May 14, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 80 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[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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