[Senate Report 107-127]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                                       Calendar No. 297
107th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 1st Session                                                    107-127

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    NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL

                                _______
                                

               December 17, 2001.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

   Mr. Jeffords, from the Committee on Environment and Public Works, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [to accompany S. 1631]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was 
referred a bill (S. 1631), to amend the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to direct the 
Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to conduct 
a study to determine the resources that are needed for the 
development of an effective nationwide communications system 
for emergency response personnel, having considered the same, 
reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that 
the bill, as amended, do pass.

                               Background

    Over the past several years the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency (FEMA) has consistently provided testimony 
about the importance of an effective nationwide communications 
system to respond to disasters and other national emergencies. 
Emergency responders have experienced difficulties in 
coordinating their rescue and response efforts because of the 
lack of a dedicated wireless communications system.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

Section 1. Study of Emergency Response Communications System

                                Summary

    Section 1 directs FEMA to conduct a study to determine the 
resources necessary to develop an effective nationwide 
communications system for emergency response personnel.

                               Discussion

    Section 1 amends title VII of the Stafford Act by adding a 
new section 706. The new section directs the FEMA Director to 
conduct a study to determine the resources needed to develop an 
effective nationwide communications system for emergency 
response personnel. The Director will conduct the study in 
consultation with the Federal Communications Commission, the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the 
Secretary of Defense. The study will include a review of the 
use of the digital and analog spectrum to create a effective 
emergency communication system.
    The Director will submit a report on the study to the 
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

                          Legislative History

    Senator James M. Jeffords introduced S. 1631 on November 5, 
2001. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works 
reported the bill, with an amendment, by voice vote on November 
8, 2001.

                                Hearings

    On November 1, 2001, the committee held a hearing to 
consider several legislative proposals including a proposal to 
conduct a study of the resources necessary to establish a 
nationwide emergency communications system for emergency 
response personnel. Testifying at the hearing were the 
following individuals: Michael Brown, Deputy Director, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, Washington, DC; Joe Moravec, 
Commissioner, Public Building Service, General Services 
Administration, Washington, DC; Dr. David Sampson, Assistant 
Secretary for Economic Development, Economic Development 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC; 
Richard Meserve, Chairman, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Rockville, MD; Herbert Mitchell, Associate Administrator for 
Disaster Assistance, Small Business Administration, Washington, 
DC; and Marianne L. Horinko, Assistant Administrator Office of 
Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Environmental Protection 
Agency, Washington, DC.

                             Rollcall Votes

    The Committee on Environment and Public Works met to 
consider S. 1631 on November 8, 2001. The committee agreed to 
an amendment in the nature of a substitute by Senator Jeffords 
by voice vote. The committee then reported S. 1631, as amended, 
by voice vote.

                      Regulatory Impact Statement

    In compliance with section 11(b) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee makes evaluation of 
the regulatory impact of the reported bill.
    The bill does not create any additional regulatory burdens, 
nor will it cause any adverse impact on the personal privacy of 
individuals.

                          Mandates Assessment

    In compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 
(Public Law 104-4), the committee finds that S. 1631 would 
impose no unfunded mandates on local, State, or tribal 
governments.

                          Cost of Legislation

    Section 403 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment 
control Act requires that a statement of the cost of the 
reported bill, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, be 
included in the report. That statement follows:
                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                 Washington, DC, December 13, 2001.

Hon. James Jeffords, Chairman,
Committee on Environment and Public Works,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared 
the enclosed cost estimate for S. 1631, a bill to amend the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
to direct the Director of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency to conduct a study to determine the resources that are 
needed for development of an effective nationwide 
communications system for emergency response personnel.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Julie 
Middleton, who can be reached at 226-2860.
            Sincerely,
                                             Dan L. Crippen
                              ----------                              

S. 1631, a bill to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
        Emergency Assistance Act to direct the Director of the Federal 
        Emergency Management Agency to conduct a study to determine the 
        resources that are needed for development of an effective 
        nationwide communications system for emergency response 
        personnel, as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on 
        Environment and Public Works on November 8, 2001
    S. 1631 would authorize the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency (FEMA) to conduct a study in cooperation with the 
Federal Communications Commission, the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, and the Department of Defense, to 
determine a plan for developing a nationwide communications 
system for emergency response. This plan would need to include 
a review of the use of digital and analog spectrum. The bill 
would require FEMA to submit a report no later than 90 days 
after enactment to the appropriate congressional committees.
    Based on information from the affected agencies and costs 
of similar reports, CBO estimates that implementing this bill 
would cost less than $500,000 in 2002, assuming the 
availability of appropriated funds. S. 1631 would not affect 
direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go 
procedures would not apply. S. 1631 contains no 
intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on the 
budgets of State, local, or tribal governments.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Julie Middleton. 
This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                        Changes in Existing Law

    In compliance with section 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 
Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill 
as reported are shown as follows: Existing law proposed to be 
omitted is enclosed in [black brackets], new matter is printed 
in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown 
in roman:
                              ----------                              


  THE ROBERT T. STAFFORD DISASTER RELIEF AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ACT

            [As Amended Through P.L. 106-580, Dec. 29, 2000]

    AN ACT Entitled the ``Disaster Relief Act Amendments of 1974''.

  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 ``Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act''.

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SEC. 706. STUDY OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM.

    (a) In General.--In consultation with the Federal 
Communications Commission, the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, and the Secretary of Defense, the Director 
shall conduct a study to determine the resources that are 
needed for development of an effective nationwide 
communications system for emergency response personnel.
    (b) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the 
        date of enactment of this section, the Director shall 
        submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works 
        of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 
        Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report 
        on the study.
            (2) Review of use of spectrum.--The study and 
        report shall include a review of use of the digital 
        spectrum or the analog spectrum as a key component to 
        meeting the urgent communications needs of the 
        emergency response personnel of the United States.

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