Summary#
This bill creates the "EMS and First Responder Wellness Grant Program." The program would be run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through its Office of Emergency Medical Services. It would give grants to fire services that provide emergency medical services, EMS agencies, and dispatch centers. Grants may pay for evidence-based stress reduction and mental health services; suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention; confidential counseling, peer support, and behavioral health services; family support for spouses and children; and outreach, stigma reduction, education, training, and technical assistance. The bill adds a new section (section 409) to chapter 4 of title 23 and authorizes $7,500,000 for each fiscal year from 2028 through 2032. The bill was introduced in the Senate on June 17, 2026, and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
What it means for you#
- If you work for an eligible fire service, EMS agency, or dispatch center, your organization could apply for grants to pay for mental health and family support services listed in the bill.
- If you are a first responder or a family member, these grants could lead to more local services for counseling, peer support, and suicide prevention if your area receives funding.
- The bill does not describe application rules, grant amounts, or timelines beyond the authorized funding years.
Expenses#
- The bill authorizes $7,500,000 to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, and 2032.
- No publicly available information in the bill text about how funds would be allocated, matched, or administered beyond the program description and annual authorization amounts.
Proponents' View#
- The bill text lists the senators who introduced it. No publicly available information in the bill text about supporters' detailed statements, goals, or expected outcomes.
Opponents' View#
- No publicly available information in the bill text about objections, criticisms, or opponents' statements.