This bipartisan effort would make long-overdue investments in mental health services for first responders and make sure they know they don’t have to struggle in silence
Create and fund a federal grant program for mental health and wellness services for firefighters, EMS personnel, and 911 dispatchers.
Occurrences
Evidence
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H.R. 10116 was introduced by Rep. Andrea Salinas for herself, Rep. Gabe Evans, Rep. Sharice Davids, and Rep. Thomas Kean, and referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill would establish an EMS and First Responder Wellness Grant Program and authorize $7,500,000 annually for fiscal years 2028 through 2032.
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Rep. Kean's office said the Lifeline for First Responders Act was introduced with Reps. Salinas, Evans, and Sharice Davids. The release says it would create the first federal grant program dedicated to mental health care for firefighters, paramedics, and dispatchers, authorize $7.5 million per year through FY2032, and fund counseling, peer support, suicide prevention, family support, outreach, training, and technical assistance.
Assessments
Davids materially advanced matching federal legislation as an original cosponsor of H.R. 10116, which would create and authorize funding for an EMS and First Responder Wellness Grant Program covering firefighters, EMS personnel, and dispatchers. But the bill has only been introduced and referred to committee as of September 1, 2026; the grant program has not been enacted or funded. This supports effort credit but not fulfillment yet.