Volunteer First Responder Housing Act

Andrew R. Garbarino

Republican · NY · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

1 cosponsor on record at Congress.gov. The named list is syncing into Govwatch and will appear here shortly — view on Congress.gov in the meantime.

Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

2026-05-13

Source: Congress.gov

The proposal would make it easier for volunteer firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and other volunteer first responders to qualify for federal housing assistance programs by expanding who is considered eligible. Currently, many housing programs prioritize paid professionals, so this change would help volunteer responders—who often work without pay to protect their communities—access loans, grants, or other housing support. The measure recognizes that volunteer first responders frequently struggle financially because they don't receive regular paychecks, making homeownership or stable housing harder to achieve.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8789 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8789 To expand eligibility for certain housing programs for qualified volunteer first responders. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 13, 2026 Mr. Garbarino introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To expand eligibility for certain housing programs for qualified volunteer first responders. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Volunteer First Responder Housing Act''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Bona fide volunteer; eligible employer; qualified services.--The terms ``bona fide volunteer'', ``eligible employer'', and ``qualified services'' have the meanings given those terms in section 457(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the meaning given the term ``Indian tribe'' in section 501(b) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471(b)). (3) Qualified volunteer first responder.--The term ``qualified volunteer first responder'' means any individual who-- (A) is a bona fide volunteer performing qualified services for an eligible employer; (B) continuously served as a volunteer for the eligible employer during the 2-year period preceding the date on which the individual submits a verification letter under section 3(b) or 4(b); (C) during each of the 2 years described in subparagraph (B)-- (i) met the minimum requirements for active membership established by the eligible employer; or (ii) if the eligible employer did not establish minimum requirements, volunteered for not less than 200 hours; and (D) is certified as a firefighter or other first responder in the State, political subdivision of a State, or jurisdiction of an Indian Tribe in which the individual is serving as volunteer. SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING GUARANTEED LOAN PROGRAM. (a) In General.--A qualified volunteer first responder who submits to the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') a verification letter in accordance with subsection (b) shall be eligible for a deduction in annual income under section 3555.152(c) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation), in the amount of $18,000. (b) Verification Letter.--To be eligible for a deduction under subsection (a), a qualified volunteer first responder shall submit to the Secretary a verification letter from the head of the eligible employer for which the qualified volunteer first responder volunteers, which shall-- (1) include the date on which the qualified volunteer first responder joined the eligible employer as a volunteer; (2) attest to the Secretary that the qualified volunteer first responder meets the requirements under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 2(3); and (3) include a copy of the certification described in section 2(3)(D). SEC. 4. GOOD NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR SALES PROGRAM AND SIMILAR PROGRAMS. (a) Eligibility.--A qualified volunteer first responder who submits to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') a verification letter in accordance with subsection (b) shall qualify as a firefighter or emergency medical technician for purposes of any single family property disposition program carried out by the Secretary by regulation under section 204(g) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1710(g)) that offers discounted home prices to firefighters or emergency medical technicians. (b) Verification Letter.--To qualify to purchase a home under a single family property disposition program referred to in subsection (a), a qualified first responder shall submit to the Secretary a verification letter from the head of the eligible employer for which…

the qualified volunteer first responder volunteers, which shall-- (1) include the date on which the qualified volunteer first responder joined the eligible employer as a volunteer; (2) attest to the Secretary that the qualified volunteer first responder meets the requirements under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 2(3); (3) include a copy of the certification described in section 2(3)(D); and (4) include a certification from the qualified volunteer first responder of the responder's good faith intention to continue serving as a volunteer for the eligible employer for not less than 1 year following the date of closing. <all>

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