June 26 (legislative day, June 24), 2025
Mr. Gallego introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
To establish a law enforcement grant program to help law enforcement agencies respond to rapid increases in the arrival or presence of aliens who have recently entered the United States, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the First Responders Emergency Assistance Act
.
Sec. 2. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Administrator
The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees
The term appropriate congressional committees means—
(A)
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(B)
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
(C)
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
(D)
the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives.
(3) Eligible entity
The term eligible entity means—
(A)
a State, Tribal, territorial, or local law enforcement agency;
(B)
an emergency operations center; or
(C)
another State, Tribal, territorial, or local first responder agency.
(4) Emergency operation center
The term emergency operation center means a physical or virtual location from which leaders of a jurisdiction or organization coordinate and provide policy direction related to an emergency, including—
(A)
coordinating information and resources to support resource needs and requests, including allocation and tracking;
(B)
collecting, analyzing, and sharing information; and
(C)
coordinating plans and determining current and future needs.
(5) Firefighter
The term firefighter has the meaning given the term employee in fire protection activities under section 3(y) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203(y)).
(6) First responder
The term first responder includes a firefighter, law enforcement officer, paramedic, emergency medical technician, or other individual (including an employee of a legally organized and recognized volunteer organization, whether or not compensated), who—
(A)
in the course of his or her professional duties, responds to fire, medical, hazardous material, or similar emergencies; and
(B)
is an employee of a State, Indian Tribe, or unit of local government.
(7) Indian tribe
The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given such term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304(e)).
(8) Law enforcement officer
The term law enforcement officer means an employee of a governmental or public agency who is authorized by law—
(A)
to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, or investigation of any criminal violation of law; or
(B)
to engage in or supervise the detention or incarceration of any person for any criminal violation of law.
(9) Recently
The term recently means during the 4-year period immediately preceding the public release of a Notice of Funding Opportunity.
(10) State
The term State means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
(11) Unit of local government
The term unit of local government means any city, county, township, town, borough, parish village, special district, fire authority, county improvement district, or other general purpose political subdivision of a State, and any entity jointly created by 2 or more public employers.
Sec. 3. First responders grant program
(a) Authorization
The Administrator may award grants to eligible entities for the purpose of funding direct costs associated with responding to a substantial and rapid increase in the arrival or presence of aliens who have recently entered the United States.
(b) Permitted uses
Funds received under the grant program authorized by this section may be used by an eligible entity for—
(1)
equipment, including maintenance and sustainment costs;
(2)
allowable and approved personnel costs, including salaries, overtime pay, fringe benefits, and backfill positions for law enforcement and first responder personnel; and
(3)
any other appropriate activity or cost that was incurred in the eligible entity’s jurisdiction, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security, to respond directly to a substantial and rapid increase in the arrival or presence of aliens who have recently entered the United States.
(c) Geographic distribution
The Administrator shall award not less than 25 percent of the funds appropriated for grants under this section to eligible entities located in States that share a border with Canada or with Mexico.
(d) Collection of information
For each fiscal year during which grants are awarded pursuant to this section that begins on or after the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall separately collect and maintain financial information with respect to grants awarded under this section, including—
(1)
the amount of such awards;
(2)
the amount obligated for such awards;
(3)
the amount of outlays expended for such awards;
(4)
financial plans with respect to the use of such awards;
(5)
any funding transfers or reallocations related to such awards; and
(6)
any adjustments to spending plans or reprogramming related to such awards.
(e) Administrator oversight
(1) Guidelines
The Administrator shall establish and implement guidelines that—
(A)
ensure amounts made available for grants under this section are used in accordance with grant guidance and applicable laws;
(B)
increase the proportion of each grant made under this section that is used for operational expenses by the ultimate grantee;
(C)
improve program performance reporting and program performance measurements to facilitate designing, implementing, and enforcing procedures under this section; and
(D)
require the recording of standardized performance data regarding program output.
(2) Submission
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit the guidelines established pursuant to paragraph (1) to the appropriate congressional committees.
(f) Reports and briefings
During the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in coordination with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Director of U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement, shall submit an annual report and provide an annual briefing to the appropriate congressional committees that includes, for the period covered by each such report—
(1)
information regarding how each recipient of grant funds under this section expended amounts received under such grant;
(2)
information regarding the nature of operations carried out using such grant funds; and
(3)
with respect to the first report submitted pursuant to this subsection—
(A)
an examination of the effects that changing the grant program established under this section to award multi-year grants would have on its mission; and
(B)
any findings and recommendations regarding changes that could improve the grant program, which may include feedback from grant recipients.
Sec. 4. Authorization of appropriations
(a) In general
There are authorized to be appropriated such amounts as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
(b) Limitation
Amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) may not be expended to reimburse eligible entities for costs relating to the enforcement of Federal immigration laws.