Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act of 2004

H.R. 3266, the Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act of 2004, seeks to reform how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) distributes anti-terrorism grants to state and local governments. The bill shifts the funding model to prioritize "risk-based" allocations, meaning money is directed toward communities and infrastructure facing the highest threats of attack rather than being distributed primarily based on population size.

For citizens, this legislation aims to ensure that local police, fire, and emergency medical services have the specific equipment and training needed to handle modern threats, such as biological or cyberattacks. It requires states to pass at least 80 percent of federal grant funds down to local first responders within 45 days to ensure resources reach the front lines quickly. Additionally, the bill directs DHS to provide more specific, regionalized terror threat warnings to the public and creates a program to help high-risk nonprofit organizations and community centers secure their facilities against potential attacks.