People’s Response Act

Bill Number

H.R. 4387

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-15: 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.

Last Updated

2025-12-15T19:36:17Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 4387: People's Response Act

Purpose

The legislation aims to promote nonpunitive (non-punishing) ways to improve community safety by reducing involvement with the criminal justice system, such as arrests or incarceration. It focuses on supporting research, programs, and resources that expand opportunities, especially for groups disproportionately affected by the criminal legal system. Key goals include coordinating federal efforts, aiding state and local governments plus community organizations in implementing these approaches, and providing holistic support to survivors of violence, mass incarceration, police harm, sexual assault, detention, deportation, and other abuses. It emphasizes culturally and linguistically appropriate services for marginalized communities, including Black, Latine/x, Indigenous, communities of color, poor and working-class groups, and LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Key Provisions

• Definitions: Establishes clear terms, such as "qualified approaches to community safety" (evidence-based, nonpunitive methods like crisis intervention or violence prevention that serve as alternatives to police, courts, probation, child welfare enforcement, involuntary treatment, or immigration actions); "community-based organization" (nonprofit groups representing and serving local communities); "community health worker" (trusted frontline workers linking communities to health and social services); "first responder" (experienced individuals handling crises via qualified approaches); "safety needs assessment" (community-involved process to identify safety gaps and resources); and others like participatory budgeting (community decision-making on public funds) and rural areas.

• Division on Community Safety (Title I): Creates a new division within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), led by an Assistant Secretary reporting to the HHS Secretary. Responsibilities include:
• Overseeing grant programs (detailed in Title II).
• Funding and disseminating research on safety policies, programs, and investments, often through collaborations with scholars and nonprofits.
• Providing technical assistance to state and local governments.
• Coordinating with HHS sub-agencies (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Indian Health Service) and other federal entities.
• Establishing a National Advisory Committee (with members including those with direct experience of the criminal legal system, survivors of violence, and advocates for equity in areas like racial, gender, and disability justice) to recommend priorities, evaluate activities, and ensure funding reaches impacted communities; the division must report to Congress on implementing these recommendations.
• Forming an Interagency Task Force (including HHS, Justice, Housing and Urban Development, Education, Labor, and Environmental Protection Agency representatives) to audit federal funding for law enforcement, prisons, and coercive systems versus community safety initiatives; streamline grant access for grassroots groups; and report audit findings and policy recommendations to Congress.

• Grant Programs (Title II):
• Community Safety Grants for Community-Led Organizations (Sec. 201): Rolling grants to nonprofits for designing, implementing, or supporting qualified approaches (e.g., crisis intervention, violence prevention, public health services, housing programs, youth support, victim services, reentry aid, capacity building). Priorities: organizations in high-impact areas, led by affected individuals, with community ties, or serving Native American tribes. At least 30% for rural areas. Reporting required on fund use, people served (with anonymized demographics), and community feedback; privacy protections prevent data use for legal or enforcement actions. Authorization: $4 billion (FY 2026–2030).
• Community Safety Grants for Local Governments (Sec. 202): Rolling grants to cities/counties for safety needs assessments, action plans, community-led entities (using participatory budgeting), investments in programs (e.g., health, housing, education), hiring/training community health workers. Priorities: governments reducing incarceration/punishment, addressing poverty/violence disparities, or consulting affected communities. At least 30% for less-urban areas; minimum wage of at least $17/hour or higher for hires. Reporting on fund use, arrest/jail data (with demographics), and funds to community organizations. Supplements existing funds, does not replace them. Authorization: $3.5 billion (FY 2026–2030).
• Community Safety Grants for States (Sec. 203): Rolling grants requiring states to create a safety oversight office and match federal funds. Used for subgrants to community organizations/local governments, or training for safety roles. Same priorities and rural allocation as local grants (30%). Reporting similar to local grants on arrests/jails. Supplements existing funds. Authorization: $3.5 billion (FY 2026–2030).
• First Responder Hiring Grants (Sec. 204): Grants to organizations, governments, tribes, and consortia for recruiting/training non-law-enforcement first responders (e.g., for crisis response, violence prevention, school-based mental health). Includes equipment, community partnerships, and skill-building like mediation. At least 30% for rural areas; minimum wage requirements. Authorization: $2.5 billion (FY 2026–2030).

• General Requirements Across Grants: Funds limited to qualified approaches; evaluations by the Division using reports and data analysis to inform future awards; additional funding possible for successful recipients; biannual public reporting with demographic data on impacts.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new federal framework shifting community safety from traditional law enforcement and punitive systems (often under the Department of Justice) toward health-focused, community-driven alternatives under HHS. It creates novel grant programs not previously authorized at this scale, mandates audits of existing federal funding for carceral (incarceration-based) approaches, and requires new state/local entities for oversight. It also imposes equity-focused priorities, rural set-asides, wage floors, and privacy safeguards in reporting, which expand beyond current community development or violence prevention laws like the Violence Against Women Act or Community Oriented Policing Services grants.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: HHS gains a dedicated division for coordination, potentially streamlining interagency efforts but increasing administrative burdens through audits, evaluations, and reporting. Other agencies (e.g., Justice, HUD) must participate in the task force, possibly redirecting resources from enforcement to prevention. States and localities may need to create new offices or assessments, fostering more integrated safety planning.
• Citizens: Could reduce criminal justice contact for vulnerable groups by funding alternatives like mental health support, housing, and violence interruption, improving access to services in high-poverty or impacted areas. Marginalized communities may see targeted benefits through culturally appropriate programs, though implementation depends on grant uptake. Rural residents get ensured funding shares.
• International Relations: Minimal direct impact, but extends to U.S. territories (e.g., Puerto Rico, Guam) and includes deportation-related support, which could indirectly affect immigration policy coordination without altering borders or foreign affairs.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Marginalized Communities: Black, Latine/x, Indigenous, communities of color, low-income/working-class, LGBTQIA+, and disabled groups, including survivors of incarceration, police violence, sexual assault, and deportation; they benefit from prioritized funding and input in assessments/advisory roles.
• Community-Based Organizations and Grassroots Groups: Nonprofits, land trusts, coops, and advocates receive direct grants, subgrants, and capacity-building to lead safety initiatives.
• State and Local Governments: Eligible for grants to develop plans and programs, with requirements for community consultation and reduced punitive practices.
• Individuals with Criminal Legal System Experience: Formerly incarcerated, those on probation/parole, arrest survivors, and their families influence advisory committee and program design.
• Federal Agencies and Workers: HHS leads, with involvement from Justice, Education, etc.; creates jobs for community health workers and first responders.
• Youth, Families, and Victims: Gain access to school programs, mentorship, trauma support, and reentry services.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Emphasizes evidence-informed, nonpunitive alternatives, potentially limiting funds for traditional policing/prosecution and requiring privacy protections in data collection (aligning with laws like HIPAA). Audits could lead to policy shifts reallocating billions from carceral systems, with supplement-not-supplant rules preventing fund diversion. Wage floors build on Fair Labor Standards Act minimums.
• Constitutional: Promotes equal protection by addressing racial, economic, and gender disparities in justice involvement (14th Amendment); participatory processes (e.g., budgeting, assessments) enhance due process and free speech (1st Amendment) through community input. No direct challenges to rights, but focuses on reducing coercive state actions like involuntary treatment.
• Political: Represents a progressive pivot toward decarceration and equity, potentially polarizing debates on public safety (e.g., "defund police" echoes without explicit cuts). Referred to multiple committees (Judiciary, Energy/Commerce, etc.), signaling broad jurisdictional review; high authorizations ($13.5 billion total) could influence budget priorities if enacted, emphasizing community-led over top-down enforcement.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]

Cosponsors (10)

Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-15: 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.
• 2025-07-15: 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.
• 2025-07-15: 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.
• 2025-07-15: 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.
• 2025-07-15: 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.
• 2025-07-15: Introduced in House
• 2025-07-15: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• People’s Response Act — issued 2025-07-15 — PDF (39 pages)