King Introduces Legislation Supporting Fire Departments and Boosting Community Home Safety Standards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing a key piece of legislation that would support fire departments responding to in-home emergencies. More specifically, the FASTER Act would fund grants to support fire department safety visits, simple home modifications like grab bars, and connections to lifesaving community resources.

The legislation is being introduced during the annual Falls Prevention Awareness Week and would empower local fire departments to initiate a program where seniors could sign up to get lock boxes installed (local FD had the master key) so Emergency Medical Services (EMS) don't have to knock down their door to get inside to respond to an emergency. While at the senior's home installing the lock box, the fire department staff could also evaluate the home for fall hazards and suggest minor home modifications.

On a percentage basis, Maine leads the nation with the largest 65 and older population. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury for adults ages 65 years and older. There are roughly 1 million fall-related hospitalizes and 3 million emergency department visits annually across the country due to falls.

"We all know the saying 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,' and preventative care is a win-win for Maine patients, families and the taxpayers," said Senator King. "The FASTER Act is a critical step forward in supporting older Maine people and making sure that fire departments have the tools and resources to respond to in-home emergencies promptly while avoiding costly complications. Tools like lock boxes, grab bars or handrails can be the difference between a simple installation and an avoidable injury, while reducing time-consuming delays for responders. This is just another effort we are making in the Congress to help Maine people-and all older Americans-to stand strong."

Preventing falls is also about enabling adults to age comfortably in their homes, which is where most Americans want to age. At a time of affordability challenges and when inflation continues to rise, preventing falls is also cost saver for the average American and the taxpayers, with a private nursing home room cost now averaging more than $120,000 per year.

More specifically, the FASTER Act would:

• Require the Administrator of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make three-year grants to fire departments to implement fall prevention programs.
• Grants would be used for the following:
• • To procure and install lock boxes accessible by emergency personnel for seniors in need of assistance;
  • Minor home modifications to reduce fall risks, including flattening of rugs, removal of tripping hazards, and installation of hand rails and grab bars;
  • Other health and safety tasks, including installing and replacing smoke detectors and batteries, risk assessment and reconciliation of medications, and referral to falls prevention classes.
• The bill would authorize the program for ten years, with $1 million for the first three years and increasing incrementally up to $7 million for the final year.

"As more older Americans live in their own homes, timely access by fire departments and EMS in the event of a fall can mean the difference between life and death," said Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO of the National Council on Aging. "We are grateful to Senator King for his continued bipartisan, bicameral efforts to advance falls prevention strategies by introducing the Senate version of the FASTER Act during Falls Prevention Awareness Week 2026."

According to a 2024 report from the National Institute of Health, Medicare spent over $50 billion dollars on direct medical expenses related to falls - with the average fall-related injury costing about $20,000.

As an extension of his longtime focus on prevention efforts, Senator King has been leading the charge in the falls prevention space on cost-effective solutions like bathmats. Senator King introduced the 'Stand Strong' legislative package, which included the Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act that would require the development of a National Falls Prevention Plan. The package also included the Preventive Home Visits Act, which would provide Medicare coverage for qualified care providers to assess the safety of seniors' homes, and the Wellness and Education for Longer Lives (WELL) for Seniors Act, which would improve Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit to encourage seniors and their physicians to work together and confront health issues before they become more serious.

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