The Washington Update – January 23

Congress Considers Legislation to Keep Federal Government Open, Fund DHS, DOD, and HHS

On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 (H.R. 7148) and the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2026 (H.R. 7147). These bills complete a set of bills to fund the government for FY2026. The bills now head to the Senate, where they are expected to be considered next week.

H.R. 7147 includes funding for fire service programs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The bill proposes the following funding levels for fire service programs at DHS:

In Millions ($)

The Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the bill includes:

• $15,168,000 to support enhanced equipment for Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces;
• $500,000 for the development of a National Fire Data Corps to support fire and emergency services in their adoption and use of the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS);
• $3,000,000 to support FIFA World Cup and America250 events;
• $5,000,000 in support of USFA's user training on NERIS, including training on reporting lithium-ion battery-related fires;
• $5,000,000 for NERIS modernization; and
• $5,000,000 for UAS training efforts and directs FEMA to collaborate with the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Center of Excellence for UAS and other subject matter experts to build a federated ecosystem to teach, train, educate, certify, and credential first responders to employ UAS skills during emergency management events.

The bill would not allow the Trump Administration to pause a training or grant funded under the heading ‘‘Federal Emergency Management Agency—Federal Assistance,” which includes the U.S. Fire Administration, National Fire Academy, and AFG and SAFER programs. In addition, the accompanying Joint Explanatory Statement would not allow the Trump Administration to close, eliminate, or consolidate its regional offices in a manner that violates current statute. It would also not allow FEMA to implement an elimination or reorganization plan for FEMA, or any proposal that would inhibit the agency's performance of its functions and activities, without an act of Congress permitting such measures.

The bill also would allow the FEMA Administrator to waive requirements for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program (including the Fire Prevention and Safety grants) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. In addition, the Joint Explanatory Statement directs FEMA to review the AFG and SAFER grant programs and identify potential improvements to improve rural fire departments. Within 270 days of the date of enactment of this Act, FEMA is directed to brief the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on recommendations to improve access and distribution of AFG and SAFER grants to rural fire departments.

H.R. 7148 includes funding for fire service initiatives in the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Within the Department of Labor, fire service priorities within NIOSH remain largely unchanged. The National Firefighter Registry for Cancer received an additional $1.5 million, bringing the total to $6.5 million. The Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program and the National Personal Protective Technology Lab remain unchanged.

Within the Department of Health and Human Services, the SIREN Grant Program for rural EMS initiatives received $15.5 million for FY2026. The Medicare add-on payments for ground ambulance transport were included in H.R.7148. The add-on rates remain at the current rates and are extended through January 1, 2028.