[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1251 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1251

     To provide grants and other support to achieve communications 
     interoperability in the United States, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 10, 2005

 Mrs. Lowey (for herself, Mr. McNulty, Mr. Cardoza, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. 
 Cummings, Mrs. McCarthy, Mr. Pallone, Ms. Lee, Ms. Harman, Mr. Case, 
 Ms. McCollum of Minnesota, Mr. Kildee, Mr. McIntyre, Mr. Sanders, Ms. 
     Norton, Mr. Kucinich, Ms. Watson, Mr. Owens, Mr. Thompson of 
 Mississippi, Mr. Gene Green of Texas, Mr. Weiner, Mr. Etheridge, Mr. 
   Crowley, Mr. Wexler, Mr. Langevin, Mr. DeFazio, and Mr. Lewis of 
   Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 
 Homeland Security, 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 provide grants and other support to achieve communications 
     interoperability in the United States, 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 ``Connecting the Operations of National 
Networks of Emergency Communications Technologies for First Responders 
Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) Throughout the United States, public safety agencies--
        law enforcement, firefighters, emergency technicians, public 
        health officials, and others--in the same jurisdictions cannot 
        now communicate effectively with one another, with agencies in 
        neighboring jurisdictions, or with other public safety agencies 
        at the Federal and State level, when responding to emergencies 
        or participating in major deployment.
            (2) The inability of public safety agencies in the United 
        States to communicate with one another within and across 
        jurisdictions and disciplines is a long-recognized and complex 
        problem that threatens the public's safety and security and 
        often results in unnecessary loss of lives and property.
            (3) The lack of interoperability was at least partially 
        responsible for the deaths of 343 firefighters in New York City 
        on September 11, 2001, when police could not communicate 
        effectively with firefighters prior to the collapse of the Twin 
        Towers.
            (4) In the immediate aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing 
        in 1995, studies showed that emergency responders had to use 
        runners to carry messages from one command center to another 
        because the responding agencies used different emergency radio 
        channels, different frequencies, and different radio systems.
            (5) In Littleton, Colorado, 46 public safety agencies 
        responded to the shooting spree inside Columbine High School in 
        1999. Precious minutes were lost because command personnel were 
        forced to send runners to communicate crucial information. 
        Incompatible radio communication systems were a significant 
        factor, according to the Columbine Review Commission.
            (6) There are more than 50,000 State and local public 
        safety agencies. Many of these agencies are small or volunteer 
        organizations with limited budgets, and little or no 
        engineering expertise. State and local agencies consistently 
        cite lack of funding as a critical obstacle to 
        interoperability.
            (7) State and local budget crises have made funding public 
        safety communications even more difficult, and competition with 
        other critical homeland security needs, such as personnel, 
        physical facilities, protective gear, and other kinds of 
        equipment reduce the available funding for mission-critical 
        communications infrastructures and equipment.
            (8) Funding is needed for all phases of the communications 
        system life cycle: planning, system design and engineering, 
        procurement and installation, operations and maintenance, and 
        testing and technology development. There is clear need for a 
        dedicated and consistent Federal funding source that is 
        sufficient to finance comprehensive interoperable 
        communications solutions. The role of Federal, State, and local 
        governments and agencies in funding interoperable 
        communications must be clear.
            (9) Achieving nationwide interoperability will require a 
        significant financial commitment at all levels of government. 
        In 1998, the Public Safety Wireless Network estimated that 
        developing interoperable communications nationwide could cost 
        $18,000,000,000.
            (10) An Independent Task Force sponsored by the Council on 
        Foreign Relations stated that ``among other things, additional 
        funds are desperately needed . . . to foster interoperable 
        communications systems for emergency responders across the 
        country so that those on the front lines can communicate with 
        each other while at the scene of attack''. The Task Force 
        recommended, ``conservatively'', that $6,800,000,000 over 5 
        years is needed for interoperability as well as public alert 
        and information systems programs.
            (11) Numerous Federal agencies provide information or 
        grants that can be used in the development of interoperable 
        communications systems. However, without common guidance and 
        standards, funding and grants are often used in isolation of 
        broader, regional communications needs and capacities. There is 
        a need to better coordinate these disparate grant programs, and 
        to provide unified and consistent leadership and funding from 
        the Federal Government.
            (12) The partnership between the private and public sectors 
        has developed numerous solutions to significantly improve 
        communications interoperability that can be implemented 
        immediately. These solutions include deployable vehicles that 
        contain crosspatch capabilities that allow radio users on 
        separate frequencies to talk to each other; communications 
        system overlay software and hardware that allow multiple 
        disparate communications networks to act as one network; and 
        the Project 25 standard for the manufacturing of interoperable 
        digital two-way wireless communications products.
            (13) Current approaches to achieving communications 
        interoperability are also hampered by the fact that in many 
        jurisdictions--
                    (A) the existing radio communications 
                infrastructure is old and outdated;
                    (B) planning for interoperability is limited and 
                fragmented among multiple agencies;
                    (C) the necessary coordination and cooperation 
                within and among jurisdictions is difficult to achieve; 
                and
                    (D) there is limited and fragmented amount of radio 
                spectrum available to public safety organizations.
            (14) The lack of universally recognized, fully open, and 
        implementable standards for public safety agency needs has 
        limited the cost efficiencies of interoperability, and has 
        delayed the adoption of new technologies by public safety 
        agencies.
            (15) Solutions can only be achieved through cooperation 
        among all levels of government, and the Federal Government, 
        through the Department of Homeland Security, must provide 
        nationwide leadership, coordination, and a substantial share of 
        resources necessary to purchase appropriate technologies and 
        create seamless communications among United States public 
        safety agencies.
            (16) The Federal Government has made very little progress 
        in addressing its overall objective of achieving national 
        wireless communications interoperability among first responders 
        and public safety systems at all levels of government, 
        principally due to--
                    (A) a lack of consistent executive commitment and 
                support; and
                    (B) an inadequate level of interagency 
                collaboration.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
            (1) require the Department of Homeland Security to provide 
        effective leadership, coordination, and technical assistance 
        for the purposes of enhancing communications interoperability, 
        and to establish and implement a strategy to ensure the 
        achievement of communications interoperability for public 
        safety agencies throughout the United States;
            (2) authorize appropriations for interoperable 
        communications grants to State and local governments and public 
        safety agencies; and
            (3) support the effective acquisition, installation, and 
        maintenance of short-term and long-term interoperable 
        communications equipment for homeland security at all levels of 
        government.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions shall 
apply:
            (1) Communications interoperability.--The term 
        ``communications interoperability'' means the ability of public 
        safety service and support providers, including emergency 
        response providers, to communicate with other responding 
        agencies and Federal agencies if necessary, through information 
        technology systems and radio communications systems, and to 
        exchange voice, data, or video with one another on demand, in 
        real time, as necessary.
            (2) Public safety agencies.--The term ``public safety 
        agencies'' includes emergency response providers and any other 
        persons that the Secretary determines must communicate 
        effectively with one another to respond to emergencies.
    (b) National Strategy.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall, in cooperation with 
        State and local governments, Federal agencies, public safety 
        agencies, and the private sector, develop a national strategy 
        to achieve communications interoperability, which shall--
                    (A) provide for the development of national 
                voluntary standards for the purchase and use by public 
                safety agencies of interoperable communications 
                equipment and technologies;
                    (B) identify the appropriate interoperable 
                communications capabilities necessary for Federal, 
                State, and local public safety agencies to adequately 
                protect the people of the United States;
                    (C) address both short-term and long-term solutions 
                to achieving Federal, State and local communications 
                interoperability, including provision of commercially 
                available equipment that facilitates interoperability, 
                coordination, and integration among existing emergency 
                communications systems;
                    (D) identify how the Federal Government can work 
                effectively with State and local governments, public 
                safety agencies in all States, and such other entities 
                as are necessary to implement the strategy;
                    (E) include measures to identify and overcome all 
                obstacles to achieving interoperability; and
                    (F) set goals and establish time frames for the 
                achievement of communications interoperability across 
                the United States, and develop performance measures to 
                determine whether these goals are being met.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter, the Secretary 
        shall submit a report to the Congress--
                    (A) detailing the progress of the Department in 
                carrying out the purposes of this section;
                    (B) detailing the progress in achieving 
                communications interoperability; and
                    (C) making any recommendations necessary to 
                expedite the fulfillment of the purposes of this 
                section.

SEC. 4. INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM.

    Section 430 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 238) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Interoperable Communications Grants.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection, the following 
        definitions shall apply:
                    ``(A) Communications interoperability.--The term 
                `communications interoperability' means the ability of 
                public safety service and support providers, including 
                emergency response providers, to communicate with other 
                responding agencies and Federal agencies if necessary, 
                through information technology systems and radio 
                communications systems, and to exchange voice, data, or 
                video with one another on demand, in real time, as 
                necessary.
                    ``(B) Eligible state.--The term `eligible State' 
                means a State that--
                            ``(i) has submitted a plan under paragraph 
                        (4); and
                            ``(ii) the Secretary determines has not 
                        achieved adequate statewide communications 
                        interoperability.
                    ``(C) Public safety agencies.--The term `public 
                safety agencies' includes emergency response providers 
                and any other persons that the Secretary determines 
                must communicate effectively with one another to 
                respond to emergencies.
            ``(2) In general.--The Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) make grants on a competitive basis directly 
                to local governments (including a consortium of local 
                governments) and public safety agencies within eligible 
                States, in consultation with the chief executives of 
                the State or States, for the purpose of assisting in 
                the development of interoperable communications systems 
                at any stage, including--
                            ``(i) planning, system design, and 
                        engineering;
                            ``(ii) procurement and installation of 
                        equipment;
                            ``(iii) operations and maintenance of 
                        equipment; and
                            ``(iv) testing and technology development; 
                        and
                    ``(B) make grants to eligible States for 
                initiatives necessary to achieve communications 
                interoperability within each State, including--
                            ``(i) statewide communications planning;
                            ``(ii) system design and engineering;
                            ``(iii) procurement and installation of 
                        equipment;
                            ``(iv) operations and maintenance of 
                        equipment; and
                            ``(v) testing and technology development 
                        initiatives.
            ``(3) Coordination.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
                grants administered under this subsection are 
                coordinated with the activities of other entities of 
                the Department and other Federal entities so that 
                grants awarded under this subsection, and other grant 
                programs related to homeland security, facilitate the 
                achievement of the strategy developed under section 3 
                of the Connecting the Operations of National Networks 
                of Emergency Communications Technologies for First 
                Responders Act of 2005.
                    ``(B) Relationship to existing grant programs.--
                Nothing in this Act shall provide for the combination 
                of grant funds among the grant program established 
                under this subsection and any other grant programs 
                administered by the Department of Homeland Security, 
                including the State Homeland Security Grant Program of 
                the Department, or any successor to such grant program, 
                and the Urban Area Security Initiative of the 
                Department, or any successor to such grant program.
            ``(4) Eligibility.--
                    ``(A) Submission of plan.--To be eligible to 
                receive a grant under this subsection, each eligible 
                State, or local governments or public safety agencies 
                within an eligible State or States, shall submit a 
                communications interoperability plan to the Secretary 
                that--
                            ``(i) addresses any stage of the 
                        development of interoperable communications 
                        systems, including planning, system design and 
                        engineering, procurement and installation, 
                        operations and maintenance, and testing and 
                        technology development;
                            ``(ii) if the applicant is not a State, 
                        includes a description of how the applicant 
                        addresses the goals specified in any applicable 
                        State plan or plans submitted under this 
                        section; and
                            ``(iii) is approved by the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Incorporation and consistency.--A plan 
                submitted under subparagraph (A) may be part of, and 
                shall be consistent with, any other homeland security 
                plans required of the submitting party by the 
                Department.
            ``(5) Award of grants.--
                    ``(A) Considerations.--In approving plans and 
                awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary 
                shall consider--
                            ``(i) the nature of the threat to the 
                        eligible State or local jurisdiction;
                            ``(ii) the location, risk, or vulnerability 
                        of critical infrastructure and key national 
                        assets;
                            ``(iii) the number, as well as the density, 
                        of persons who will be served by interoperable 
                        communications systems;
                            ``(iv) the extent of the partnerships, 
                        existing or planned, established between local 
                        jurisdictions and agencies participating in the 
                        development of interoperable communications 
                        systems, and their coordination with Federal 
                        and State agencies;
                            ``(v) the level of communications 
                        interoperability already achieved by the 
                        jurisdictions;
                            ``(vi) the extent to which the 
                        communications interoperability plan submitted 
                        under paragraph (4) adequately addresses steps 
                        necessary to implement short-term or long-term 
                        solutions to communications interoperability;
                            ``(vii) the extent to which eligible States 
                        and local governments, in light of their 
                        financial capability, demonstrate their 
                        commitment to expeditiously achieving 
                        communications interoperability by 
                        supplementing Federal funds with non-Federal 
                        funds;
                            ``(viii) the extent to which grants will 
                        expedite the achievement of interoperability in 
                        the relevant jurisdiction with Federal, State, 
                        and local agencies; and
                            ``(ix) the extent to which grants will be 
                        utilized to implement advanced communications 
                        technologies to promote interoperability.
                    ``(B) Cost sharing.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Federal share of the 
                        costs of an activity carried out with a grant 
                        to an applicant awarded under this section 
                        shall not exceed 75 percent.
                            ``(ii) In-kind matching.--Each recipient of 
                        a covered grant may meet the matching 
                        requirement under clause (i) by making in-kind 
                        contributions of goods or services that are 
                        directly linked with the purpose for which the 
                        grant is made, including personnel overtime, 
                        contractor services, administrative costs, 
                        equipment fuel and maintenance, and rental 
                        space.
            ``(6) Reimbursement.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Unless otherwise requested by 
                the recipient of a grant under this subsection, grants 
                shall not be awarded to reimburse the recipient for 
                prior expenditures related to achieving communications 
                interoperability.
                    ``(B) Exception.--The Secretary shall reimburse 
                public safety agencies directly for costs incurred for 
                expenditures related to achieving communications 
                interoperability, if--
                            ``(i) the public safety agency expended 
                        funds after September 11, 2001, and before the 
                        date of enactment of this subsection; and
                            ``(ii) such expenditures are consistent 
                        with and supportive of the communications 
                        interoperability plan approved by the Secretary 
                        under paragraph (4)(A)(iii).
                    ``(C) Termination of authority.--The authority of 
                the Secretary under subparagraph (B) shall terminate 
                one year after the date on which the Department of 
                Homeland Security first allocates grant funds for this 
                program.
            ``(7) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $500,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 2006, $750,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, 
        $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $1,250,000,000 for fiscal 
        year 2009, $1,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and such sums 
        as are necessary each fiscal year thereafter, to carry out the 
        purposes of this subsection.''.
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