FASTER Act
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would fund firefighter-led programs to _prevent falls among adults 65 and older_ and speed in-home emergency access. It focuses on grants to career, combination, and volunteer fire departments to install safety devices, do minor home fall-proofing, and support community paramedicine services that connect seniors to care and reduce emergency response times.
Show full summary
- Older adults and families would get home safety work like hand rails, rug fixes, smoke detector installation, medication reconciliation, referrals, and lock boxes to help responders get inside quickly.
- Fire departments and community paramedics could use three-year grants to hire or retain staff, buy and install access and health-information devices, and run outreach and education.
- Grants require non-Federal cost sharing with a maximum Federal share of 75% in years 1–2 and 35% in year 3, and FEMA may waive or reduce shares for demonstrated economic hardship.
*Would authorize $28 million in grant funding over fiscal years 2026–2035, increasing federal spending by that amount.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Fire department grants for senior fall safety
If enacted, FEMA would run a competitive grant for local fire departments to help seniors avoid falls at home. Seniors in areas where departments win grants could get help with lock boxes for emergency access, smoke alarms, grab bars and handrails, medication reviews, referrals, and support from community paramedicine staff. Grants would last three years. The Federal share would be up to 75% in years 1–2 and up to 35% in year 3. Funding would be $1 million each year for 2026–2028; $2 million for 2029–2031; $4 million for 2032–2034; and $7 million in 2035. FEMA could use up to 5% each year for admin costs. Funds must add to, not replace, local money, and FEMA could deny applicants whose budgets fell below 80% of their recent three‑year average unless a hardship waiver applies. Applications with higher local match could get priority. The program would start upon enactment and end September 30, 2036.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Cosponsors
Ciscomani
AZ • R
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]
PA • R
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 1/8/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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