[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5159 Introduced in House (IH)]




108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5159

 To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to award research and 
   equipment grants, to provide a tax credit for employers who hire 
   temporary workers to replace employees receiving first responder 
training, to provide school-based mental health training, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 28, 2004

  Mr. Rahall introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
   Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on 
     Education and the Workforce, Science, and Transportation and 
   Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to award research and 
   equipment grants, to provide a tax credit for employers who hire 
   temporary workers to replace employees receiving first responder 
training, to provide school-based mental health training, and for other 
                               purposes.

    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 ``Community Security Act''.

SEC. 2. TAX INCENTIVES TO FACILITATE TRAINING OR DISASTER RESPONSE BY 
              INDIVIDUALS SERVING AS VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDERS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Seventy percent of our Nation's firefighters are 
        volunteers, as are many emergency medical service and police 
        personnel.
            (2) States rely heavily on the services of these volunteer 
        first responders.
            (3) Many career first responders begin as volunteers.
            (4) Volunteer first responders need the same preparation 
        and training as career first responders. Advanced training is 
        frequently required before volunteer first responders can be 
        fully integrated in a State homeland security plan.
            (5) The training and duties of volunteer first responders 
        sometimes conflict with their regular employment for 
        significant periods of time, such as in cases of out-of-State 
        training and disaster response. In these cases employers may 
        need to hire temporary replacement workers on incur other 
        related costs while the volunteer responders are away from 
        work. The burden of temporarily replacing these employees is 
        particularly great for small and single-employer businesses.
    (b) Volunteer First Responder Credit.--
            (1) In general.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of 
        chapter 1 (relating to business-related credits), as amended by 
        this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 45G. CREDIT TO EMPLOYERS OF VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDERS.

    ``(a) General Rule.--For purposes of section 38, the volunteer 
first responder employee credit is an amount equal to 50 percent of the 
sum of--
            ``(1) the employment credit with respect to all qualified 
        volunteer first responder employees of the taxpayer,
            ``(2) in the case of a small business employer, the 
        replacement credit with respect to all qualified volunteer 
        first responder employees of the taxpayer, plus
            ``(3) the self-employment credit of a qualified volunteer 
        first responder self-employed taxpayer.
    ``(b) Employment Credit.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) In general.--The employment credit with respect to 
        any qualified volunteer first responder employee of the 
        taxpayer is an amount equal to the lesser of--
                    ``(A) the actual compensation amount with respect 
                to such employee for such taxable year, or
                    ``(B) $30,000.
            ``(2) Actual compensation amount.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `actual compensation 
                amount' means the amount of compensation paid or 
                incurred by the taxpayer with respect to a qualified 
                volunteer first responder employee on any day when such 
                employee was absent from employment for the purpose of 
                participating in a qualified activity.
                    ``(B) Compensation.--The term `compensation' means 
                any remuneration for employment, whether in cash or in 
                kind, which is paid or incurred by a taxpayer and which 
                is deductible from the taxpayer's gross income under 
                section 162(a)(1).
            ``(3) Limitation.--No credit shall be allowed under this 
        subsection with respect to any day that a qualified volunteer 
        first responder employee who takes part in a qualified activity 
        was not scheduled to work (for reason other than to participate 
        in a qualified activity).
    ``(c) Replacement Credit.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) In general.--The replacement credit with respect to 
        any qualified volunteer first responder employee of the 
        taxpayer is an amount equal to the sum of--
                    ``(A) the qualified compensation with respect to 
                each qualified replacement employee of the taxpayer 
                paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year, and
                    ``(B) the qualified overtime wages paid by the 
                taxpayer during the taxable year.
            ``(2) Limitation.--The amount of the credit allowed by 
        reason of this subsection shall not exceed $12,000 for any 
        taxable year.
            ``(3) Qualified compensation.--The term `qualified 
        compensation' means--
                    ``(A) compensation which is normally contingent on 
                the qualified replacement employee's presence for work 
                and which is deductible from the taxpayer's gross 
                income under section 162(a)(1),
                    ``(B) compensation which is not characterized by 
                the taxpayer as vacation or holiday pay, or as sick 
                leave or pay, or as any other form of pay for a 
                nonspecific leave of absence, and
                    ``(C) group health plan costs (if any) with respect 
                to the qualified replacement employee.
            ``(4) Qualified replacement employee.--The term `qualified 
        replacement employee' means an individual who is hired to 
        replace a qualified volunteer first responder employee, but 
        only with respect to the period during which such employee 
        participates in a qualified activity, including time spent in 
        travel status.
            ``(5) Qualified overtime wages.--For purposes of this 
        section, the term `qualified overtime wages' means overtime 
        wages paid to an employee of the taxpayer (other than a 
        qualified replacement employee) for duties normally performed 
        by a qualified volunteer first responder employee, but only 
        with respect to the period during which such qualified 
        volunteer first responder employee participates in a qualified 
        activity, including time spent in travel status.
            ``(6) Coordination with other credits.--The amount of 
        credit otherwise allowable under sections 51(a) and 1396(a) 
        with respect to any employee shall be reduced by the credit 
        allowed by reason of paragraph (1)(A) with respect to such 
        employee.
    ``(d) Self-Employment Credit.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) In general.--The self-employment credit with respect 
        to a qualified volunteer first responder self-employed taxpayer 
        is an amount equal to the amount paid or incurred by such 
        taxpayer with respect to a qualified self-employment 
        replacement employee.
            ``(2) Qualified volunteer first responder self-employed 
        taxpayer.--The term `qualified volunteer first responder self-
        employed taxpayer' means a taxpayer who--
                    ``(A) has self-employment income (as defined in 
                section 1402) for the taxable year, and
                    ``(B) holds a volunteer position as a firefighter, 
                law enforcement official, or emergency medical service 
                provider.
            ``(3) Qualified self-employment replacement employee.--The 
        term `qualified self-employment replacement employee' means an 
        individual who is hired to replace the qualified volunteer 
        first responder self-employed taxpayer, but only with respect 
        to the period during which such taxpayer participates in a 
        qualified activity, including time spent in travel status.
    ``(e) Definitions and Other Rules.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) Qualified volunteer first responder employee.--The 
        term `qualified volunteer first responder employee' means an 
        individual who--
                    ``(A) has been an employee of the taxpayer for the 
                91-day period immediately preceding the period during 
                which the employee participates in a qualified 
                activity, and
                    ``(B) holds a volunteer position as a firefighter, 
                law enforcement official, or emergency medical service 
                provider.
            ``(2) Qualified activity.--The term `qualified activity' 
        means--
                    ``(A) training with respect to duties performed in 
                connection with the volunteer position of the qualified 
                volunteer first responder employee or qualified 
                volunteer first responder self-employed taxpayer, and
                    ``(B) the performance of duties in connection with 
                the volunteer position of the qualified volunteer first 
                responder employee or qualified volunteer first 
                responder self-employed taxpayer, but only to the 
                extent that such duties take not less than 1 day to 
                perform.
            ``(3) Small business employer.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `small business 
                employer' means, with respect to any taxable year, any 
                employer who employed an average of 200 or fewer 
                employees on business days during such taxable year.
                    ``(B) Controlled groups.--For purposes of 
                subparagraph (A), all persons treated as a single 
                employer under subsection (b), (c), (m), or (o) of 
                section 414 shall be treated as a single employer.''.
            (2) Credit made part of general business credit.--Section 
        38(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by 
        striking ``plus'' at the end of paragraph (14), by striking the 
        period at the end of paragraph (15) and inserting ``, plus'', 
        and by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(16) the volunteer first responder employee credit 
        determined under section 45G.''.
            (3) Transition rule.--Section 39(d) of the Internal Revenue 
        Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(11) No carryback of volunteer first responder employee 
        credit before enactment.--No portion of the unused business 
        credit for any taxable year which is attributable to the 
        volunteer first responder employee credit determined under 
        section 45G may be carried back to a taxable year beginning 
        before January 1, 2004.''.
            (4) Denial of double benefit.--Section 280C(a) of the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to rule for employment 
        credits) is amended--
                    (A) by inserting `` or compensation'' after 
                ``salaries'', and
                    (B) by inserting ``45G,'', after ``45A(a),''.
            (5) Conforming amendment.--The table of sections for 
        subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end 
        the following new item:

                              ``Sec. 45G. Credit to employers of 
                                        volunteer first responders.''.
            (6) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
        shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2003.
    (c) Deduction for Certain Expenses of Volunteer First Responders.--
            (1) Deduction for travel expenses.--
                    (A) Deduction allowed.--Section 162 (relating to 
                certain trade or business expenses) is amended by 
                redesignating subsection (q) as subsection (r) and 
                inserting after subsection (p) the following new 
                subsection:
    ``(q) Treatment of Expenses of Volunteer First Responders.--For 
purposes of subsection (a)(2), in the case of an individual who 
participates in a qualified activity (within the meaning of section 
45G(e)(2)) as a volunteer first responder (within the meaning of 
section 224) at any time during the taxable year, such individual shall 
be deemed to be away from home in the pursuit of a trade or business 
for any period during which such individual is away from home in 
connection with such participation.''.
                    (B) Deduction allowed whether or not taxpayer 
                elects to itemize.--Section 62(a)(2) (relating to 
                certain trade and business deductions of employees) is 
                amended by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(F) Certain expenses of volunteer first 
                responders.--The deductions allowed by section 162 
                which consist of expenses, determined at a rate not in 
                excess of the rates for travel expenses (including per 
                diem in lieu of subsistence) authorized for employees 
                of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 
                5, United States Code, paid or incurred by the taxpayer 
                in connection with participation in qualified 
                activities (as defined in section 45G(e)(2)) as a 
                volunteer first responder for any period during which 
                such individual is more than 100 miles away from home 
                in connection with such qualified activities.''.
            (2) Deduction for training expenses.--
                    (A) In general.--Part VII of subchapter B of 
                chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
                (relating to additional itemized deduction for 
                individuals) is amended by redesignating section 224 as 
                section 225 and by inserting after section 223 the 
                following new section:

``SEC. 224. CERTAIN EXPENSES OF VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDERS.

    ``(a) In General.--In the case of a volunteer first responder, 
there shall be allowed as a deduction an amount equal to the expenses 
paid or incurred by the volunteer first responder necessary for 
training with respect to duties performed in connection with the 
volunteer position of such volunteer first responder.
    ``(b) Volunteer First Responder.--For purposes of this section, the 
term `volunteer first responder' means an individual who holds a 
volunteer position as a firefighter, law enforcement official, or 
emergency medical service provider.''.
                    (B) Deduction allowed whether or not taxpayer 
                elects to itemize.--Section 62(a) of such Code 
                (relating to adjusted gross income) is amended by 
                adding at the end the following new section:
            ``(20) Volunteer first responder training expenses.--The 
        deduction allowed by section 224.''.
                    (C) Conforming amendment.--The table of sections 
                for part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code 
                is amended by striking the item relating to section 224 
                and inserting the following:

                              ``Sec. 224. Certain expenses of volunteer 
                                        first responders.
                              ``Sec. 225. Cross reference.''.
            (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
        shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2003.

SEC. 3. CRITICAL NEED GRANTS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) According to a report by the Council on Foreign 
        Relations Independent Task Force, first responders in the 
        United States are underfunded and unprepared for future 
        natural, technological, and human-caused disasters.
            (2) Local firefighters, police officers, and emergency 
        medical personnel are responsible for disaster prevention, 
        mitigation, and response.
            (3) It is essential that first responders have basic safety 
        equipment that is in good working order and customized, if 
        appropriate, to do their jobs as safely and effectively as 
        possible.
            (4) All first responder operation centers need basic 
        communications equipment, including--
                    (A) multiple touch-tone phone lines;
                    (B) a fax machine with a dedicated phone line;
                    (C) a computer with a high-speed connection to the 
                Internet; and
                    (D) personal communication devices for shift 
                supervisors, their commanders, and all first responders 
                in a work unit.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to establish a 
competitive grant program within the Department of Homeland Security to 
provide first responders with the basic equipment needed to accomplish 
their homeland security goals.
    (c) Local Critical Need Homeland Security Grants for First 
Responders.--Title V of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 311 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 510. LOCAL CRITICAL NEED HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS FOR FIRST 
              RESPONDERS.

    ``(a) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following 
definitions shall apply:
            ``(1) Basic personal equipment.--The term `basic personal 
        equipment' means equipment necessary to achieve the standard of 
        basic preparedness established by the Under Secretary for 
        Emergency Preparedness and Response under subsection (d), 
        including--
                    ``(A) personal breathing apparatus;
                    ``(B) protective equipment; and
                    ``(C) bulletproof vests.
            ``(2) Communications enhancement.--The term `communications 
        enhancement' means improvements to local first responder 
        communications systems that are necessary to achieve the 
        standard of basic preparedness established by the Under 
        Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response under 
        subsection (d), including the development or enhancement of--
                    ``(A) emergency operations centers;
                    ``(B) processes and facilities for information 
                sharing among different levels and first responder 
                units; and
                    ``(C) communications capabilities within individual 
                firehouses, police precincts, or other centers of 
                emergency operation.
    ``(b) Standard of Basic Preparedness.--Not later than September 30, 
2005, the Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response shall 
establish a standard of basic preparedness for local first responders, 
which shall provide for maximum State flexibility.
    ``(c) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary may award need-based, 
competitive grants to States and units of local government to be used 
for basic personal equipment and communications enhancement needed to 
perform their disaster response, mitigation, and recovery missions.
    ``(d) Application.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each eligible entity desiring a grant 
        under this section shall submit an application to the Under 
        Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response at such time, 
        in such manner, and containing such information, including the 
        safety and communications equipment to be purchased with grant 
        funds, as the Under Secretary may reasonably require.
            ``(2) Priority.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Under Secretary shall give 
                the highest priority to applicants demonstrating the 
                greatest need for basic personal equipment and 
                communication enhancements when compared to the 
                standard of basic preparedness established under 
                subsection (d).
                    ``(B) Interim priority.--Until a standard of basic 
                preparedness is established under subsection (d), the 
                Secretary shall give highest priority to applicants 
                that demonstrate the greatest need for basic personal 
                equipment and communication enhancements when compared 
                to the standard under consideration.
            ``(3) Evaluation plans.--The Secretary shall use evaluation 
        plans under consideration to help determine which applicants 
        will receive grants under this section.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated, for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2007, such sums as 
may be necessary to carry out this section, which shall remain 
available until expended.''.

SEC. 4. SAFE SCHOOLS THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--Subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7131 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 4131. MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide grants to 
States and local educational agencies--
            ``(1) to prepare for and respond to disasters or terrorism 
        in or impacting schools;
            ``(2) to prevent avoidable disasters, such as in-school or 
        school-related violence;
            ``(3) to establish community-sustainable mental health 
        programs in schools; and
            ``(4) to train school personnel on mental health issues, 
        including disaster and terrorism prevention, response, and 
        mitigation.
    ``(b) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            ``(1) Schools occupy a unique place in the community. In 
        addition to their main mission of educating children, they 
        serve a public education role and a role in community 
        organization.
            ``(2) Schools have new responsibilities in the homeland 
        security era and in terms of disaster response. Schools often 
        serve as community meeting places, centers of operation for 
        disaster response, and shelters, and have a place in preventing 
        some disasters from happening. Schools may also be called upon 
        to fill novel roles in the case of a disaster, such as keeping 
        children safe after normal school hours.
            ``(3) Some disasters, such as in-school violence, are 
        largely preventable. Mental health professionals in schools may 
        be able to anticipate and prevent school-related disasters and 
        are better positioned to mitigate disaster effects.
            ``(4) After any disaster, people benefit from returning to 
        their normal routine to whatever extent possible. Schools may 
        be in the position to mitigate disaster-related stress.
    ``(c) Definition.--In this section, the term `eligible entity' 
means a public school or a local educational agency.
    ``(d) Safe Schools Through Mental Health Program.--
            ``(1) Grants authorized.--From funds made available to 
        carry out this subpart under section 4003(2), the Secretary 
        shall award grants to eligible entities to pay the Federal 
        share of the cost of carrying out the activities described in 
        paragraph (3).
            ``(2) Application.--An eligible entity that desires to 
        receive a grant under this subsection shall submit an 
        application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
        accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require, 
        including a certification that the eligible entity will provide 
        the necessary State or local funding to continue the activities 
        initiated with the grant during the 5-year period beginning on 
        the date on which such grant is awarded.
            ``(3) Uses of funds.--An eligible entity that receives a 
        grant under this subsection may use the grant funds to--
                    ``(A) train elementary school and secondary school 
                teachers, administrators, and other professionals to--
                            ``(i) identify and prevent avoidable 
                        disasters; and
                            ``(ii) assist children in dealing with the 
                        aftermath of terrorism and disasters or other 
                        mental health issues;
                    ``(B) provide for school-based mental health 
                professionals to offer services in elementary and 
                secondary schools;
                    ``(C) provide mental health services to elementary 
                and secondary school students who face, or have faced, 
                disciplinary action, including students who have been 
                suspended or expelled from school.
            ``(4) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of 
        carrying out the activities under paragraph (3) shall be not 
        more than--
                    ``(A) 80 percent of the total cost of such 
                activities, in the first year of the grant award;
                    ``(B) 60 percent of the total cost of such 
                activities, in the second year of the grant award;
                    ``(C) 40 percent of the total cost of such 
                activities, in the third year of the grant award;
                    ``(D) 20 percent of the total cost of such 
                activities, in the fourth year of the grant award; and
                    ``(E) 0 percent of the total cost of such 
                activities, in the fifth year of the grant award.
            ``(5) State and local funding.--If an eligible entity 
        receiving a grant under this subsection fails to provide 
        sufficient State or local funding, in accordance with paragraph 
        (4), the eligible entity shall be subject to a penalty up to 
        the amount received under this subsection, as determined by the 
        Secretary, which shall be payable to the United States 
        Treasury.
    ``(e) School-Based Disaster Mitigation Refund Program.--
            ``(1) Grants authorized.--From funds made available to 
        carry out this subpart under section 4003(2), the Secretary, in 
        an emergency declared by the President under title V of the 
        Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 501 et seq.), shall award grants to eligible 
        entities to pay the Federal share of the cost of carrying out 
        the activities described in paragraph (3).
            ``(2) Application.--An eligible entity that desires to 
        receive a grant under this subsection shall submit an 
        application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
        accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require.
            ``(3) Use of funds.--An eligible entity that receives a 
        grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to 
        reimburse elementary and secondary schools for costs incurred 
        by such schools--
                    ``(A) during a disaster response; and
                    ``(B) for in-school mental health counseling for a 
                period of 13 months beginning on the date of the 
                disaster.''.
    (b) Federal Emergency Assistance.--Section 502(a) of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5192(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following: ``(8) provide 
        financial assistance to affected State and local governments 
        for school-based community mental health counseling.''.

SEC. 5. HOMELAND SECURITY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for 
        funding the intramural and extramural research and development 
        to address the Department's scientific and technological needs 
        and requirements.
            (2) Funding has been appropriated to the Department of 
        Homeland Security to carry out significant levels of scientific 
        development, and this funding will likely increase in the 
        future.
            (3) Terrorist threats against the United States are not 
        restricted to a single geographic area, terrorist group, or 
        method of threat. Undefended borders make terrorist attacks 
        possible in places that have never had to prepare for, or 
        respond to, terrorism.
            (4) Every State must be prepared for disasters and will 
        incur costs associated with homeland security.
            (5) States experience varying levels of potential homeland 
        security threats and homeland security concerns vary 
        geographically. Addressing these threats requires regional and 
        local expertise, thus the scientific and technological 
        workforce and training should not be overly centralized.
            (6) Academic research and development funding has not been 
        distributed equitably in the past. Congress has taken steps to 
        resolve this problem. Correcting this inequity will provide 
        beneficial results for science and technology training and 
        research.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to establish a 
competitive grant program for homeland security research and 
development.
    (c) Homeland Security Research and Development Grant Program.--
Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 314. COMPETITIVE RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Under 
Secretary for Science and Technology, shall establish a Homeland 
Security Competitive Research Grant Program (referred to in this 
section as the `Program') to more equitably distribute Federal research 
and development funds by awarding competitive grants to universities 
and colleges in eligible States to conduct research projects relating 
to homeland security.
    ``(b) Eligible States.--During fiscal years 2005 and 2006, colleges 
and universities located in States and territories that qualify for the 
National Science Foundation's EPSCoR program or the National Institutes 
of Health IDeA program shall be eligible for funding under the Program.
    ``(c) Responsibilities.--The Under Secretary for Science and 
Technology shall--
            ``(1) ensure that not less than 15 percent of the 
        Department's overall academic research funding is allocated to 
        universities and colleges in eligible States;
            ``(2) establish a cofunding mechanism for States with 
        academic facilities that have not fully developed security-
        related science and technology to support burgeoning research 
        efforts by the faculty or link them to established 
        investigators;
            ``(3) provide for conferences, workshops, outreach, and 
        technical assistance to researchers and academic institutions 
        in eligible States on topics related to developing science and 
        technology expertise in areas of high interest and relevance to 
        the Department;
            ``(4) monitor the efforts of States to develop programs 
        that support the Department's mission;
            ``(5) implement a merit review program, consistent with 
        program objectives, to ensure the quality of research conducted 
        with Program funding; and
            ``(6) provide annual reports on the progress and 
        achievements of the Program to the Secretary.
    ``(d) Annual Report.--Not later than March 15 of each year, the 
Under Secretary for Science and Technology shall submit a report to 
Congress on the implementation of the Program.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated--
            ``(1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2005 to carry out 
        subsection (c)(3); and
            ``(2) such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006 to 
        carry out this section.''.

SEC. 6. HOMELAND SECURITY RESEARCH EXPANSION GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Department of Homeland Security should fund 
        research, which explores the innovative human dimensions of 
        homeland security.
            (2) Infrastructure and transportation systems, and the 
        systems designed to protect them, are only as effective as 
        their operators and users.
            (3) Because communication before, during, and after 
        disasters is critical, the understanding of behavioral, 
        psychological, and social sciences in promoting effective 
        communications with homeland security goals in mind is vital to 
        the department's mission.
            (4) Several areas of social science are relevant to 
        homeland security, including--
                    (A) theories and data regarding threat 
                communication and the psychological impacts of such 
                threats;
                    (B) citizen response to disaster;
                    (C) group behavior in response to a threat or 
                actual disaster;
                    (D) theories and data about the impact of sustained 
                attention and vigilance on reasoning; and
                    (E) risk analysis and decision-making and their 
                application to homeland security.
            (5) Since the primary goal of terrorism is to disrupt 
        social systems, the Department of Homeland Security should 
        support research on how attitudes and beliefs about terrorism 
        impact--
                    (A) consumer confidence;
                    (B) population mobility;
                    (C) decisions about childcare;
                    (D) job behaviors; and
                    (E) attitudes toward immigrants, political 
                institutions, and leaders.
            (6) Homeland security efforts would benefit from research 
        on--
                    (A) the selection, management, and training of 
                security personnel and first responders;
                    (B) the impact of stereotyping and marginalization 
                of groups;
                    (C) hate crimes;
                    (D) the emergence and maintenance of 
                fundamentalist, extremist, and antigovernment groups 
                within the United States; and
                    (E) protection against the acts inspired by the 
                groups described in subparagraph (D).
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to establish a program 
to award research grants to examine the social dimensions of terrorism.
    (c) Research Expansion Grants.--Title III of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), as amended by section 5, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 315. RESEARCH EXPANSION GRANTS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award research grants to 
colleges and universities to--
            ``(1) analyze group dynamics during periods of extreme 
        stress, including how first responders--
                    ``(A) react during such periods;
                    ``(B) can be inoculated to stress; and
                    ``(C) can help mitigate the stress and social 
                disruption that often accompanies emergency situations;
            ``(2) analyze the social and cultural factors that may 
        affect the performance of first responder groups;
            ``(3) expand human factors research to all other modes of 
        transportation including the use of infrastructure and 
        transportation systems under evacuation circumstances;
            ``(4) develop and demonstrate compliance with operability 
        standards for new technologies designed by human factors 
        experts in conjunction with users;
            ``(5) examine the decision making of voluntary first 
        responders under extended periods of disaster, including 
        whether volunteer first responders would report to their 
        primary jobs or their first responder positions if 
        simultaneously called to both; and
            ``(6) understand how the Homeland Security Advisory System 
        operates as a useful communication tool for citizens.
    ``(b) Application.--Each college and university desiring a grant 
under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may reasonably require.
    ``(c) Annual Reports.--
            ``(1) Report to secretary.--Grant recipients shall submit 
        an annual report to the Secretary containing specific research 
        findings that may be used to improve emergency preparedness and 
        response efforts.
            ``(2) Report to congress.--The Secretary shall submit an 
        annual report to Congress on the grant program authorized by 
        this section.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $40,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2005 through 
2007.''.
                                 <all>