A group of 31 legislators has reintroduced the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome (HERO) Act, HR 1480, in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The HERO Act looks to address the need for increased mental health resources within the fire service. The act was originally introduced the IAFF, who have held a long-standing dedication for the mental wellbeing of first responders.

Speaking after the announcement, General President Harold Schaitberger said: ““The HERO Act will help ensure emergency responders receive necessary resources to assist in detecting, treating and preventing mental health challenges.”

According to the IAFF, the HERO act will allow them to bolster their commitment by establishing a new grant program to train fire fighters as peer counselors, develop new guidance for fire departments on identifying and preventing post-traumatic stress disorder, provide information to mental health professionals on the culture within fire departments and evidence-based therapies to treat psychological issues common to fire fighters, and create a database to compile statistics on suicide among public safety officers.