WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the second anniversary of Federal Correctional Officer Blake Schwarz’s death by suicide, an Iowa congresswoman has reintroduced a significant bill aimed at combating the ongoing mental health crisis among correctional officers.
US Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-1) introduced H.R. 2305, the Correctional Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2025, named in honor of Officer Schwarz, a graduate of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Academy who served at Thomson Federal Prison. His death brought national attention to the often-overlooked mental health challenges faced by federal correctional staff.
“I’ve met with Blake’s widow, visited the Thomson facilities he worked at, and spoken directly with officers who are carrying the weight of this job without the mental health support they need,” said Miller-Meeks. “Two years ago today, Blake’s life was cut short. His story is a painful reminder that we must do better."
She added that the "bill takes action to get corrections officers the resources they deserve, break the stigma around mental health, and prevent future tragedies.”
Miller-Meeks first introduced this legislation as H.R. 9929 in the 118th Congress. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) is an original cosponsor of the bill.
The proposed legislation outlines measures to expand mental health services, provide confidential care options, implement suicide prevention programs, and initiate efforts to reduce stigma surrounding mental health treatment within federal correctional facilities.
Michelle Schwarz, Officer Schwarz’s widow, publicly endorsed the legislation, emphasizing the need for change and expressing hope for the future impact on correctional officers and their families. “Statistics are just the numbers with the tears washed away,” said Schwarz.
“Unfortunately, my husband is a statistic now, but he’s not just a statistic, he was a father, he was a husband. I want there to be no one else that goes through this, and I want everyone to be able to go home to their sons and daughters and never have to feel like there is no way out.”
Recent data highlights the urgency of the issue, showing suicide rates among correctional officers in some regions reaching up to seven times the national average. Thomson Prison, where Officer Schwarz worked, has reported multiple staff suicide attempts amid difficult working conditions, including mandatory overtime and limited mental health resources.
Advocates and union leaders have voiced strong support for the bill, calling for immediate congressional action to safeguard the well-being of correctional officers and promote prison safety and stability.
The AFGE union endorsed the bill, with the union’s president highlighting the elevated risks corrections officers face.
“Federal correctional officers work in some of the most dangerous and violent places imaginable and, as a result, are at increased risk for developing depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidality as compared to those in other professions,” national president Everett Kelley said