[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2077 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2077

 To make grants to States to improve public safety in order to prepare 
                 for and respond to terrorist threats.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 9, 2002

  Ms. Collins introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
       referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To make grants to States to improve public safety in order to prepare 
                 for and respond to terrorist threats.

    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 ``Securing Our States Act of 2002'' or 
the ``SOS Act''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency (referred to in this Act as the ``Director'') shall make grants 
to States to improve public safety in order to prepare for and respond 
to terrorist threats.
    (b) Consultation.--The Director shall consult with the Office of 
Homeland Security and any other Federal agency, as appropriate, when 
making a grant under this Act.

SEC. 3. AMOUNT OF GRANT.

    (a) In General.--Each State shall receive a percentage of the total 
amount awarded under this Act equal to the proportion of the population 
of that State to the total population of the United States, as 
determined by the most recent census.
    (b) Distribution.--Not less than 75 percent of the funds 
distributed to each State under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) be distributed on a per capita basis to units of local 
        government, or a combination of units of local government; and
            (2) be adjusted to reflect assessments of greatest need as 
        determined by the Governor of each State.

SEC. 4. USE OF FUNDS.

    Grants made under this Act shall be used to--
            (1) fund additional law enforcement, fire, emergency 
        medical, and border security resources, including supplies, 
        equipment, and training;
            (2) purchase and refurbish personal protective equipment 
        for fire, police, and emergency personnel, and to acquire 
        technology to improve communication systems;
            (3) improve protection of critical infrastructure, 
        including--
                    (A) water treatment plants, distribution systems, 
                and other water infrastructure;
                    (B) nuclear power plants and other power 
                infrastructure;
                    (C) tunnels and bridges;
                    (D) oil and gas pipelines and storage facilities;
                    (E) sea and other waterway port security (including 
                fire and other preventive and response resources); and
                    (F) transportation of hazardous substances;
            (4) assist State and local emergency planning organizations 
        so that public agencies can design, review, and improve 
        disaster response systems;
            (5) assist States and localities in coordinating their 
        efforts and sharing information with all relevant agencies 
        involved in preventing or responding to terrorist attacks;
            (6) establish timely notification systems that enable 
        States and localities to communicate with each other and the 
        Federal government in order to prepare for and respond to a 
        terrorist threat; and
            (7) improve communication systems to provide information to 
        the public in a timely manner about the facts of any threat and 
        the precautions the public should take.

SEC. 5. APPLICATION AND PLAN.

    (a) Application.--Each State that desires a grant under this Act 
shall submit an application to the Director at such time and in such 
manner as the Director may reasonably require.
    (b) Plan.--Each State application submitted under subsection (a) 
shall include a plan that demonstrates--
            (1) how the funds shall be--
                    (A) distributed to a unit of local government or a 
                combination of units of local government; or
                    (B) expended by that State; and
            (2) how that State, unit of local government, or 
        combination of units of local government will improve public 
        safety in order to prepare for and respond to terrorist 
        threats.

SEC. 6. INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION.

    States and units of local government may enter into agreements or 
compacts with and among other States and units of local government in 
order to apply for funding distributed under this Act.

SEC. 7. PERFORMANCE AND REVIEW.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 9 months after the date on which a 
State or unit of local government receives a grant under this Act, the 
State shall report to the Director regarding any improvements made in 
public security as a result of the grants received under this Act.
    (b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 15 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall--
            (1) report to Congress on the improvements made in homeland 
        defense as a result of this Act; and
            (2) propose recommendations for any amendments to this Act.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated--
            (1) $4,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2003; and
            (2) such sums as necessary for each fiscal year thereafter.
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