Collins statement on markup of H.R. 2368

“If enacted, the STOIC Act would expand the statutory language of pre-existing family-support grant programs to ensure that they support suicide-prevention efforts, mental-health screenings, and training to identify officers who are at risk for suicide.”

WASHINGTON — Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, made the following opening statement at today’s markup of H.R.2368, the Supporting and Treating Officers in Crisis (STOIC) Act of 2019. Below are the remarks as prepared. Ranking Member Collins: Mr. Chairman, thank you for bringing before us today H.R. 2368 — the Supporting and Treating Officers In Crisis Act of 2019. This bipartisan and bicameral measure is long overdue and should be passed by this body and sent to the president’s desk for signature. In 2018, at least 159 officers died by suicide, almost 10 percent more than the total number of line-of-duty deaths resulting from 15 other causes such as felonious assault, patrol vehicle accident, heart attack and duty-related illness among others. If enacted, the STOIC Act would expand the statutory language of pre-existing family-support grant programs to ensure that they support suicide-prevention efforts, mental-health screenings and training to identify officers who are at risk for suicide. It would also appropriate $7.5 million annually for the next five years to these programs, Unfortunately, these programs have gone unfunded for nearly two decades. The numbers I mentioned earlier indicate that trend needs to end, and end now. An identical bill unanimously passed the Senate last month. This legislation is supported by numerous law enforcement groups. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill, so we may move it expeditiously to the president’s desk.