A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "First Responders' Equipment Access Act," directs the EPA Administrator to amend specific regulations. The changes focus on exemptions for engines and equipment related to national security. It allows manufacturers to request these exemptions for equipment used by various government agencies. These agencies include those providing law enforcement, disaster relief, search and rescue, fire response, or emergency medical services. Additionally, it allows federal defense and homeland security agencies to endorse these requests. Finally, it removes the requirement to specify exact quantities when requesting or endorsing an exemption.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +3
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
The bill enables easier procurement of critical equipment for disaster relief through federal endorsements.
- Scored +2
Is this likely to create jobs?
Streamlining equipment exemptions for manufacturers may facilitate production and distribution for first responders.
- Scored +2
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill reduces regulatory burdens for manufacturers by removing the requirement to specify exact quantities in exemption requests.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill creates more paths for exemptions from engine regulations, which may reduce the strictness of environmental oversight for certain equipment.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Expanded Access for Emergency Services: Manufacturers can request national security exemptions for engines or equipment used by Federal, State, or local agencies for law enforcement, disaster relief, search and rescue, fire response, or emergency medical services (Section 2(1)(A)). This could benefit the public by ensuring first responders have the necessary equipment for critical tasks.
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Streamlined Endorsement Process: Federal agencies responsible for national defense and the Department of Homeland Security, including FEMA, can endorse these exemption requests (Section 2(1)(B)). This provides a formal way for high-level agencies to support the needs of emergency responders.
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Increased Flexibility in Requests: The new regulations would not require a request or an endorsement to specify a certain quantity of engines or equipment to receive an exemption (Section 2(2)). This could make it easier and faster to secure equipment when specific numbers are not immediately certain.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the text provided.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill reduces regulatory burdens for manufacturers by removing the requirement to specify exact quantities in exemption requests. Is this likely to create jobs? — Streamlining equipment exemptions for manufacturers may facilitate production and distribution for first responders.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Improved response capabilities for emergency services can benefit rural populations during crises. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Improved response capabilities for emergency services can benefit urban populations during crises.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill grants federal defense and homeland security agencies the power to endorse engine and equipment exemptions.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill facilitates access to equipment used for emergency medical services.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill enables easier procurement of critical equipment for disaster relief through federal endorsements. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill creates more paths for exemptions from engine regulations, which may reduce the strictness of environmental oversight for certain equipment.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill's focus on national security and first responders indirectly supports the safety and infrastructure relevant to those serving the nation.
- 3/19/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House