II110th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 1955IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESAugust 2, 2007Mr. Conrad (for himself and Ms. Stabenow) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental AffairsA BILLTo authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to make grants to first responder agencies that have employees in the National Guard or Reserves on active duty.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Reinforce First Responders and Emergency Employees Deployed Overseas in the Military Act of 2007 or the Reinforce FREEDOM Act.

2.

Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to ensure that first responder agencies are not left ill-prepared to respond to emergencies and disasters due to the activation of the employees of such agencies who are members of the National Guard or Reserves.

3.

Definitions

In this Act—(1)the term first responder agency means—(A)a law enforcement or fire agency of a State or local government; or(B)a publically or privately operated ambulance service;(2)the terms local government and State have the meanings given those terms in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101);(3)the term reserve component means a reserve component of the Armed Forces described in section 10101 of title 10, United States Code; and(4)the term Secretary means the Secretary of Homeland Security.

4.

Grant program

(a)

In general

The Secretary may make a grant to a first responder agency an employee of which (or, in the case of a first responder agency that has a primarily volunteer workforce, a significant portion (as determined by the Secretary) of the staff of which) is—(1)a member of a reserve component; and(2)on active duty or has received orders to begin active duty.(b)

Application

A first responder agency desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary shall by regulation establish to ensure that the first responder agency meets the requirements for a grant under this section.(c)

Award of grants

(1)

In general

Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall award a grant directly to a first responder agency that submits an application satisfying the requirements established under subsection (b).(2)

Preference

In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to any first responder agency for which a high percentage (as determined by the Secretary) of the workforce of that first responder agency is composed of employees or volunteers described in subsection (a).(d)

Use of funds

A grant under this section may be used—(1)for the salary of an individual hired to replace an employee or volunteer described in subsection (a), including as reimbursement for such salary paid before the date the grant was awarded under this section;(2)for overtime expenses for an employee performing tasks that would have been performed by an employee or volunteer described in subsection (a); and(3)for the cost of equipment, maintenance, or other activities—(A)that a first responder agency was unable to acquire or perform because of the costs of replacing an employee or volunteer described in subsection (a); or(B)the need for which was caused by the deployment of such an employee or volunteer.(e)

Amount

A grant under this section to a first responder agency shall be—(1)in the case of such an agency that employs an employee described in subsection (a), $15,000 for each 3-month period that each full-time employee of that first responder agency is on active duty, determined on a full-time equivalency basis; and(2)in the case of a first responder agency that has a primarily volunteer workforce, for each 3-month period that a significant portion, as determined by the Secretary, of the workforce of that first responder agency is on active duty, not more than $15,000.(f)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2010 to carry out this section.