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119-s-5466119th CongressWALLET

FASTER Act

Sponsored By: Senator King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]

Introduced

Summary

This bill creates a FEMA grant program to help local fire departments reduce injuries from in-home falls and speed emergency response for adults aged 65 and older. It funds home-safety fixes, community paramedicine staffing, and health-data sharing so firefighters can prevent and respond faster to senior emergencies.

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  • Seniors and households: Funds home modifications and services like grab bars, trip-hazard removal, smoke detector work, lock box installation, medication risk checks, and referrals to education aimed at reducing falls for adults 65 and older.
  • Fire departments and responders: Makes career, combination, and volunteer departments eligible for competitive 3-year grants to hire or fund community paramedicine and allied professionals and to run outreach and safety programs.
  • Accountability and oversight: Requires performance metrics, data submission, GAO audit access, and allows funding suspension for substantial noncompliance; the program sunsets in 2036.

*Authorizes new federal spending of $28 million through FY2035 and allows FEMA to use up to 5% of annual appropriations for administration.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Fire department fall-prevention grants

If enacted, FEMA would run competitive 3-year grants for career, combination, and volunteer fire departments to prevent falls for adults 65 and older. Grants would pay for devices like lock boxes, smoke detector installation and batteries, small home fixes (hand rails, flatten rugs), and staff for community paramedicine, case management, and medication risk assessment. The federal share would be up to 75% in year 1, 75% in year 2, and 35% in year 3. Applicants must explain why they need Federal help and show plans to continue after grants end. Grants may not supplant State or local fire funding, and a recipient is ineligible if its fire budget fell below 80% of the prior three-year average. FEMA would set performance measures, audit grants, can suspend or revoke funds for serious noncompliance, and must report to Congress within two years.

FASTER grant funding schedule

If enacted, the bill would authorize specific yearly funding for the FEMA grant program. It would provide $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028; $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2029, 2030, and 2031; $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2032, 2033, and 2034; and $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2035. FEMA could use up to 5% of each year's amounts for salaries, expenses, and other administrative costs. The program authority would expire on September 30, 2036.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]

ME • I

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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