Lifeline for First Responders Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4819
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-17: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-08T16:52:00Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation establishes a federal grant program to support the mental health, stress reduction, family services, and suicide prevention needs of emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and other first responders.
Key Provisions
- Creates the EMS and First Responder Wellness Grant Program, administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through its Office of Emergency Medical Services.
- Makes the following entities eligible for grants: federal, state, tribal, or local fire services that provide EMS; standalone EMS agencies; and dispatch centers.
- Allows grant funds to be used for evidence-based stress reduction and mental health services, suicide prevention and intervention, confidential counseling and peer support, family support services, and related outreach, education, and training.
- Authorizes $7,500,000 annually for fiscal years 2028 through 2032.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill adds a new Section 409 to Chapter 4 of Title 23 of the United States Code, creating the grant program and updating the chapter’s table of contents. No other sections of existing law are amended or repealed.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Directs NHTSA to manage a new grant program, including application review and oversight.
- Citizens: Provides additional resources for first responders and their families, potentially improving access to mental health support.
- International relations: No provisions affect international relations or foreign entities.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- EMS providers, firefighters who deliver emergency medical services, and dispatch centers at federal, state, tribal, and local levels.
- Spouses and children of first responders.
- NHTSA and the Department of Transportation.
- State, tribal, and local governments that operate or oversee these services.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure relies on Congress’s authority to appropriate funds and does not alter regulatory requirements or create new mandates. It introduces no apparent constitutional issues and remains within standard federal grant-making practices.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Cosponsors (9)
Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-17: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2026-06-17: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Lifeline for First Responders Act — issued 2026-06-17 — PDF (3 pages)