Health.
As a member of the Bipartisan Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, Representative Tran remains dedicated to bolstering local law enforcement efforts to ensure our community’s safety. During National Police Week in May 2025, Tran met with LASD and OCSD personnel and discussed the urgent need to ensure fair compensation for law enforcement officers. Representative Tran has also cosponsored several bills to support and enhance officer safety and wellness on the job, including:
H.R. 5319, the Bipartisan Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program Expansion Act, to further assist local governments with purchasing protective gear for officers;
H.R. 309, the bipartisan National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act, which would improve officer safety and wellness programs;
H.R. 3304, the Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act, to support parents in law enforcement, and;
H.R. 2502, the Law Enforcement Training for Mental Health Crisis Response Act, which would provide officers with the training necessary to safely respond to behavioral health crises.
Tran has signed onto multiple letters expressing support for local public safety efforts, including letters opposing President Trump’s consideration of the Insurrection Act to justify deploying federal forces to patrol U.S. cities and advocating for increased resources for state and local law enforcement agencies to perform their duties safely and effectively.
###
Congressman Derek Tran represents California’s 45th Congressional District. Serving his first term in Congress, Congressman Tran is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Small Business Committee, where he is Ranking Member of the Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee. Congressman Tran is the son of Vietnamese refugees, a Veteran, and fought for consumers as an attorney before entering Congress.