Washington, DC –Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) helped the House of Representatives pass H.R.2228 – the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act of 2017. This bipartisan legislation would help agencies improve mental health services for law enforcement officers.
“Law enforcement officers across our nation risk their lives every day to keep our communities safe,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “Far too many of these brave men and women face mental health challenges associated with their service. This legislation would help our brave law enforcement officers have more resources for overcoming mental health challenges, and I am pleased the House passed this bill on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis.”
The Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act of 2017 would direct the Department of Justice, Department of Defense, and the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop resources to equip local law enforcement agencies to address mental health challenges faced by officers. The bill would also make grants available to initiate peer mentoring pilot programs, develop training for mental health providers specific to law enforcement mental health needs, and support law enforcement officers by studying the effectiveness of crisis hotlines and annual mental health checks.
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