[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6349 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6349

 To establish within the Department of Homeland Security an Office of 
     Emergency Communications that will carry out the department's 
         responsibilities related to emergency communications.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 5, 2006

 Mr. Barton of Texas 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 establish within the Department of Homeland Security an Office of 
     Emergency Communications that will carry out the department's 
         responsibilities related to emergency communications.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``21st Century 
Emergency Communications Act of 2006''.
    (b) In General.--The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new title:

                ``TITLE XVIII--EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

``SEC. 1801. OFFICE OF EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--There is established in the Department an Office 
of Emergency Communications.
    ``(b) Director.--The head of the office shall be the Director for 
Emergency Communications. The Director shall report to the Assistant 
Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communications.
    ``(c) Responsibilities.--The Director for Emergency Communications 
shall--
            ``(1) assist the Secretary in developing and implementing 
        the program described in section 7303(a)(1) of the Intelligence 
        Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 
        194(a)(1)), except as provided in section 314;
            ``(2) administer the Department's responsibilities and 
        authorities relating to the SAFECOM Program, excluding elements 
        related to research, development, testing, and evaluation and 
        standards;
            ``(3) administer the Department's responsibilities and 
        authorities relating to the Integrated Wireless Network 
        program;
            ``(4) conduct extensive, nationwide outreach to support and 
        promote the ability of emergency response providers and 
        relevant government officials to continue to communicate in the 
        event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-
        made disasters;
            ``(5) conduct extensive, nationwide outreach and foster the 
        development of interoperable emergency communications 
        capabilities by State, regional, local, and tribal governments 
        and public safety agencies, and by regional consortia thereof;
            ``(6) provide technical assistance to State, regional, 
        local, and tribal government officials with respect to use of 
        interoperable emergency communications capabilities;
            ``(7) coordinate with the Regional Administrators regarding 
        the activities of Regional Emergency Communications 
        Coordination Working Groups under section 1805;
            ``(8) promote the development of standard operating 
        procedures and best practices with respect to use of 
        interoperable emergency communications capabilities for 
        incident response, and facilitate the sharing of information on 
        such best practices for achieving, maintaining, and enhancing 
        interoperable emergency communications capabilities for such 
        response;
            ``(9) coordinate, in cooperation with the National 
        Communications System, the establishment of a national response 
        capability with initial and ongoing planning, implementation, 
        and training for the deployment of communications equipment for 
        relevant State, local, and tribal governments and emergency 
        response providers in the event of a catastrophic loss of local 
        and regional emergency communications services;
            ``(10) assist the President, the National Security Council, 
        the Homeland Security Council, and the Director of the Office 
        of Management and Budget in ensuring the continued operation of 
        the telecommunications functions and responsibilities of the 
        Federal Government, excluding spectrum management;
            ``(11) establish, in coordination with the Director of the 
        Office for Interoperability and Compatibility, requirements for 
        interoperable emergency communications capabilities, which 
        shall be nonproprietary where standards for such capabilities 
        exist, for all public safety radio and data communications 
        systems and equipment purchased using homeland security 
        assistance administered by the Department, excluding any alert 
        and warning device, technology, or system;
            ``(12) review, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary 
        for Grants and Training, all interoperable emergency 
        communications plans of Federal, State, local, and tribal 
        governments, including Statewide and tactical interoperability 
        plans, developed pursuant to homeland security assistance 
        administered by the Department, but excluding spectrum 
        allocation and management related to such plans;
            ``(13) develop and update periodically, as appropriate, a 
        National Emergency Communications Plan under section 1802;
            ``(14) perform such other duties of the Department 
        necessary to support and promote the ability of emergency 
        response providers and relevant government officials to 
        continue to communicate in the event of natural disasters, acts 
        of terrorism, and other man-made disasters; and
            ``(15) perform other duties of the Department necessary to 
        achieve the goal of and maintain and enhance interoperable 
        emergency communications capabilities.
    ``(d) Performance of Previously Transferred Functions.--The 
Secretary shall transfer to, and administer through, the Director for 
Emergency Communications the following programs and responsibilities:
            ``(1) The SAFECOM Program, excluding elements related to 
        research, development, testing, and evaluation and standards.
            ``(2) The responsibilities of the Chief Information Officer 
        related to the implementation of the Integrated Wireless 
        Network.
            ``(3) The Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance 
        Program.
    ``(e) Coordination.--The Director for Emergency Communications 
shall coordinate--
            ``(1) as appropriate, with the Director of the Office for 
        Interoperability and Compatibility with respect to the 
        responsibilities described in section 314; and
            ``(2) with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
        Management Agency with respect to the responsibilities 
        described in this title.
    ``(f) Sufficiency of Resources Plan.--
            ``(1) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to 
        Congress a report on the resources and staff necessary to carry 
        out fully the responsibilities under this title.
            ``(2) Comptroller general review.--The Comptroller General 
        shall review the validity of the report submitted by the 
        Secretary under paragraph (1). Not later than 60 days after the 
        date on which such report is submitted, the Comptroller General 
        shall submit to Congress a report containing the findings of 
        such review.

``SEC. 1802. NATIONAL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director for 
Emergency Communications, and in cooperation with the Department of 
National Communications System (as appropriate), shall, in cooperation 
with State, local, and tribal governments, Federal departments and 
agencies, emergency response providers, and the private sector, develop 
not later than 180 days after the completion of the baseline assessment 
under section 1803, and periodically update, a National Emergency 
Communications Plan to provide recommendations regarding how the United 
States should--
            ``(1) support and promote the ability of emergency response 
        providers and relevant government officials to continue to 
        communicate in the event of natural disasters, acts of 
        terrorism, and other man-made disasters; and
            ``(2) ensure, accelerate, and attain interoperable 
        emergency communications nationwide.
    ``(b) Coordination.--The Emergency Communications Preparedness 
Center under section 1806 shall coordinate the development of the 
Federal aspects of the National Emergency Communications Plan.
    ``(c) Contents.--The National Emergency Communications Plan shall--
            ``(1) include recommendations developed in consultation 
        with the Federal Communications Commission and the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology for a process for 
        expediting national voluntary consensus standards for emergency 
        communications equipment for the purchase and use by public 
        safety agencies of interoperable emergency communications 
        equipment and technologies;
            ``(2) identify the appropriate capabilities necessary for 
        emergency response providers and relevant government officials 
        to continue to communicate in the event of natural disasters, 
        acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters;
            ``(3) identify the appropriate interoperable emergency 
        communications capabilities necessary for Federal, State, 
        local, and tribal governments in the event of natural 
        disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters;
            ``(4) recommend both short-term and long-term solutions for 
        ensuring that emergency response providers and relevant 
        government officials can continue to communicate in the event 
        of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made 
        disasters;
            ``(5) recommend both short-term and long-term solutions for 
        deploying interoperable emergency communications systems for 
        Federal, State, local, and tribal governments throughout the 
        Nation, including through the provision of existing and 
        emerging technologies;
            ``(6) identify how Federal departments and agencies that 
        respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-
        made disasters can work effectively with State, local, and 
        tribal governments, in all States, and with other entities;
            ``(7) identify obstacles to deploying interoperable 
        emergency communications capabilities nationwide and recommend 
        short-term and long-term measures to overcome those obstacles, 
        including recommendations for multijurisdictional coordination 
        among Federal, State, local, and tribal governments;
            ``(8) recommend goals and timeframes for the deployment of 
        emergency, command-level communications systems based on new 
        and existing equipment across the United States and develop a 
        timetable for the deployment of interoperable emergency 
        communications systems nationwide; and
            ``(9) recommend appropriate measures that emergency 
        response providers should employ to ensure the continued 
        operation of relevant governmental communications 
        infrastructure in the event of natural disasters, acts of 
        terrorism, or other man-made disasters.

``SEC. 1803. ASSESSMENTS AND REPORTS.

    ``(a) Baseline Assessment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this section and not less than every 5 years thereafter, 
the Secretary, acting through the Director for Emergency 
Communications, shall conduct an assessment of Federal, State, local, 
and tribal governments that--
            ``(1) defines the range of capabilities needed by emergency 
        response providers and relevant government officials to 
        continue to communicate in the event of natural disasters, acts 
        of terrorism, and other man-made disasters;
            ``(2) defines the range of interoperable emergency 
        communications capabilities needed for specific events;
            ``(3) assesses the current available capabilities to meet 
        such communications needs;
            ``(4) identifies the gap between such current capabilities 
        and defined requirements; and
            ``(5) includes a national interoperable emergency 
        communications inventory to be completed by the Secretary of 
        Homeland Security, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Chairman 
        of the Federal Communications Commission that--
                    ``(A) identifies for each Federal department and 
                agency--
                            ``(i) the channels and frequencies used;
                            ``(ii) the nomenclature used to refer to 
                        each channel or frequency used; and
                            ``(iii) the types of communications systems 
                        and equipment used; and
                    ``(B) identifies the interoperable emergency 
                communications systems in use by public safety agencies 
                in the United States.
    ``(b) Classified Annex.--The baseline assessment under this section 
may include a classified annex including information provided under 
subsection (a)(5)(A).
    ``(c) Savings Clause.--In conducting the baseline assessment under 
this section, the Secretary may incorporate findings from assessments 
conducted before, or ongoing on, the date of enactment of this title.
    ``(d) Progress Reports.--Not later than one year after the date of 
enactment of this section and biennially thereafter, the Secretary, 
acting through the Director for Emergency Communications, shall submit 
to Congress a report on the progress of the Department in achieving the 
goals of, and carrying out its responsibilities under, this title, 
including--
            ``(1) a description of the findings of the most recent 
        baseline assessment conducted under subsection (a);
            ``(2) a determination of the degree to which interoperable 
        emergency communications capabilities have been attained to 
        date and the gaps that remain for interoperability to be 
        achieved;
            ``(3) an evaluation of the ability to continue to 
        communicate and to provide and maintain interoperable emergency 
        communications by emergency managers, emergency response 
        providers, and relevant government officials in the event of--
                    ``(A) natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or 
                other man-made disasters, including Incidents of 
                National Significance declared by the Secretary under 
                the National Response Plan; and
                    ``(B) a catastrophic loss of local and regional 
                communications services;
            ``(4) a list of best practices relating to the ability to 
        continue to communicate and to provide and maintain 
        interoperable emergency communications in the event of natural 
        disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters; and
            ``(5) an evaluation of the feasibility and desirability of 
        the Department developing, on its own or in conjunction with 
        the Department of Defense, a mobile communications capability, 
        modeled on the Army Signal Corps, that could be deployed to 
        support emergency communications at the site of natural 
        disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters.

``SEC. 1804. COORDINATION OF DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS GRANT 
              PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Coordination of Grants and Standards Programs.--The 
Secretary, acting through the Director for Emergency Communications, 
shall ensure that grant guidelines for the use of homeland security 
assistance administered by the Department relating to interoperable 
emergency communications are coordinated and consistent with the goals 
and recommendations in the National Emergency Communications Plan under 
section 1802.
    ``(b) Denial of Eligibility for Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Assistant Secretary for Grants and Planning, and in 
        consultation with the Director for Emergency Communications, 
        may prohibit any State, local, or tribal government from using 
        homeland security assistance administered by the Department to 
        achieve, maintain, or enhance emergency communications 
        capabilities, if--
                    ``(A) such government has not complied with the 
                requirement to submit a Statewide Interoperable 
                Communications Plan as required by section 7303(f) of 
                the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 
                2004 (6 U.S.C. 194(f));
                    ``(B) such government has proposed to upgrade or 
                purchase new equipment or systems that do not meet or 
                exceed any applicable national voluntary consensus 
                standards and has not provided a reasonable explanation 
                of why such equipment or systems will serve the needs 
                of the applicant better than equipment or systems that 
                meet or exceed such standards; and
                    ``(C) as of the date that is 3 years after the date 
                of the completion of the initial National Emergency 
                Communications Plan under section 1802, national 
                voluntary consensus standards for interoperable 
                emergency communications capabilities have not been 
                developed and promulgated.
            ``(2) Standards.--The Secretary, in coordination with the 
        Federal Communications Commission, the National Institute of 
        Standards and Technology, and other Federal departments and 
        agencies with responsibility for standards, shall support the 
        development, promulgation, and updating as necessary of 
        national voluntary consensus standards for interoperable 
        emergency communications.

``SEC. 1805. REGIONAL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATION.

    ``(a) In General.--There is established in each Regional Office a 
Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Group (in this 
section referred to as an `RECC Working Group'). Each RECC Working 
Group shall report to the relevant Regional Administrator and 
coordinate its activities with the relevant Regional Advisory Council.
    ``(b) Membership.--Each RECC Working Group shall consist of the 
following:
            ``(1) Non-federal.--Organizations representing the 
        interests of the following:
                    ``(A) State officials.
                    ``(B) Local government officials, including 
                sheriffs.
                    ``(C) State police departments.
                    ``(D) Local police departments.
                    ``(E) Local fire departments.
                    ``(F) Public safety answering points (9-1-1 
                services).
                    ``(G) State emergency managers, homeland security 
                directors, or representatives of State Administrative 
                Agencies.
                    ``(H) Local emergency managers or homeland security 
                directors.
                    ``(I) Other emergency response providers as 
                appropriate.
            ``(2) Federal.--Representatives from the Department, the 
        Federal Communications Commission, and other Federal 
        departments and agencies with responsibility for coordinating 
        interoperable emergency communications with or providing 
        emergency support services to State, local, and tribal 
        governments.
    ``(c) Coordination.--Each RECC Working Group shall coordinate its 
activities with the following:
            ``(1) Communications equipment manufacturers and vendors 
        (including broadband data service providers).
            ``(2) Local exchange carriers.
            ``(3) Local broadcast media.
            ``(4) Wireless carriers.
            ``(5) Satellite communications services.
            ``(6) Cable operators.
            ``(7) Hospitals.
            ``(8) Public utility services.
            ``(9) Emergency evacuation transit services.
            ``(10) Ambulance services.
            ``(11) HAM and amateur radio operators.
            ``(12) Representatives from other private sector entities 
        and nongovernmental organizations as the Regional Administrator 
        determines appropriate.
    ``(d) Duties.--The duties of each RECC Working Group shall 
include--
            ``(1) assessing the survivability, sustainability, and 
        interoperability of local emergency communications systems to 
        meet the goals of the National Emergency Communications Plan;
            ``(2) reporting annually to the relevant Regional 
        Administrator, the Director for Emergency Communications, the 
        Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, and the 
        Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the 
        Department of Commerce on the status of its region in building 
        robust and sustainable interoperable voice and data emergency 
        communications networks and, not later than 60 days after the 
        completion of the initial National Emergency Communications 
        Plan under section 1802, on the progress of the region in 
        meeting the goals of such plan;
            ``(3) ensuring a process for the coordination of effective 
        multijurisdictional, multi-agency emergency communications 
        networks for use during natural disasters, acts of terrorism, 
        and other man-made disasters through the expanded use of 
        emergency management and public safety communications mutual 
        aid agreements; and
            ``(4) coordinating the establishment of Federal, State, 
        local, and tribal support services and networks designed to 
        address the immediate and critical human needs in responding to 
        natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made 
        disasters.

``SEC. 1806. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PREPAREDNESS CENTER.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established the Emergency 
Communications Preparedness Center (in this section referred to as the 
`Center').
    ``(b) Operation.--The Secretary, the Chairman of the Federal 
Communications Commission, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of 
Commerce, the Attorney General of the United States, and the heads of 
other Federal departments and agencies or their designees shall jointly 
operate the Center in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding 
entitled, `Emergency Communications Preparedness Center (ECPC) 
Charter'.
    ``(c) Functions.--The Center shall--
            ``(1) serve as the focal point for interagency efforts and 
        as a clearinghouse with respect to all relevant 
        intergovernmental information to support and promote (including 
        specifically by working to avoid duplication, hindrances, and 
        counteractive efforts among the participating Federal 
        departments and agencies)--
                    ``(A) the ability of emergency response providers 
                and relevant government officials to continue to 
                communicate in the event of natural disasters, acts of 
                terrorism, and other man-made disasters; and
                    ``(B) interoperable emergency communications;
            ``(2) prepare and submit to Congress, on an annual basis, a 
        strategic assessment regarding the coordination efforts of 
        Federal departments and agencies to advance--
                    ``(A) the ability of emergency response providers 
                and relevant government officials to continue to 
                communicate in the event of natural disasters, acts of 
                terrorism, and other man-made disasters; and
                    ``(B) interoperable emergency communications;
            ``(3) consider, in preparing the strategic assessment under 
        paragraph (2), the goals stated in the National Emergency 
        Communications Plan under section 1802; and
            ``(4) perform such other functions as are provided in the 
        Emergency Communications Preparedness Center (ECPC) Charter 
        described in subsection (b)(1).

``SEC. 1807. URBAN AND OTHER HIGH RISK AREA COMMUNICATIONS 
              CAPABILITIES.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Chairman 
of the Federal Communications Commission and the Secretary of Defense, 
and with appropriate State, local, and tribal government officials, 
shall provide technical guidance, training, and other assistance, as 
appropriate, to support the rapid establishment of consistent, secure, 
and effective interoperable emergency communications capabilities in 
the event of an emergency in urban and other areas determined by the 
Secretary to be at consistently high levels of risk from natural 
disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.
    ``(b) Minimum Capabilities.--The interoperable emergency 
communications capabilities established under subsection (a) shall 
ensure the ability of all levels of government, emergency response 
providers, the private sector, and other organizations with emergency 
response capabilities--
            ``(1) to communicate with each other in the event of an 
        emergency;
            ``(2) to have appropriate and timely access to the 
        Information Sharing Environment described in section 1016 of 
        the National Security Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 
        321); and
            ``(3) to be consistent with any applicable State or Urban 
        Area homeland strategy or plan.

``SEC. 1808. DEFINITION.

    ``In this title, the term `interoperable' has the meaning given the 
term `interoperable communications' under section 7303(g)(1) of the 
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 
194(g)(1)).''.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

                ``TITLE XVIII--EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

``Sec. 1801. Office for Emergency Communications.
``Sec. 1802. National Emergency Communications Plan.
``Sec. 1803. Assessments and reports.
``Sec. 1804. Coordination of Federal emergency communications grant 
                            programs.
``Sec. 1805. Regional emergency communications coordination.
``Sec. 1806. Emergency Communications Preparedness Center.
``Sec. 1807. Urban and other high risk area communications 
                            capabilities.
``Sec. 1808. Definition.''.

SEC. 2. OFFICE FOR INTEROPERABILITY AND COMPATIBILITY.

    (a) In General.--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. OFFICE FOR INTEROPERABILITY AND COMPATIBILITY.

    ``(a) Clarification of Responsibilities.--The Director of the 
Office for Interoperability and Compatibility shall--
            ``(1) assist the Secretary in developing and implementing 
        the science and technology aspects of the program described in 
        subparagraphs (D), (E), (F), and (G) of section 7303(a)(1) of 
        the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 
        U.S.C. 194(a)(1));
            ``(2) in coordination with the Federal Communications 
        Commission, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
        and other Federal departments and agencies with responsibility 
        for standards, support the creation of national voluntary 
        consensus standards for interoperable emergency communications;
            ``(3) establish a comprehensive research, development, 
        testing, and evaluation program for improving interoperable 
        emergency communications;
            ``(4) establish, in coordination with the Director for 
        Emergency Communications, requirements for interoperable 
        emergency communications capabilities, which shall be 
        nonproprietary where standards for such capabilities exist, for 
        all public safety radio and data communications systems and 
        equipment purchased using homeland security assistance 
        administered by the Department, excluding any alert and warning 
        device, technology, or system;
            ``(5) carry out the Department's responsibilities and 
        authorities relating to research, development, testing, 
        evaluation, or standards-related elements of the SAFECOM 
        Program;
            ``(6) evaluate and assess new technology in real-world 
        environments to achieve interoperable emergency communications 
        capabilities;
            ``(7) encourage more efficient use of existing resources, 
        including equipment, to achieve interoperable emergency 
        communications capabilities;
            ``(8) test public safety communications systems that are 
        less prone to failure, support new nonvoice services, use 
        spectrum more efficiently, and cost less than existing systems;
            ``(9) coordinate with the private sector to develop 
        solutions to improve emergency communications capabilities and 
        achieve interoperable emergency communications capabilities; 
        and
            ``(10) conduct pilot projects, in coordination with the 
        Director for Emergency Communications, to test and demonstrate 
        technologies, including data and video, that enhance--
                    ``(A) the ability of emergency response providers 
                and relevant government officials to continue to 
                communicate in the event of natural disasters, acts of 
                terrorism, and other man-made disasters; and
                    ``(B) interoperable emergency communications 
                capabilities.
    ``(b) Coordination.--The Director of the Office for 
Interoperability and Compatibility shall coordinate with the Director 
for Emergency Communications with respect to the SAFECOM program.
    ``(c) Sufficiency of Resources.--The Secretary shall provide the 
Office for Interoperability and Compatibility the resources and staff 
necessary to carry out the responsibilities under this section.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 313 the following:

``Sec. 314. Office for Interoperability and Compatibility.''.

SEC. 3. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INTEROPERABILITY RESEARCH AND 
              DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) In General.--Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 181 et seq.), as amended by this Act, is amended by adding at 
the end the following:

``SEC. 315. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INTEROPERABILITY RESEARCH AND 
              DEVELOPMENT.

    ``(a) In General.--The Under Secretary for Science and Technology, 
acting through the Director of the Office for Interoperability and 
Compatibility, shall establish a comprehensive research and development 
program to support and promote--
            ``(1) the ability of emergency response providers and 
        relevant government officials to continue to communicate in the 
        event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-
        made disasters; and
            ``(2) interoperable emergency communications capabilities 
        among emergency response providers and relevant government 
        officials, including by--
                    ``(A) supporting research on a competitive basis, 
                including through the Directorate of Science and 
                Technology and Homeland Security Advanced Research 
                Projects Agency; and
                    ``(B) considering the establishment of a Center of 
                Excellence under the Department of Homeland Security 
                Centers of Excellence Program focused on improving 
                emergency response providers' communication 
                capabilities.
    ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the program established under 
subsection (a) include--
            ``(1) supporting research, development, testing, and 
        evaluation on emergency communication capabilities;
            ``(2) understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the 
        public safety communications systems in use;
            ``(3) examining how current and emerging technology can 
        make emergency response providers more effective, and how 
        Federal, State, local, and tribal government agencies can use 
        this technology in a coherent and cost-effective manner;
            ``(4) investigating technologies that could lead to long-
        term advancements in emergency communications capabilities and 
        supporting research on advanced technologies and potential 
        systemic changes to dramatically improve emergency 
        communications; and
            ``(5) evaluating and validating advanced technology 
        concepts, and facilitating the development and deployment of 
        interoperable emergency communication capabilities.
    ``(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the term 
`interoperable', with respect to emergency communications, has the 
meaning given the term in section 1808.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 314, as added by this Act, 
the following:

``Sec. 315. Emergency communications interoperability research and 
                            development.''.

SEC. 4. 911 AND E911 SERVICES REPORT.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission shall submit a 
report to Congress on the status of efforts of State, local, and tribal 
governments to develop plans for rerouting 911 and E911 services in the 
event that public safety answering points are disabled during natural 
disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.

SEC. 5. SAVINGS CLAUSE.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed to transfer to the Office of 
Emergency Communications any function, personnel, asset, component, 
authority, grant program, or liability of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency as constituted on June 1, 2006.
                                 <all>