[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 31, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H792-H793]
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. 687) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish
a 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.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 687
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.--Section 2008 of the Homeland Security Act
of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 609) is amended--
(1) in subsection (f)--
(A) by striking ``If an applicant'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) Application requirement.--If an applicant''; and
(B) 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.
``(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.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(g) Review Process.--The Administrator shall implement a
uniform process for reviewing applications to use grants
provided under section 2003 or 2004 to purchase equipment or
systems not included on the Authorized Equipment List
maintained 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 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 today in support of H.R. 687. This
legislation would establish a review process for grant applicants
seeking to purchase equipment or systems that do not meet or exceed
national voluntary consensus standards.
With threats consistently evolving, it is reassuring to see new
technology emerge which will promote the safety of our communities and
first responders. 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 Area 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 process to consider applications for that
equipment.
H.R. 687 requires FEMA to develop such a process for reviewing these
requests. Previously, this bill was introduced in the 114th Congress by
the subcommittee's ranking member, Mr. Payne, and subsequently received
bipartisan support by my subcommittee and the Committee on Homeland
Security as well as the House when it was passed under suspension of
the rules in September of 2016.
I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for reintroducing
this commonsense bill. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R.
687 because it will ensure our first responders have the ability to
purchase equipment and emerging technology needed to effectively adapt
to the current threat landscape.
Earlier this month, the Committee on Homeland Security released the
January Terror Threat Snapshot, which found that the United States
remains a top target for terrorists. It is clear that the threat to our
communities is not going away.
Congress has the responsibility to make America safer and stronger.
We can do so by ensuring commonsense measures are in place to ensure
first responders have the tools that they need to address these
threats.
I urge all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 687.
Mr. Speaker, 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. 687, the First Responder Access to
Innovative Technologies Act.
Mr. Speaker, in my time serving as ranking member of the Committee on
Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response,
and Communications, I have come to learn a great deal about the very
important, very challenging job of first responders. These brave men
and women run toward danger with our safety as their number one
priority.
Since the September 11 attacks, the private sector has redoubled its
efforts to develop innovative technologies for first responders to use
and to carry out their vital missions.
Yet, through our subcommittee's oversight, we have seen where, in
some instances, industry standards have
[[Page H793]]
failed to keep the pace with breakthroughs in technology. As a result,
we have found that first responders cannot always access the most up-
to-date equipment because they cannot use Homeland Security grant funds
to purchase equipment and technology that does not meet or exceed
voluntary industry standards.
H.R. 687 would require FEMA to develop a transparent process for
reviewing requests to use grant funds to purchase technologies that do
not meet or exceed voluntary industry standards and/or that are not on
the authorized equipment list.
The bill has the support of the Security Industry Association and
unanimously passed the House last September. Mr. Speaker, I include in
the Record a letter from the Security Industry Association.
Security Industry Association,
Silver Spring, MD, January 27, 2017.
Hon. Dan Donovan,
Chairman, House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency
Preparedness, Response and Communications, Washington,
DC.
Hon. Donald Payne,
Ranking Member, House Homeland Security Subcommittee on
Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Donovan and Ranking Member Payne: On behalf
of the Security Industry Association (SIA), I would like to
express our strong support for H.R. 687, the First Responder
Access to Innovative Technologies Act, which would streamline
the existing process for first responders utilizing homeland
security grants to purchase innovative equipment. SIA is a
non-profit international trade association representing
nearly 700 global security and life safety solutions
providers, and our members develop, manufacture and integrate
equipment that is vital to carrying out a variety of homeland
security missions.
Under current law, equipment purchased with homeland
security grants must meet or exceed ``national voluntary
consensus standards,'' unless an explanation as to why an
exception is necessary is provided to, reviewed and approved
by the Department. For some products, including first
responder equipment, technology innovations have outpaced the
process of developing voluntary consensus standards, and no
such standards may yet exist. Among other provisions, H.R.
687 directs FEMA to develop a more consistent and transparent
process for reviewing these requests, which would expedite
consideration and provide more certainty to stakeholders.
Like you, we believe that first responders must be able to
choose the most appropriate and advanced equipment to meet
urgent and changing needs as they work to protect the public.
SIA and its members stand ready to serve as a resource to you
as you continue work on this critical issue. Thank you for
your leadership and attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Don Erickson,
CEO, Security Industry Association.
{time} 1600
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, our first responders are on the front lines
of emergency response. In recognition of their bravery and sacrifices
they make every day, in and out, we must make sure that they have the
access to the most up-to-date technologies to help them do their jobs
better and safer. To that end, I urge my colleagues to support H.R.
687.
Mr. Speaker, 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. 687, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Jody B. Hice of Georgia). 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. 687.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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