People’s Response Act

Sponsor: Summer L. Lee (Democratic-PA)July 15, 2025

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Introduced

In Committee

Passed One Chamber

Passed Both Chambers

Signed into Law

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Education and Workforce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Communities would get federal grants to fund new safety programs that offer alternatives to police.

The People's Response Act would create a new federal division to oversee and fund community safety programs. These programs would offer alternatives to traditional law enforcement and criminal justice. This would help communities, especially those most affected by the criminal legal system, get resources for things like crisis intervention, violence prevention, and housing support.

What Would Change

Today, there is no dedicated federal division or specific grant programs within the Department of Health and Human Services focused on non-punitive, alternative approaches to public safety. If this bill became law, a new Division on Community Safety would be created within HHS. It would oversee billions of dollars in grants for states, local governments, and community groups to fund programs that offer alternatives to traditional law enforcement and criminal justice involvement.

Key Provisions

Creates a new Division on Community Safety within the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee non-punitive public safety programs.
Funds community-based organizations with $4 billion from budget years (October to September) 2026-2030 for programs like crisis intervention, violence prevention, and housing support.
Provides $3.5 billion from budget years (October to September) 2026-2030 to local governments for assessing safety needs, creating community-led safety plans, and hiring community health workers.
Offers $3.5 billion from budget years (October to September) 2026-2030 to states to support qualified community safety approaches and establish their own equivalent state offices.
Sets aside $2.5 billion from budget years (October to September) 2026-2030 for grants to recruit, hire, and train new first responders focused on crisis response and violence prevention, paying them at least $17 an hour.

View on Congress.gov

HR 4387 · 119th Congress · July 15, 2025 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 8/10

People’s Response Act

What Would Change

Key Provisions

Lobbying Activity