[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15757-15759]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         FIRST RESPONDER ANTI-TERRORISM TRAINING RESOURCES ACT

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur 
in the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 3978) to amend the 
Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 to 
authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to accept and use gifts 
for otherwise authorized activities of the Center for Domestic 
Preparedness that are related to preparedness for and response to 
terrorism, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the Senate amendments is as follows:

       Senate amendments:
       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``First Responder Anti-
     Terrorism Training Resources Act''.

     SEC. 2. ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS FOR FIRST RESPONDER TERRORISM 
                   PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE TRAINING.

       (a) In General.--The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
     U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) in title V (6 U.S.C. 311 et seq.), by adding at the end 
     the following:

     ``SEC. 525. ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS.

       ``(a) Authority.--The Secretary may accept and use gifts of 
     property, both real and personal, and may accept gifts of 
     services, including from guest lecturers, for otherwise 
     authorized activities of the Center for Domestic Preparedness 
     that are related to efforts to prevent, prepare for, protect 
     against, or respond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, 
     or other man-made disaster, including the use of a weapon of 
     mass destruction.
       ``(b) Prohibition.--The Secretary may not accept a gift 
     under this section if the Secretary determines that the use 
     of the property or services would compromise the integrity or 
     appearance of integrity of--
       ``(1) a program of the Department; or
       ``(2) an individual involved in a program of the 
     Department.
       ``(c) Report.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary 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 an annual report 
     disclosing--
       ``(A) any gifts that were accepted under this section 
     during the year covered by the report;
       ``(B) how the gifts contribute to the mission of the Center 
     for Domestic Preparedness; and
       ``(C) the amount of Federal savings that were generated 
     from the acceptance of the gifts.
       ``(2) Publication.--Each report required under paragraph 
     (1) shall be made publically available.'';
       (2) in section 873(b) (6 U.S.C. 453(b)), by striking ``and 
     by section 93'' and all that follows through ``or donations'' 
     and inserting ``by section 93 of title 14, United States 
     Code, or by section 525 or 884 of this Act, gifts or 
     donations''; and
       (3) in section 884 (6 U.S.C. 464), by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(c) Acceptance and Use of Gifts.--The Federal Law 
     Enforcement Training Center may accept and use gifts of 
     property, both real and personal, and accept services, for 
     authorized purposes.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) The homeland security act of 2002.--The Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended in the 
     table of contents by inserting after the item relating to 
     section 524 the following:

``Sec. 525. Acceptance of gifts.''.

       (2) Repeal.--The matter under the heading ``salaries and 
     expenses'' under the heading ``Federal Law Enforcement 
     Training Center'' under title IV of the Department of 
     Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2004 (6 U.S.C. 464a) is 
     amended by striking ``Provided, That in fiscal year 2004 and 
     thereafter, the Center is authorized to accept and use gifts 
     of property, both real and personal, and to accept services, 
     for authorized purposes: Provided further,'' and inserting 
     ``Provided,''.
       Amend the title so as to read: ``An Act to amend the 
     Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security to accept and use gifts for otherwise 
     authorized activities of the Center for Domestic Preparedness 
     that are related to preparedness for a response to terrorism, 
     and for other purposes.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Richardson) and the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and insert extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of concurring in the 
Senate amendments to H.R. 3978, and I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As chairwoman of the Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and 
Response Subcommittee, I am pleased to join the original sponsor of 
this legislation, the ranking member of that very subcommittee, Mr. 
Rogers of Alabama, in strong support of the First Responder Anti-
Terrorism Training Resources Act.
  Mr. Rogers' district is home to the Center for Domestic Preparedness, 
also known as the Center throughout my comments, and one of the 
Nation's premier training sites. At the Center, thousands of first 
responders from all 50 States receive hands-on training for real world 
incidents involving chemical, biological, explosive, radiological and 
other hazardous materials.

[[Page 15758]]

  As we saw last week on nationwide TV when a ruptured pipeline sent a 
ball of fire into the neighborhoods of San Bruno, California, 
completely blowing to pieces four homes, killing four people, in 
addition to four people who are still missing, this training is vital, 
and we must continue to find creative ways to strengthen it.
  I am pleased that the legislation before us today will enhance the 
training of our first responders. Given the Center's leading role in 
all-hazards training, the facility often receives offers of resources 
and donations, including training displays, emergency response 
equipment, and guest lectures.
  The ability to accept, process, and utilize these donations and gifts 
would strengthen the Center's ability to offer high-quality emergency 
response training, as well as in difficult times reduce costs for the 
Center itself.
  Pursuant to current rules and law, the Center for Domestic 
Preparedness currently lacks the legal authority to accept these types 
of resources, gifts, and services. The enactment of H.R. 3978 would 
permit the Secretary of Homeland Security to accept and use gifted 
items for authorized activities of the Center for Domestic Preparedness 
that are related to preventing, preparing for, protecting against, or 
responding to all-hazards.
  The legislation further directs the Department of Homeland Security, 
DHS, to report annually to Congress on any gifts that were accepted and 
how they might contribute to the Center's mission. The report must also 
describe the amount of federally funded savings that were generated 
from the acceptance of these gifts, which is very important as we look 
for ways to trim costs. The bill also amends the Homeland Security Act 
to authorize the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center to accept and 
use gifts, donations, and services. For these reasons, I urge all of my 
colleagues to support the Senate amendments to H.R. 3978.

         House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and 
           Infrastructure,
                               Washington, DC, September 14, 2010.
     Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thompson: I write to you regarding the Senate 
     amendment to H.R. 3978, the ``First Responder Anti-Terrorism 
     Training Resources Act''.
       We note that the Senate amendment to H.R. 3978 contains 
     provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee 
     on Transportation and Infrastructure. Given that the House is 
     scheduled to call up the measure without formal referral of 
     the bills to committees of jurisdiction, I request an 
     acknowledgement that nothing waives, reduces, or otherwise 
     affects the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation 
     and Infrastructure over H.R. 3978.
       Please place a copy of this letter and your response 
     acknowledging the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure's jurisdictional interest in the Congressional 
     Record during consideration of the measure in the House.
       I look forward to working with you as we prepare to pass 
     this important legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                           James L. Oberstar, M.C.
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                    U.S. House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Homeland Security,

                               Washington, DC, September 14, 2010.
     Hon. James L. Oberstar,
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
         U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Oberstar: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     the Senate amendments to H.R. 3978, the ``First Responder 
     Anti-Terrorism Training Resources Act.''
       I acknowledge that the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure has a jurisdictional interest in provisions 
     contained within the Senate amendments to H.R. 3978. I 
     further acknowledge that the lack of a formal referral of the 
     Senate amendments to H.R. 3978 does not waive, reduce, or 
     otherwise affect the jurisdiction of the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure.
       I will ensure that this exchange of letters is included in 
     the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the 
     Senate amendments to H.R. 3978.
           Sincerely,
                                               Bennie G. Thompson,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of final passage of H.R. 
3978, the First Responder Anti-Terrorism Training Resources Act.
  Thanks to strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, we 
are here today with legislation that provides the CDP with authority to 
accept donations of items such as railcars, subway cars, emergency 
response equipment, and other property and services that would help 
bolster training.
  I introduced this bill last November to ensure that first responders 
who train at East Alabama's Center For Domestic Preparedness have 
access to all available resources that will strengthen their training 
activities.
  This bill was passed by the House on December 15, 2009 by a vote of 
413-1. On August 5, the bill passed the Senate with an amendment by 
unanimous consent.
  I would like to thank Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member King as 
well as Senators Lieberman and Collins for their support of the bill in 
moving it forward in both chambers.
  The CDP, located in my district in Anniston, Alabama, delivers one-
of-a-kind, hands-on training to America's emergency responders. 
Training at the CDP is fully funded by the Department of Homeland 
Security. State and local responders from all 50 States, the District 
of Columbia, and the U.S. territories have trained at this center.
  Like other training centers, the CDP often receives offers of 
donations to assist their training courses. However, the CDP does not 
have the legal authority to accept those donations, and has been forced 
to turn them down in the past. My bill fixes this problem.
  As amended by the Senate, the bill ensures that CDP may accept 
donations in support of its entire all-hazards missions. The bill also 
includes language to ensure that no gifts are accepted if they are 
determined to compromise the integrity or the appearance of integrity 
of a program of the department or an individual associated with the 
department, and the annual report to Congress on donations accepted 
must be made available to the public.
  The bill would also authorize the Federal Law Enforcement Training 
Center to accept gifts under the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as it 
has been doing under the 2004 Department of Homeland Security 
Appropriations Act.

                              {time}  1100

  Simply put, this legislation is a win-win for our first responders, 
the American taxpayer and the Center for Domestic Preparedness; and I 
urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. RICHARDSON. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the CDP--the Center for Domestic Preparedness--and the 
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center are law enforcement training 
organizations for numerous Federal, State and local agencies, and they 
provide vital preparation to our law enforcement community. In fact, it 
could definitely benefit from the use of these additional resources. By 
allowing DHS-supported training centers to accept these gifts, this 
legislation will help tap into the generosity of the American people 
and the companies to enhance the training for thousands of first 
responders. In turn, I expect it will save a significant amount of 
taxpayer dollars.
  I encourage my colleagues to support this important homeland security 
legislation, and I commend Mr. Rogers for his efforts.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the 
Senate Amendment to H.R. 3978, a bill that would permit the Center for 
Domestic Preparedness and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center 
to accept gifts and donations in order to better train our nation's 
first responders. As Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, I 
was pleased that H.R. 3978 received broad bi-partisan support in the 
House and passed the Senate unanimously. I urge my colleagues to 
support the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3978.
  Madam Speaker, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Center for 
Domestic Preparedness (Center) is the nation's leading all-hazards 
first-responder training center. The Center trains thousands of first 
responders

[[Page 15759]]

and is especially well-known for its weapons of mass destruction 
training facility. It is of significant interest to the Committee and 
many of us have visited the campus to see the important training that 
takes place.
  The Center often receives offers of donated goods and services, such 
as training displays, response equipment, and trailers. These donations 
would allow the Center to offer stronger training opportunities at a 
lower cost to the Department of Homeland Security and the American 
taxpayer. The Center, however, does not have the legal authority to 
accept gifts that would enhance its ability to deliver superior 
training.
  The Senate Amendment to H.R. 3978 would amend the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 to permit the Center to receive donated gifts and services 
that are related to preventing, preparing for, protecting against, or 
responding to all-hazards, including natural disasters, acts of 
terrorism and other man-made disasters. The legislation further calls 
on the Secretary of Homeland Security to annually report to Congress on 
the gifts accepted, how the gifts contribute to the mission of the 
Center and the amount of Federal savings that were generated from the 
acceptance of the gifts.
  The bill also amends the Homeland Security Act to authorize the 
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center to accept and use gifts, 
donations, and services.
  Mr. Speaker, the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3978 will pay immediate 
dividends for our first responder community by enhancing their training 
with more resources. The Committee will continue to support these 
important training centers and the brave work of our first responders. 
I support the passage of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3978 and 
encourage my colleagues to support it as well.
  Ms. RICHARDSON. 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 California (Ms. Richardson) that the House suspend the 
rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill, H.R. 3978.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the Senate amendments were concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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