Skip to main content
H.R. 4194 117th Congress House

The People’s Response Act

Official title: To establish within the Department of Health and Human Services a Division on Community Safety, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 19, 2021 See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Advisory bodiesAgricultural marketing and promotionChild healthChild safety and welfare
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Community life and organizationCrime preventionCrime victimsCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDetention of personsDisability and health-based discriminationDomestic violence and child abuseDrug, alcohol, tobacco useEducation programs fundingElementary and secondary educationEmergency communications systemsEmergency medical services and trauma careEnvironmental healthEvidence and witnessesExecutive agency funding and structureFamily servicesFirst responders and emergency personnelFood industry and servicesGovernment studies and investigationsHazardous wastes and toxic substancesHealth care coverage and accessHealth personnelHealth programs administration and fundingHomelessness and emergency shelterHousing and community development fundingHousing supply and affordabilityImmigration status and proceduresInfectious and parasitic diseasesInfrastructure developmentLaw enforcement administration and fundingMental healthNutrition and dietRacial and ethnic relationsSex offensesSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsTelephone and wireless communicationViolent crime
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Jun 29, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jun 28, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Jun 28, 2021
Introduced in House
Jun 28, 2021
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, 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.
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action November 1, 2022

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

The People's Response Act

This bill establishes multiple grant programs and requirements to promote qualified approaches to community safety. These are programs or services that are disconnected from carceral institutions (e.g., law enforcement, child welfare services, and immigration enforcement).

Specifically, the bill establishes the Division of Community Safety within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to administer the grants and carry out related activities. These include grants for community-based organizations to support qualified approaches to community safety, such as

  • unarmed first responder agencies and 9-1-1 diversion programs;
  • neighborhood-level interventions, including safe passage to school and violence interruption programs;
  • behavioral health treatment, nutrition support, and other public health programs;
  • housing security programs; and
  • programs for youth and families, survivors of violence, and individuals exiting incarceration or criminal supervision.

Additionally, the division must administer grants pertaining to qualified approaches for community safety for state and local governments and hiring and training first responders.

The bill also establishes an advisory board to oversee the division's activities. Membership on the board must reflect the racial, ethnic, and other demographic diversities of the United States. The board must also include members who have personal experience with the criminal justice system.

Furthermore, HHS must set up (1) a federal health response unit to respond to any public health emergency, assist with qualified approaches to community safety, and provide resources for safe and inclusive schools; and (2) an interagency task force to promote qualified approaches to community safety across federal programs.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 8
 Cosponsors 31
All 31 Democratic 26
D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Mar 2, 2022
 D
Bonamici, Suzanne
Oregon · Nov 1, 2021
Lowenthal, Alan
· Nov 1, 2021
 D
Mfume, Kweisi
Maryland · Nov 1, 2021
Napolitano, Grace
· Nov 1, 2021
 D
Pingree, Chellie
Maine · Sep 29, 2021
Bass, Karen
· Jul 19, 2021
 D
Clarke, Yvette D.
New York · Jul 19, 2021
 D
Green, Al
Texas · Jul 19, 2021
 D
Johnson, Henry C. "Hank"
Georgia · Jul 19, 2021
Kahele, Kaiali'i
· Jul 19, 2021
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Jul 19, 2021
 D
Meng, Grace
New York · Jul 19, 2021
 D
Williams, Nikema
Georgia · Jul 19, 2021
 D
Adams, Alma S.
North Carolina · Jun 28, 2021
 D
DeSaulnier, Mark
California · Jun 28, 2021
 D
Espaillat, Adriano
New York · Jun 28, 2021
 D
García, Jesús G. "Chuy"
Illinois · Jun 28, 2021
 D
Jayapal, Pramila
Washington · Jun 28, 2021
Jones, Mondaire
· Jun 28, 2021
 D
Khanna, Ro
California · Jun 28, 2021
 D
McCollum, Betty
Minnesota · Jun 28, 2021
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Jun 28, 2021
 D
Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria
New York · Jun 28, 2021
 D
Omar, Ilhan
Minnesota · Jun 28, 2021
 D
Pressley, Ayanna
Massachusetts · Jun 28, 2021
 D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Jun 28, 2021
 D
Tlaib, Rashida
Michigan · Jun 28, 2021
 D
Vargas, Juan
California · Jun 28, 2021
 D
Watson Coleman, Bonnie
New Jersey · Jun 28, 2021
 D
Wilson, Frederica S.
Florida · Jun 28, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4194: The People’s Response Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-4194/
MLA
"H.R. 4194: The People’s Response Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-4194/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4194, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-4194/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4194: The People’s Response Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-4194/)
Report a problem