First Responders Emergency Assistance Act

This bill sets up a federal grant program to help police, firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders handle sudden spikes in the number of people who have recently entered the U.S. Grants can pay for gear, upkeep, and staff costs like salaries and overtime, plus filling in for workers pulled to emergency duty. Money can also cover other direct costs tied to these spikes, as approved by the Department of Homeland Security. At least one-quarter of the funds must go to agencies in states that border Canada or Mexico. The program bars using the money to reimburse costs for enforcing federal immigration laws. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will set rules, track spending, and report each year for five years on how funds were used. “Recently” generally means within the last four years from when a funding notice is posted.

FEMA must also improve performance measures and collect detailed financial data on awards, obligations, and spending to ensure funds are used as intended. Annual reports will include what operations were funded and explore whether multi-year grants would help. Congress may provide whatever funding is needed to run the program.

• Who is affected: State, local, and Tribal first responder agencies, including law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs.
• What changes: New grants for equipment and personnel costs to manage rapid increases in recent arrivals; at least 25% of funds go to northern and southern border states; funds cannot reimburse immigration enforcement.
• When: Ongoing after enactment, with yearly reporting for five years; “recently” means within the past four years of a funding notice.