The firefighters and paramedics who respond to emergencies across Tigard, Tualatin and Durham could tap new federal funding for mental health support under a bill announced Monday, Aug. 17, at a Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue station near Lake Oswego.

U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, a Tigard Democrat in her second term representing Oregon's 6th Congressional District, introduced the Lifeline for First Responders Act alongside TVF&R leaders.

The bill would create a $7.5 million-per-year federal grant program for suicide prevention, peer counseling and family support services for firefighters, EMS workers and dispatchers nationwide.

TVF&R Deputy Chief of Strategic Services Patrick Fale said at the Aug. 17 announcement that first responders at the district experience roughly 500 traumatic events over a 30-year career. He said leaders need to put resources in place to ensure responders stay resilient throughout those decades.

"We're really good at showing up when the tones go off, but we're not good at asking for help when we need it," Lt. Erik Peterson said. Peterson said serving the community often comes at the expense of his own mental health and contributes to strained family relationships, a pattern he said many peers share.

Salinas said she was inspired by TVF&R, which already runs its own mental health program, and that the federal money could help fire districts that lack the resources to build one. TVF&R, the largest fire district in Oregon, serves more than 550,000 residents across 28 stations including those covering Tigard, Tualatin and Durham.

The bill is slated for inclusion in the Transportation Reauthorization Bill, which had not yet passed the House as of Tuesday, Aug. 18. No floor vote date has been announced.