September is National Falls Prevention Awareness Month, and Reps. Lois Frankel (D-FL-22), Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), and Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) are marking it by introducing the bipartisan FASTER Act—a bill to keep older adults safe at home by funding fire department safety visits, simple upgrades like grab bars, and connections to lifesaving community resources.
 
“Falls send 3 million older Americans to the ER every year, cause 41,000 preventable deaths, and drive $80 billion in health care costs—most of it paid by Medicare and Medicaid,” said Rep. Frankel. “Behind every one of those numbers is a grandmother, grandfather, parent, or neighbor whose independence is shattered. The FASTER Act is about saving lives, protecting families, and cutting billions in preventable costs by making simple, commonsense changes to keep seniors safe in their homes.”

“As more Americans are able to stay in their own homes as they age, fire departments and EMS are frequently the first responders when their independence is threatened by a fall,” said Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO of the National Council on Aging. “Congresswoman Frankel should be commended for her continued leadership on falls prevention by proposing the FASTER Act to support firefighters’ proactive approach to making homes safer and ensuring timely access in an emergency that could mean the difference between life and death.”
 
Alongside the FASTER Act, Rep. Frankel introduced a bipartisan resolution designating September 22–28, 2025 as National Falls Prevention Awareness Week. Earlier this year, she also cosponsored the SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act to help older Veterans avoid dangerous and costly falls. This effort follows Rep. Frankel's collaboration with the Palm Beach County Health District on a major fall prevention program.
 
The FASTER Act is cosponsored by Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Glenn Thompson (R-PA-15). It is endorsed by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the National Council on Aging (NCOA).