U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) today reintroduced the Supporting and Treating Officers in Crisis (STOIC) Act to expand support resources for law enforcement officers. The bill is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Christopher Coons (D-Del.), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).
The bipartisan legislation would reauthorize grant funding for law enforcement family-support services and establish suicide-prevention programs and mental health services within law enforcement communities.
“Congress should have the backs of those who have ours,” said Senator Hawley. “Since it’s initial passage, the STOIC Act has delivered life-saving resources to law enforcement officers who combat not only crime, but also mental health challenges, in the line of duty. I invite my colleagues to join me in reauthorizing this critical legislation, so we can continue standing with our men and women in blue.”
“Law enforcement are often the first on the scene at the most difficult moments in people’s lives. Their service comes with a heavy emotional toll, and we must help officers deal with the stress and trauma they bear to keep their communities safe,” said Senator Whitehouse. “We first passed our bipartisan STOIC Act into law in 2019 to provide more mental health resources for law enforcement, and I’m glad to renew the effort today with Senator Hawley to reauthorize this important law.”
Senators Hawley and Whitehouse first introduced the STOIC Act in 2019, and it was signed into law later that year.
Last year, the STOIC Act unanimously passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and went on to pass a Senate-wide vote, clearing hurdles for the bill’s reauthorization. Today, the senators have reintroduced the legislation to pave the way for its updated passage in the 119th Congress.
Full text of the bill can be found here.