[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 189 (Monday, December 14, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S13201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2009

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 224, S. 1755.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1755) to direct the Department of Homeland 
     Security to undertake a study on emergency communications.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 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 
related to the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1755) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 1755

       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 ``Amateur Radio Emergency 
     Communications Enhancement Act of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Nearly 700,000 amateurs radio operators in the United 
     States are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission 
     in the Amateur Radio Service.
       (2) Amateur Radio Service operators provide, on a volunteer 
     basis, a valuable public sector service to their communities, 
     their States, and to the Nation, especially in the area of 
     national and international disaster communications.
       (3) Emergency and disaster relief communications services 
     by volunteer Amateur Radio Service operators have 
     consistently and reliably been provided before, during, and 
     after floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, forest fires, 
     earthquakes, blizzards, train accidents, chemical spills and 
     other disasters. These communications services include 
     services in connection with significant examples, such as--
       (A) hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Hugo, and Andrew;
       (B) the relief effort at the World Trade Center and the 
     Pentagon following the 2001 terrorist attacks; and
       (C) the Oklahoma City bombing in April 1995.
       (4) Amateur Radio Service has formal agreements for the 
     provision of volunteer emergency communications activities 
     with the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency, the National Weather Service, 
     the National Communications System, and the Association of 
     Public Safety Communications Officials, as well as with 
     disaster relief agencies, including the American National Red 
     Cross and the Salvation Army.
       (5) Section 1 of the joint resolution entitled ``Joint 
     Resolution to recognize the achievements of radio amateurs, 
     and to establish support for such amateurs as national 
     policy'', approved October 22, 1994 (Public Law 103-408), 
     included a finding that stated: ``Reasonable accommodation 
     should be made for the effective operation of amateur radio 
     from residences, private vehicles and public areas, and the 
     regulation at all levels of government should facilitate and 
     encourage amateur radio operations as a public benefit.''.
       (6) Section 1805(c) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
     U.S.C. 757(c)) directs the Regional Emergency Communications 
     Coordinating Working Group of the Department of Homeland 
     Security to coordinate their activities with ham and amateur 
     radio operators among the 11 other emergency organizations 
     such as ambulance services, law enforcement, and others.
       (7) Amateur Radio Service, at no cost to taxpayers, 
     provides a fertile ground for technical self-training in 
     modern telecommunications, electronic technology, and 
     emergency communications techniques and protocols.
       (8) There is a strong Federal interest in the effective 
     performance of Amateur Radio Service stations, and that 
     performance must be given--
       (A) support at all levels of government; and
       (B) protection against unreasonable regulation and 
     impediments to the provision of the valuable communications 
     provided by such stations.

     SEC. 3. STUDY OF ENHANCED USES OF AMATEUR RADIO IN EMERGENCY 
                   AND DISASTER RELIEF COMMUNICATION AND FOR 
                   RELIEF OF RESTRICTIONS.

       (a) Authority.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security 
     shall--
       (1) undertake a study on the uses and capabilities of 
     Amateur Radio Service communications in emergencies and 
     disaster relief; and
       (2) submit a report on the findings of the Secretary to 
     Congress.
       (b) Scope of the Study.--The study required by this section 
     shall--
       (1) include a review of the importance of amateur radio 
     emergency communications in furtherance of homeland security 
     missions relating to disasters, severe weather, and other 
     threats to lives and property in the United States, as well 
     as recommendations for--
       (A) enhancements in the voluntary deployment of amateur 
     radio licensees in disaster and emergency communications and 
     disaster relief efforts; and
       (B) improved integration of amateur radio operators in 
     planning and furtherance of the Department of Homeland 
     Security initiatives; and
       (2)(A) identify impediments to enhanced Amateur Radio 
     Service communications, such as the effects of unreasonable 
     or unnecessary private land use regulations on residential 
     antenna installations; and
       (B) make recommendations regarding such impediments for 
     consideration by other Federal departments, agencies, and 
     Congress.
       (c) Use of Expertise and Information.--In conducting the 
     study required by this section, the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security shall utilize the expertise of stakeholder entities 
     and organizations, including the amateur radio, emergency 
     response, and disaster communications communities.

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