[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 14, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S10439]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ALLOWING FUNDING FOR THE INTEROPERABLE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS GRANT 
                                PROGRAM

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Commerce 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 1694, and the 
Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1694) to allow the funding for the interoperable 
     emergency communications grant program established under the 
     Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 
     to remain available until expended through fiscal year 2012, 
     and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. BROWN. I ask unanimous consent the bill be read a third time and 
passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no 
intervening action or debate, and any statements be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1694) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 1694

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

     SECTION 1. PUBLIC SAFETY INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS GRANTS.

       (a) Notwithstanding section 3006(a)(2) of the Digital 
     Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (47 
     U.S.C. 309 note), sums made available to administer the 
     Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant Program 
     under section 309(j)(8)(E) of the Communications Act of 1934 
     (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(8)(E)) shall remain available until 
     expended, but not beyond September 30, 2012.
       (b) The period for performance of any investment approved 
     under the Program as of the date of enactment of this Act 
     shall be extended by one year, but not later than September 
     30, 2011, except that the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for 
     Communications and Information may extend, on a case-by-case 
     basis, the period of performance for any investment approved 
     under the Program as of that date for a period of not more 
     than 2 years, but not later than September 30, 2012. In 
     making a determination as to whether an extension beyond 
     September 30, 2011, is warranted, the Assistant Secretary 
     should consider the circumstances that gave rise to the need 
     for the extension, the likelihood of completion of 
     performance within the deadline for completion, and such 
     other factors as the Assistant Secretary deems necessary to 
     make the determination.

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