[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 145 (Monday, September 26, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5879-H5880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FIRST RESPONDER ACCESS TO INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES ACT
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5460) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to
establish a review process to review applications for certain grants to
purchase equipment or systems that do not meet or exceed any applicable
national voluntary consensus standards, and for other purposes, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5460
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 ``First Responder Access to
Innovative Technologies Act''.
SEC. 2. APPROVAL OF CERTAIN EQUIPMENT.
(a) In General.--Subsection (f) of section 2008 of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 609) is amended--
(1) by striking ``If an applicant'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) Application requirement.--If an applicant''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(2) Review process.--The Administrator shall implement a
uniform process for reviewing applications that, in
accordance with paragraph (1), contain explanations to use
grants provided under section 2003 or 2004 to purchase
equipment or systems that do not meet or exceed any
applicable national voluntary consensus standards developed
under section 647 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management
Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 747).
``(3) Factors.--In carrying out the review process under
paragraph (2), the Administrator shall consider the
following:
``(A) Current or past use of proposed equipment or systems
by Federal agencies or the Armed Forces.
``(B) The absence of a national voluntary consensus
standard for such equipment or systems.
``(C) The existence of an international consensus standard
for such equipment or systems, and whether such equipment or
systems meets such standard.
``(D) The nature of the capability gap identified by the
applicant and how such equipment or systems will address such
gap.
``(E) The degree to which such equipment or systems will
serve the needs of the applicant better than equipment or
systems that meet or exceed existing consensus standards.
``(F) Any other factor determined appropriate by the
Administrator.''.
(b) Inspector General Report.--Not later than three years
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector
General of the Department of Homeland Security shall submit
to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report assessing the
implementation of the review process established under
paragraph (2) of subsection (f) of section 2008 of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as added by subsection (a) of
this section), including information on the following:
(1) The number of requests to purchase equipment or systems
that do not meet or exceed any applicable consensus standard
evaluated under such review process.
(2) The capability gaps identified by applicants and the
number of such requests granted or denied.
(3) The processing time for the review of such requests.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Donovan) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and to include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
As chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response,
and Communications, I rise in support of H.R. 5460, the First Responder
Access to Innovative Technologies Act, which passed out of my
subcommittee with bipartisan support on June 16 and was reported
favorably by the Committee on Homeland Security earlier this month.
With threats consistently evolving, it is reassuring to see new
technology being developed to ensure the safety of our communities and
first responders.
{time} 1500
However, emerging technology is frequently developed faster than
voluntary consensus standards can be implemented.
Recipients of grants under FEMA's State Homeland Security Grant
Program and the Urban Areas Security Initiative must procure equipment
that meets these standards. Unfortunately, if emerging technology or
equipment does not have a voluntary consensus standard and a grant
recipient would like to use those funds to purchase such technology,
FEMA does not have a uniform review process to consider applications
for that equipment. This legislation requires FEMA to develop such a
process for reviewing these requests.
I want to thank the subcommittee's ranking member, Representative
Payne, for introducing this commonsense bill. I am proud to be an
original cosponsor of H.R. 5460 because it will ensure first responders
have the ability to purchase equipment and emerging technology needed
to effectively adapt to the current threat landscape.
First responders in multiple jurisdictions in New York and New Jersey
were recently called upon to respond to a series of improvised
explosive devices. It is clear that the threat to our communities is
not going away; and we, as Members of Congress, must ensure our first
responders can easily access emerging technology without being hampered
by unnecessary bureaucracy.
I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 5460, the First Responder Access to
Innovative Technologies Act.
Mr. Speaker, a week ago, after we observed the fifteenth anniversary
of the September 11 attacks this month, a disturbed man planted bombs
in New York City, in Seaside Park, New Jersey, and in Elizabeth, New
Jersey. Local law enforcement in my district ultimately apprehended the
suspect, but not before a shootout injured two brave officers, Officer
Hammer and Officer Padilla of the Linden Police Department.
In our Nation's darkest hours, the bravest among us rush into
situations everyone else tries to escape. Those heros need the best,
most modern technology on the market to do their jobs better and safer.
With the help of the private sector, we have made significant strides
in developing first responder technology. Nevertheless, first
responders cannot use their Homeland Security grant dollars to purchase
the latest technology unless it meets or exceeds voluntary industry
standards, which take years to develop. To ensure that our brave first
responders have access to the most modern equipment, the First
Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act directs the Federal
Emergency Management Agency to develop a transparent process to review
requests to purchase equipment for which voluntary industry standards
do not exist.
H.R. 5460 has the support of the Securities Industry Association and
was approved by the full committee by voice vote.
Mr. Speaker, our first responders are our heros. Time and time again,
they
[[Page H5880]]
put themselves in harm's way to protect their communities. The First
Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act will ensure that our
first responders have the technology they need to keep themselves safe
as they keep us safe.
I want to thank Subcommittee Chairman Donovan for his support of this
measure. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5460.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5460.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Byrne). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Donovan) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5460, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________