Sponsors (8)
Introduced September 26, 2025 by Lois Frankel · Last progress September 26, 2025
The bill directs modest federal grants and technical support to reduce falls among older adults—improving safety and local capacity—while imposing costs, eligibility limits, and administrative requirements that may leave some small or under-resourced communities unable to benefit.
Seniors and older adults: will receive home modifications and fall-prevention services (e.g., handrails, smoke detectors) that reduce fall injuries and improve safety at home.
Local fire departments, EMS, and community paramedicine programs: gain predictable multi-year grant funding, technical assistance, and performance metrics to hire/retain staff and build sustained local prevention and emergency-care capacity.
Vulnerable communities (high unemployment or SNAP usage): are prioritized for funding, focusing limited resources on areas with demonstrated need.
Small, low‑income, or under-resourced local governments and tribal areas: may be excluded or disadvantaged by eligibility rules (e.g., 80% budget cut rule) and matching/non‑supplanting requirements, reducing equitable access to grants.
Taxpayers: will fund the program at an authorized level of roughly $1 million to $7 million annually, increasing federal spending.
Seniors and communities: program reach may be limited because authorized funding levels are modest, restricting the number of beneficiaries and geographic coverage.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Creates a FEMA grant program to fund fire department‑led home safety and fall‑prevention activities for older adults, including home modifications, devices, smoke alarms, medication reviews, and personnel costs.
Creates a competitive three-year FEMA grant program that funds fire department–led home-safety and fall-prevention programs for older adults. Grants may cover up to 75% of project costs in each of the first two years and 35% in the third year, and can pay for home modifications, smoke-detector work, home-access devices, medication reviews, outreach/referrals, and compensation for community paramedicine personnel. FEMA may provide technical assistance, give preference to applications with larger non‑Federal matches, and requires applicants to document need and plans to sustain activities after federal support ends. Funds may not supplant existing State, local, or Bureau of Indian Affairs funding and must increase support above baseline levels.