First Responders’ Equipment Access Act

The First Responders' Equipment Access Act would direct the Environmental Protection Agency to revise its regulations to allow manufacturers to request exemptions from emission standards for engines and equipment intended for use by law enforcement, fire response, emergency medical services, disaster relief, and search and rescue agencies. The bill would enable federal, state, and local emergency agencies to obtain equipment with engines that do not meet standard EPA emission requirements when those engines are needed for national security and emergency response purposes. This would streamline the process for first responders to access specialized equipment by removing regulatory barriers that might otherwise prevent the use of certain engines or equipment in emergency situations.