Bill · S. 2200· Senate(119-S-2200)
First Responders Emergency Assistance Act
- Introduced
- 6/26/2025
- Last activity
- 6/26/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- Ruben Gallego
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The First Responders Emergency Assistance Act establishes a grant program managed by the FEMA Administrator. These grants are intended to help law enforcement agencies and first responders deal with the direct costs of a rapid increase in the arrival or presence of aliens who have recently entered the United States. Eligible entities can use funds for equipment, maintenance, and personnel costs such as salaries and overtime. The law requires that at least 25 percent of these funds go to entities in States that border Canada or Mexico. Additionally, the Administrator must oversee the program through specific guidelines and provide annual reports to Congress.
Yes· 3 of 4
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?+5
The bill empowers FEMA to provide grants to first responders to handle rapid population shifts.
Does this give the federal government more power?+3
The bill expands federal grant authority to support local first responder agencies.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+2
The bill requires annual reporting and financial data collection to Congress.
The opposite
Would immigrants be better off under this?-2
While focused on first responders, the bill's aim is to manage the presence of recently entered aliens.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Financial Support for Local Agencies: The bill allows the Administrator to award grants to cover direct costs like equipment, maintenance, and personnel salaries or overtime (Section 3(a) and s. 3(b)). This could help local agencies manage their resources during sudden population changes.
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Support for Border States: The bill mandates that at least 25 percent of the appropriated funds be awarded to eligible entities in States that share a border with Canada or Mexico (Section 3(c)). This ensures that these specific geographic areas receive significant portions of the funding.
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Flexibility for Local Needs: Funds can be used for any other appropriate activity or cost incurred in a jurisdiction to respond to the increase in arrivals, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security (Section 3(b)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Restrictions on Funding Use: Even though the grants are for responding to arrivals, the funds may not be used to reimburse eligible entities for costs related to the enforcement of Federal immigration laws (Section 4(b)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Disaster Relief And F E M A+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+3Improves Government Transparency+2
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+2Good For Immigrants-2
- 6/26/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Introduced in Senate