This bill creates a new federal grant program called the EMS and First Responder Wellness Grant Program to support the mental health and wellbeing of emergency medical service workers, firefighters, and other first responders. The program, administered through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will distribute grants to fire departments, EMS agencies, and emergency dispatch centers to fund mental health services, suicide prevention programs, peer support, confidential counseling, and family support services for first responders and their families. The bill also authorizes spending of 7.5 million dollars annually from fiscal year 2028 through 2032 to support these wellness initiatives. The legislation is sponsored by a bipartisan group of senators and addresses the growing mental health crisis among first responders who face significant occupational stress and trauma.
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