Mental Health Emergency Responder Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 5706 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5706 To establish a grant program to assist eligible entities in developing or expanding behavioral health crisis response programs that do not rely primarily on law enforcement, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 8, 2025 Ms. Ansari (for herself, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Goldman of New York, Ms. Norton, Ms. Salinas, Mr. Thanedar, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, and Ms. Tlaib) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To establish a grant program to assist eligible entities in developing or expanding behavioral health crisis response programs that do not rely primarily on law enforcement, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Mental Health Emergency Responder Act''. SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM TO EXPAND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE. (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall establish a competitive grant program (in this section referred to as the ``program'') to assist eligible entities in developing or expanding behavioral health crisis response programs that do not rely primarily on law enforcement. (b) Eligible Entities.--The following entities shall be eligible to receive grants under the program-- (1) a local or Tribal government; (2) a regional emergency medical services agency or fire department; (3) a certified community behavioral health clinic, as defined by section 1905(jj) of the Soci