[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 14, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H3755-H3756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FIRST RESPONDER ACCESS TO INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES ACT
Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the
rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1594) 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. 1594
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 (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.''; 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 gentlewoman from
[[Page H3756]]
New Mexico (Ms. Torres Small) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Joyce) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Mexico.
General Leave
Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New Mexico?
There was no objection.
Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time
as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1594, the First
Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act.
Our Nation's first responders put their lives on the line to ensure
all of us are safe. These brave women and men should have access to the
equipment they need to protect lives and property around the country.
One of the Department of Homeland Security's most important missions
is to help ensure the effectiveness of our Nation's emergency services
sector. Key avenues for such support are the Department's
counterterrorism grant programs: the Urban Area Security Initiative and
the State Homeland Security Grant Program.
Unfortunately, the grant guidance for these grant programs sometimes
hinders first responders' ability to acquire innovative
counterterrorism equipment. Today, each piece of equipment must meet or
exceed national voluntary consensus standards.
Although FEMA will review requests to purchase equipment that does
not meet consensus standards, the Committee on Homeland Security has
learned from stakeholders that the process lacks uniformity,
predictability, and transparency. The process for developing voluntary
consensus standards for first responder equipment has not kept pace
with the evolution of technology or the demands of first responders.
H.R. 1594 would direct FEMA to implement a standard process for
reviewing applications to purchase equipment that do not meet consensus
standards or for equipment not included on FEMA's authorized equipment
list. H.R. 1594 seeks to ensure that the safety of our first responders
remains a top priority.
As today's threats faced by first responders are constantly evolving,
it is important that our technology evolve, too. Enactment of H.R. 1594
will help ensure first responders can do their job more safely and
effectively.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time
as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1594, the First
Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act.
With threats to our communities constantly evolving, it is reassuring
to see the emergence of new technologies ready to meet the new
challenges. 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 Urban Area Security Initiative must procure equipment that
meets these standards. This can be problematic when first responders
seek to use grant funds to acquire new and innovative technology that
does not meet or exceed any applicable national voluntary consensus
standard.
Unfortunately, if a grant recipient would like to use grant funds to
purchase such equipment, FEMA does not maintain a uniform process for
reviewing these applications. H.R. 1594 requires FEMA to develop such a
process for reviewing these requests.
This legislation also directs FEMA to implement a uniform process for
reviewing applications to purchase equipment not included on the
authorized equipment list maintained by FEMA.
It is imperative that we listen to those in the emergency services
sector and help enable them to acquire the tools that they need to save
American lives and keep us safe. We must empower them to acquire the
equipment they need for their jobs and provide them with a uniform
process to do so.
Mr. Speaker, I support this bill and I support our first responders.
These brave men and women run into danger as everyone else runs away
from it. We owe it to them to create processes that make their jobs and
their lives easier. They have our backs on our worst days. We should
have their backs on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the
balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, by passing this bill today, we can ensure first
responders have a reliable and uniform process for acquiring
technologies and equipment that will keep them and our communities
safe. The House unanimously passed previous versions of this bill in
the prior two Congresses.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support me in passing this
legislation today. As the gentleman from Pennsylvania said, they have
our backs, we should have their backs.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Torres Small) that the House suspend
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1594.
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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