Improving Police CARE Act

Overview: HR 5864, Improving Police CARE Act, Introduced in House, Introduced: October 28, 2025

Purpose and Intent: The purpose of this bill is to establish a grant program within the Department of Justice to provide funding for law enforcement agencies to implement comprehensive officer wellness and mental health support programs.

Key Provisions:
- Creates a competitive grant program to assist law enforcement agencies in developing and implementing officer wellness and mental health initiatives
- Allows grant funds to be used for a variety of purposes, including:
- Establishing peer support programs
- Providing access to mental health counseling and treatment
- Implementing stress management and resilience training
- Improving officer work-life balance and family support services
- Requires grant recipients to collect and report data on the utilization and effectiveness of their wellness programs
- Authorizes $100 million in annual appropriations for the grant program over a 5-year period

Affected Parties and Impacts: The primary beneficiaries of this bill would be law enforcement officers and their agencies. By providing funding and resources for comprehensive wellness and mental health support programs, the bill aims to improve officer well-being, reduce burnout and stress-related issues, and ultimately enhance the overall effectiveness and safety of law enforcement services.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations: This bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives and is currently pending further legislative action. If enacted, the Department of Justice would be responsible for establishing the grant program and beginning to accept and review applications from eligible law enforcement agencies.