People’s Response Act
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
Introduced
Summary
Focuses federal support on nonpunitive, community-led approaches to public safety. It would create a Division on Community Safety at the Department of Health and Human Services and fund grants to scale alternatives to policing and incarceration.
Show full summary
- Families and survivors: Funds would support holistic services such as housing stability, reentry programs, victim services, public health interventions, and community health workers to help people harmed by incarceration, police violence, or detention.
- State, local, and community groups: Grants would pay for safety needs assessments, participatory budgeting, capacity building, and direct grants to community-based organizations, with priority for organizations led by people disproportionately affected by the criminal legal system and federally recognized Tribes.
- Rural communities and workforce: At least 30 percent of grant dollars must go to rural entities, and separate hiring grants would recruit and train first responders and school-based staff to deliver trauma-informed care and violence prevention.
*This bill would authorize about $3.5 billion for local grants, $3.5 billion for state grants, and $2.5 billion for first-responder hiring across FY2026–2030, increasing federal spending by roughly $9.5 billion.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants for community-led safety
HHS would give grants to community groups to run nonpunitive safety and health services. Up to $4 billion would be available. At least 30% would go to rural areas. Money could fund crisis teams, 911 diversion, violence prevention, harm reduction, housing, youth and reentry help. Grantees would report after one year and every six months. Reports would be anonymized and could not be used to start criminal or immigration cases, except when required by law.
State grants to build safety programs
HHS would fund States to plan and expand community safety programs from 2026 to 2030. States would need to create a state office for this work and match federal dollars 1:1. At least 30% of funds would go to less‑urban States. States could subgrant to local groups and governments. Reports would be due within six months and then every six months. Federal money would have to supplement, not replace, State and local funds. Total authorized funding is $3.5 billion.
Grants to hire and train first responders
HHS would fund hiring and training of first responders from 2026 to 2030. Money could pay for recruitment, training, equipment, crisis response, and trauma prevention. Schools could partner to provide trauma‑informed support and school‑based health services. At least 30% of funds would go to rural areas. Any worker hired with grant money must be paid at least $17 an hour or the highest applicable wage. Total authorized funding is $2.5 billion.
Local safety grants with wage floor
HHS would grant local governments money to assess safety needs and run programs from 2026 to 2030. Each grantee would develop a safety needs assessment. At least 30% of funds would go to less‑urban areas. Any worker hired with grant money must be paid at least $17 an hour or the highest applicable wage. Reports would be due within six months and then every six months. Funds must supplement, not replace, local spending. Total authorized funding is $3.5 billion.
Health department safety division and oversight
HHS would create a Division on Community Safety led by an Assistant Secretary. The Division would run the grant programs, build data systems, share research, and take public complaints about grantees. A National Advisory Committee with directly impacted members would guide priorities. An Interagency Task Force with Justice, HUD, Education, Labor, and EPA would audit carceral and noncoercive funding and report to Congress within 90 days of finishing audits. The Division would also report to Congress within 90 days after receiving the Committee’s recommendations.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
WA • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA-4]
GA • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 12/5/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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