Bill · H.R. 4387· House(119-HR-4387)
People’s Response Act
- Introduced
- 7/15/2025
- Last activity
- 7/15/2025 — 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.
- Sponsored by
- Summer Lee
- Cosponsors
- - 10 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "People's Response Act," proposes to create a Division on Community Safety within the Department of Health and Human Services. The Division would oversee various grant programs designed to support "qualified approaches to community safety," which focus on nonpunitive alternatives to law enforcement and the criminal legal system. It establishes a National Advisory Committee composed of individuals with personal experience in the legal system and an Interagency Task Force to audit federal spending. The Act provides for several grant types targeting community-led organizations, local governments, States, and first responder training. These resources aim to support marginalized communities and survivors of various forms of violence and abuse.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Support for Survivors and Marginalized Groups: The Act aims to expand resources to holistically support survivors of mass incarceration, police violence, rape, and other forms of sexual assault, as well as marginalized communities like Black, Latine/x, Indigenous, and LGBTQIA+ communities (Section 1(b)(4)-(5)).
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Community-Led Safety Initiatives: Through the Community Safety Grant, community-based organizations can receive funding for crisis intervention, violence prevention, and housing security (Section 201(d)).
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Economic and Infrastructure Improvements: Funds can be used for participatory investments in the built environment, such as park redevelopment, streetlights, and home repairs (Section 201(d)(3)).
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Increased Access to Health and Nutrition: Grants can support public health activities, including harm reduction, hiring community health workers, and establishing nutrition access like farmers markets (Section 201(d)(4)).
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Support for Youth and Families: The bill allows for funding of school-based counselors, mentorship programs, and summer jobs (Section 201(d)(6)).
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Empowerment through Democratic Processes: The bill includes provisions for "participatory budgeting," which allows community members to decide how a portion of a public budget is allocated (Section 2, Definition 6).
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Job Creation with Fair Wages: Grants for local governments and first responders include requirements that hired individuals be paid at least $17 an hour or the prevailing minimum wage (Section 202(h)(3) and Section 204(e)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Requirement for Matching Funds from States: To receive grants under this Act, States must provide matching funds equal to the amount of Federal funds received (Section 203(b)(2)).
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Limitations on Funding Use: Funds from these various grant programs can only be used for activities that meet the specific definition of "qualified approaches to community safety" (Section 201(h)(1), Section 202(h)(1), and Section 204(e)(1)).
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Strict Reporting Requirements: Recipients of grants, including community-based organizations, local governments, and States, must prepare and submit various reports to the Secretary regarding fund use and demographic data (Section 201(i), Section 202(i), and Section 203(i)).
- 12/5/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/12/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/3/2025
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 8/8/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/15/2025
- 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.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Henry JohnsonDemocrat · Georgia
Pramila JayapalDemocrat · Washington
Morgan McGarveyDemocrat · Kentucky
LaMonica McIverDemocrat · New Jersey
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Ilhan OmarDemocrat · Minnesota
Ayanna PressleyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Adam SmithDemocrat · Washington
Janice SchakowskyDemocrat · Illinois
Lateefah SimonDemocrat · California