[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 31, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H772-H775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FIRST RESPONDER IDENTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY NEEDS IN DISASTER
SITUATIONS
Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 58) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit
a study on the circumstances which may impact the effectiveness and
availability of first responders before, during, or after a terrorist
threat or event, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 58
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
Identification of Emergency Needs in Disaster Situations'' or
the ``FRIENDS Act''.
SEC. 2. CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH MAY IMPACT FIRST RESPONDERS
DURING A TERRORIST EVENT.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
United States shall submit to the Committees on Homeland
Security and Transportation and Infrastructure of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that describes
select State and local programs and policies, as appropriate,
related to the preparedness and protection of first
responders. The report may include information on--
(1) the degree to which such programs and policies include
consideration of the presence of a first responder's family
in an area impacted by a terrorist attack;
(2) the availability of personal protective equipment for
first responders;
(3) the availability of home Medkits for first responders
and their families for biological incident response; and
(4) other related factors.
(b) Context.--In preparing the report required under
subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States
may, as appropriate, provide information--
(1) in a format that delineates high risk urban areas from
rural communities; and
(2) on the degree to which the selected State and local
programs and policies included in such report were developed
or are being executed with funding from the Department of
Homeland Security, including grant funding from the State
Homeland Security Grant Program or the Urban Area Security
Initiative under sections 2002 and 2003, respectively, of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 603 and 604).
(c) Homeland Security Consideration.--After issuance of the
report required under subsection (a), the Secretary of
Homeland Security shall consider such report's findings and
assess its applicability for Federal first responders.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr.
Johnson) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
General Leave
Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 58, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
First, I welcome the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Johnson) to the
committee. I look forward to working together to do good work for the
American people.
Mr. Speaker, firefighters, police, EMS, and other first responders
are critical to our Nation's emergency management system. First
responders leave their own families, even during disasters, to protect
you and me.
As recently as this past August, we saw devastating flooding in Baton
Rouge and southeast Louisiana. The flooding touched every home,
including the homes of firefighters, police, hospital workers, and
other first responders. First responders focused on rescuing flood
victims, while they knew their own homes were flooded and their own
families were homeless.
This legislation would require a report on the State and local
programs and policies in place to prepare and protect first responders
and their families in times of disaster. Taking care of first
responders and their families gives our firefighters, police, and other
critical emergency personnel the peace of mind to focus on the task at
hand, rather than worrying whether their family is safe and taken care
of.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 58, the First Responder Identification of
Emergency Needs in Disaster Situations, or the FRIENDS Act.
This bill requires the Government Accountability Office, or GAO, to
submit a report on how State and local programs affect the preparedness
and protection of first responders. Congress and the American people
need to know whether these programs consider circumstances that may
affect a first responder's ability to respond to an event.
In particular, the bill requires GAO to examine the degree to which
State and local programs and policies consider the presence of a first
responder's family in an area impacted by a terrorist attack, the
availability of personal protective equipment for first responders, and
the availability of home MedKits for first responders and their
families for biological incident response.
While we are asking GAO to examine State and local programs and
policies, some of these programs and policies may be funded with
Federal dollars. To that extent, Congress needs to know whether these
federally funded programs and policies are as effective as possible to
prepare and protect first responders.
This month, the State of Georgia received two Presidential disaster
declarations from devastating tornados in districts neighboring my own.
While these are not terrorist attacks, these tornados highlight the
fact that first responders are often called upon to respond to events
in their own communities where they and their loved ones live. Our
heros immediately respond to the call of duty, even though they
themselves or their loved ones may be impacted. Thus, it is important
that State and local preparedness programs are designed and developed
to consider all situations that may impact first responder
preparedness.
{time} 1415
We must do everything we can to support our first responders who are
often called upon to put their lives on the line to help others, even
when their own families need them. So I thank my colleague, the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), for introducing this bill and
for her diligent work on this issue.
In response to my chairman's welcome, I would have to respond by
saying I am just giddy about being a part of this subcommittee, and I
look forward to working with him and his staff to make things good for
America and for our future.
I urge my colleagues to join in my support of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), the sponsor of this
legislation.
[[Page H773]]
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia and,
likewise, congratulate him for his leadership on the Transportation
Committee, along with his chairman.
Mr. Speaker, I rise as a senior member of the Homeland Security
Committee, which committee has had special emphasis on protecting and
responding to our first responders, and so I am excited about the fact
of moving this bill forward. I thank the Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee, and I thank my Homeland Security Committee
for moving this forward through an amendment process and now,
ultimately, onto the floor of the House.
I rise, Mr. Speaker, enthusiastically, in support of H.R. 58, the
First Responder Identification of Emergency Needs in Disaster
Situations, or FRIENDS, Act.
I thank my chairman, Mr. McCaul, and Ranking Member Thompson for the
valuable assistance and support in bringing this important bill before
the House for consideration during the 114th Congress. We are now in
the 115th Congress. I appreciate Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member
DeFazio for allowing the FRIENDS Act now to come forward, which was
referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to be
considered on today's suspensions.
The FRIENDS Act reflects what America is all about. The FRIENDS Act
reflects what we, as Members of Congress, are all about. How many of us
stop by fire stations, pat a police officer of many different levels on
the back, say ``thank you,'' and recognize that that 911 number is a
very special number to many of our constituents.
But more importantly, when natural disasters or manmade disasters
such as the horrific and heinous terrorist act of 9/11 occur, who are
among the first to come? It is the first responders, and they go to
faraway places.
The FRIENDS Act reflects stakeholder input and bipartisan
collaboration with the majority.
I thank the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National
Association of State EMS Officials working with me, and The
International Emergency Management Society for their valuable
assistance and input regarding the FRIENDS Act.
Our two committees, Transportation and Infrastructure and Homeland
Security, really respond in a bipartisan way. Our Homeland Security
Committee will be facing many mountains of concerns dealing with
intelligence issues, dealing with the issues with Russia, dealing with
the issues of executive orders, but we do know that we come together to
honor our first responders that are our Nation's heroes. They run into
burning buildings; they rescue people trapped by dangerous floods and
put themselves in harm's way to protect others. Just last week, in San
Bernardino, we saw the brave first responders heroically pursue two
individuals that fled from the scene of a deadly attack recently over
the last year.
To do their jobs, first responders must leave their homes and
families while the rest of us cling to ours. Whether it is to deal with
the aftermath of a terrorist attack, as I indicated, or the fires,
hurricanes, and tornadoes that we have seen across America--devastation
of so many of our constituents, loss of life--first responders leave
their homes to ensure that others are safe.
Unfortunately, today, first responders are asked to answer the call
to action without knowing whether their families will be safe as the
work to rescue others proceeds. Our first responders deserve better.
The FRIENDS Act directs the Government Accountability Office to
conduct a comprehensive review of policies and programs designed to
ensure that first responders are able to do their jobs, and
effectively, by assessing, among other things, measures taken to ensure
first responder families are safe, first of all, and the availability
of personal protective equipment exists so that they can come home to
their families.
It was particularly noticed during 9/11. For those of us who were
able to go to Ground Zero as they were still continuing the recovery,
many of you know they continued to recover for months and months and
months, and you saw the kind of exposure those first responders had.
During committee consideration of the FRIENDS Act, my friend from New
York (Mr. Higgins) offered an amendment to authorize GAO to evaluate
the availability of home med kits for first responders and their
families in assessing the preparedness of first responders. I was
pleased to support the Higgins amendment, and it adds to this bill.
H.R. 58 also directs GAO to distinguish policies available in high-
risk urban areas which may be better resourced, and rural areas where
efforts to ensure preparedness for first responders and their families
may require creative leveraging of resources.
This provision will ensure that the information included in the
report will be applicable and adaptable by various communities across
the country as they work to better protect their protectors. Let us
remember both the rural community as well as the urban community.
Additionally, the FRIENDS Act directs the Secretary of Homeland
Security to review its findings and assess whether the policies
identified could be applicable to Federal first responders.
The FRIENDS Act has been endorsed by the International Association of
Fire Chiefs and a number of other organizations.
Before I conclude, let me again thank all of my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the International
Association of Fire Chiefs and, as well, the National Association of
State EMS Officials.
International Association
of Fire Chiefs,
Fairfax, VA, January 31, 2017.
Hon. Sheila Jackson Lee,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Jackson Lee: On behalf of the
approximately 12,000 fire and emergency service leaders of
the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), I would
like to thank you for introducing H.R. 58, the First
Responder Identification of Emergency Needs in Disaster
Situations (FRIENDS) Act. The IAFC supports this legislation,
because it will examine an important issue facing the
nation's first responders during a major terrorist attack:
adequate preparedness for the first responders' families.
During terrorist incidents, fire, law enforcement and EMS
officials will be called upon to take heroic actions to
protect the public and provide fire and emergency medical
response. In the case of a large-scale incident or biological
attack, the families of these first responders also will be
at risk. Based on the experience of IAFC members during the
response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the 2014 response
to potential Ebola incidents in the United States, I know
that the welfare of the first responders' families weighs
heavily on them as they serve the public. It is important
that federal, state, and local officials make plans to
provide for the safety of first responders' families in order
to ensure strong morale among local fire, law enforcement,
and EMS officials during a major terrorist attack.
Thank you for introducing this important legislation. We
look forward to working with you to pass this legislation in
the House of Representatives.
Sincerely,
Fire Chief John D. Sinclair,
President and Chairman of the Board.
____
National Association
of State EMS Officials,
Falls Church, VA, September 28, 2015.
Re: Expressing Support for the Jackson Lee Amendment in the
Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 2795.
Hon. Michael T. McCaul,
Chairman, House Committee on Homeland Security, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Martha McSally,
Chairman, Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response,
and Communications, House of Representatives, Washington,
DC.
Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
Ranking Member, House Committee on Homeland Security, House
of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Donald M. Pyne,
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness,
Response, and Communications, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
We are writing to express our support for the Jackson Lee
Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute titled, the
``Families of Responders Identification of Emergency Needs in
Designated Situations'' or the ``FRIENDS Act.'' This bill
would provide an important report on the state of family
support planning for the families of first responders.
We believe that Federal family support planning is
important to homeland security because this area of
continuity of operations planning addresses the health and
safety needs of first responder families during terrorist
attacks or incidents as well as other emergencies. The
FRIENDS Act will be an
[[Page H774]]
important first step in engaging the first responder
community on the role of family in preparedness and
continuity of operations.
The FRIENDS Act would also engage first responder
organizations to get their perspectives on best practices in
family support planning programs on the local and state
levels.
For these reasons, we support the FRIENDS Act of 2015.
Sincerely,
Paul R. Patrick,
President, National Association of
State EMS Officials.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 2 minutes
to the gentlewoman.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, it is important to know of the
important role that the International Association of Fire Chiefs play
in the lives of first responders and their advocacy for their fellow
brothers and sisters--and they call them their fellow brothers and
sisters. I want to briefly read their words:
Dear Representative Jackson Lee,
On behalf of the approximately 12,000 fire and emergency
service leaders of the International Association of Fire
Chiefs, I would like to thank you for introducing H.R. 58,
the First Responder Identification of Emergency Needs in
Disaster Situations, FRIENDS, Act.
The IAFC supports the legislation because it will examine
an important issue facing the Nation's first responders
during a major terrorist attack, adequate preparedness for
the first responders' families.
It goes on to list terrorist incidents, fire, and law enforcement,
and EMS officials will be called upon to take heroic action, and it
recounts that their concern is what is happening to their family under
these circumstances.
In a letter from the National Association of State EMS Officials
which I will insert into the Record, they indicate in their letter:
We are writing to express our support for the Jackson Lee
amendment, which was the bill the Families of Responders
Identification of Emergency Needs in Designated Situations.
This bill would make an important report on the state of
family support planning for the families of first responders.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am grateful to my colleagues for their
assistance as we move the FRIENDS Act forward, but I am more grateful
to those first responders who unselfishly put themselves forward and in
danger to help our constituents and help all of us. To their families,
we owe them the responsibility of ensuring that they are safe during
the time of their loved ones being on the front lines of saving others.
I ask my colleagues to support the FRIENDS Act, H.R. 58.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 58, the ``First Responder
Identification of Emergency Needs in Disaster Situations, or ``Friends'
Act'', and yield myself such time as I may consume.
I thank Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson for the valuable
assistance and support in bringing this important bill before the House
for consideration during the 114th Congress.
I appreciate and thank Chairman Bill Shuster and Ranking Member Peter
A. DeFazio for allowing the FRIENDS Act, which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to be considered under
today's suspensions.
The FRIENDS Act embodies the important and fundamental idea that we
have an obligation to ensure that the first responders who protect our
loved ones in emergencies have the peace of mind that comes from
knowing that their loved ones are safe while they do their duty.
During terrorist incidents, fire, law enforcement, and EMS officials
will be called upon to take heroic actions to protect the public and
provide fire and emergency medical response.
The FRIENDS Act reflects stakeholder input and bipartisan
collaboration with the Majority.
I thank the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National
Association of State EMS Officials, and the International Emergency
Management Society for their valuable assistance and support for the
FRIENDS Act.
I also thank Kay Goss, the President of the International Emergency
Management Society, who provided technical assistance on the work of
first responders to prepare for catastrophic events.
I am passionate about the work of those who dedicate themselves to
public service.
I hold in high regard the service of firefighters, law enforcement
officers, emergency response technicians, nurses, emergency room
doctors, and the dozens of other professionals who are the ultimate
public servants.
First responders are called to serve and few outside of their ranks
can understand why they do the work they do each day--placing their
lives in harm's way to save a stranger.
Law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and emergency medical
technicians make our lives safer, while often at the same time putting
their own lives at risk.
In the case of a large-scale incident or biological attack, the
families of these first responders also will be at risk.
Based upon the experience of International Fire Chiefs, which
endorsed the FRIENDS Act, the members' experiences during their
response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the 2014 response to
potential Ebola incidents in the United States, know that the welfare
of their families weighs heavily on first responders as they serve the
public.
It is important that federal, state, and local officials make plans
to provide for the safety of first responders' families in order to
ensure strong morale among local fire, law enforcement, and EMS
officials during a major terrorist attack.
H.R. 58 provides Congress an opportunity to let our first responders
know that we know they have families and loved ones who they leave
behind when they are called to duty, and their families will be
protected in the first responder absence.
The GAO study that will be provided as a result of this bill will
report on what is being done by local and state governments to address
the needs of first responder families when threats like Hurricanes
Sandy, Hugo, and Katrina hit communities, or when a terrorist attack
like the ones seen in New York and Boston occur.
The report required by the Jackson Lee FRIENDS Act will also provide
information on the availability of personal protective equipment for
first responders.
The issue of personal protective equipment was an acute problem for
front line first responders during the 2014 Ebola crisis.
First responders, including EMTs, emergency room doctors and nurses
as well as law enforcement and fire department professionals, were not
prepared for the crisis:
1. Nearly 80 percent of first responders report that their hospital
had not communicated to them any policy regarding potential admission
of patients infected by Ebola;
2. 85 percent said their hospital had not provided education on Ebola
that allowed the nurses to interact and ask questions of patients;
3. One-third said their hospital had insufficient supplies of eye
protection (face shields or side shields with goggles) and fluid
resistant/impermeable gowns; and
4. Nearly 40 percent said their hospital did not have plans to equip
isolation rooms with plastic covered mattresses and pillows and discard
all linens after use; fewer than 10 percent said they were aware their
hospital does have such a plan in place.
The Centers for Disease Control and only a few hospitals around the
country with infectious disease units knew the right protocols and had
the right protective gear to be used when treating an Ebola patient.
Ebola in the United States was a frightening experience for many, but
I think we saw the great work that first responders do each day--our
doctors and nurses went to work and treated the sick and did what they
always do--they took care of us.
During the 114th Congress the Homeland Security Committee unanimously
voted to report the FRIENDS Act favorably to the full House, which
passed the measure by an overwhelming margin and in support of local,
state and federal first responders.
The Comptroller General's comprehensive review of the range of
policies and programs in place at the State level to address the
preparedness and protection of first responders will also delineate
high risk urban areas and rural communities; and the degree to which
selected state policies were developed or executed with funding from
the DHS Grant Programs or Urban Area Security Initiative authorized by
the Homeland Security Act.
The report's focus will be on the presence of the family of first
responders in an area affected by a terrorist attack and the
availability of essential personal protective equipment.
This will be the first report that focuses on the family as a
critical factor that should be considered in the work of first
responders during times of crisis such as a terrorist attack or public
emergency like in the massive flooding that occurred in the city of
Houston last year and the year before.
The well-being of family members is a factor that one would expect to
weigh on a first responder called to respond to a terrorist attack or
unprecedented emergency.
The bravery or dedication of first responders is not in question--
they are the people who run into burning buildings to save people whom
they may never have met.
They are some of the best among us and we appreciate their dedication
and service.
Finally, the FRIENDS Act requires the Secretary of Homeland Security
to consider the report's findings and their applicability for federal
first responders.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Natalie Matson, of the Committee's
majority staff and
[[Page H775]]
Moira Bergin, of the Committee's minority staff, both of whom worked
closely with Lillie Coney on my staff on the FRIENDS Act.
I also thank the staff of the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure for their efforts to bring the bill before the full
House for consideration.
I ask all Members to join me in voting to pass H.R. 58, the FRIENDS
Act.
Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to vote ``yes''
on H.R. 58, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 58, 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.
____________________