S. 2200 — First Responders Emergency Assistance Act

This section defines 11 terms for purposes of the Act, including (1) Administrator as the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; (2) appropriate congressional committees as the Senate and House Appropriations Committees and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and House Homeland Security Committee; (3) eligible entity as a State, Tribal, territorial, or local law enforcement agency, emergency operations center, or other first responder agency; (4) first responder as a firefighter, law enforcement officer, paramedic, emergency medical technician, or similar individual employed by a State, Indian Tribe, or unit of local government who responds to fire, medical, hazardous material, or similar emergencies; (5) Indian Tribe as defined in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304(e)); and (6) State as any state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

This section establishes a grant program authorizing the Administrator to award funds to eligible entities for direct costs of responding to a substantial and rapid increase in the arrival or presence of aliens who have recently entered the United States. Permitted uses include (1) equipment, including maintenance and sustainment; (2) personnel costs such as salaries, overtime, fringe benefits, and backfill for law enforcement and first responders; and (3) other costs determined appropriate by the Secretary of Homeland Security. At least 25% of funds must be awarded to eligible entities in states bordering Canada or Mexico. The section further requires the Administrator, for each fiscal year beginning 30 days after enactment, to collect financial information on awards, obligations, outlays, plans, transfers, and adjustments; to issue guidelines within 90 days of enactment ensuring proper use, prioritizing operational expenses, improving performance reporting, and standardizing data; and, for five years after enactment, to submit annual reports and briefings to the appropriate congressional committees on fund expenditures, operations, and—for the first report—the effects of multi-year grants plus program improvement recommendations.

This section authorizes appropriations of such amounts as may be necessary to carry out the Act. It prohibits the use of appropriated funds to reimburse eligible entities for costs relating to the enforcement of federal immigration laws.