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HR 4194 117th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Advisory bodies Agricultural marketing and promotion Child health Child safety and welfare Community life and organization Crime prevention Crime victims Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Department of Health and Human Services Detention of persons Disability and health-based discrimination Domestic violence and child abuse Drug, alcohol, tobacco use Education programs funding Elementary and secondary education Emergency communications systems Emergency medical services and trauma care Environmental health Evidence and witnesses

The People’s Response Act

Introduced: July 19, 2021 See on congress.gov
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.
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 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.

What's happening now November 1, 2022

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

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 8
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/)
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