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H.R. 10116House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Lifeline for First Responders Act

Sponsored by Andrea SalinasRep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR)
Introduced August 17, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated August 19, 2026 at 4:52 AM UTC

The Lifeline for First Responders Act creates a new grant program to help emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and other first responders with mental‑health, stress, family, and suicide‑prevention needs. The program is run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Emergency Medical Services and would provide funding to eligible fire services, EMS agencies, and dispatch centers. It would allocate $7.5 million each year from FY 2028 through FY 2032.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary, via the NHTSA Administrator, must establish the EMS and First Responder Wellness Grant Program.
  • Eligible grant recipients are federal, state, tribal, or local fire services that provide EMS, EMS agencies, and dispatch centers.
  • Grants can be used for evidence‑based stress‑reduction and mental‑health services, suicide‑prevention and post‑vention, confidential counseling and peer support, family support for spouses and children, and outreach/education to reduce stigma.
  • The program is authorized $7.5 million in appropriations for each fiscal year from 2028 to 2032.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

August 17, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

August 17, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

August 17, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued August 17, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10116

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

August 17, 2026

Ms. Salinas (for herself, Mr. Evans of Colorado, Ms. Davids of Kansas, and Mr. Kean) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To amend title 23, United States Code, to establish an EMS and First Responder Wellness Grant Program, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Lifeline for First Responders Act.

2.

EMS and First Responder Wellness Grant Program

(a)

In general

Chapter 4 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 408 the following:

409.

EMS and First Responder Wellness Grant Program

(a)

Establishment

The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, shall establish a grant program, to be known as the EMS and First Responder Wellness Grant Program (referred to in this section as the Program), to support first responder mental health, stress reduction, family services, and suicide prevention.

(b)

Placement

The Program shall be carried out through the Office of Emergency Medical Services of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

(c)

Eligible entities

An entity eligible to receive a grant under the Program is—

(1)

a Federal, State, Tribal, or local fire service that supplies emergency medical services;

(2)

an emergency medical services agency; and

(3)

a dispatch center.

(d)

Authorized uses

A grant provided under the Program may be used for—

(1)

evidence-based stress reduction and mental health services;

(2)

suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention services;

(3)

confidential counseling, peer support, and behavioral health services;

(4)

family support services for spouses and children; and

(5)

outreach, stigma reduction, education, training, and technical assistance.

(e)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Program $7,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2028 through 2032.

.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The analysis for chapter 4 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 408 the following:

409. EMS and First Responder Wellness Grant Program.

.