House Lawmakers Unhappy at FEMA Hurricane Plans
House Homeland Security Committee Chmn. Thompson (D- Miss.) had a firm message Tues. for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Undersecy. David Paulison: Finish a plan coordinating local, state and federal emergency response efforts and end bureaucratic turf skirmishes. Paulison irked Thompson when he said the plan, due June 1, won’t be ready until close to July 1. Ranking Member King (R-N.Y.) pressed Paulison about a current International Trade Commission case that could affect first responders’ access to cellphones.
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The ITC case could reduce availability of needed gear, King said. A May 25 ITC ruling on a 2005 inquiry could lead to a ban on importing cellphones using Qualcomm chipsets. The case began when Cal. company Broadcom complained that Qualcomm violated its patent. In 2006, the ITC agreed. At Qualcomm’s request, a public hearing was held March 21-22. Separately, the FCC Wireless Bureau said an import ban could harm consumers (CD April 2 p1).
Many small first-responder organizations use the phones, which offer video, text message and other formats that speed communication, House sources said. The phones cost less than special-order police radios popular with larger police agencies, so small law enforcement offices often use them as an alternative, Hill sources said.
Paulison told lawmakers he believes that FEMA can rally emergency response efforts to hard-hit regions, even though his agency hasn’t completed an emergency response plan it was told to have by June 1, when hurricane season starts. His vow drew jeers; protestors in the audience complained that the National Guard, which FEMA disaster operations depend on, is heavily engaged in Iraq. “Bring our Guard Home,” read a pink-emblazoned sign held by a woman who stood as Rep. Carney (D-Pa.) was questioning Paulison.
Paulison told the committee that even with 40% of the Guard deployed in Iraq, resources are available. Rep. Jackson-Lee (D-Tex.) challenged that claim, asking Paulison why the $1 billion that bills would allocate for interoperability funding must go to states, rather to at-risk cities. That’s the law, Paulison said: “We want the money to flow down to where it needs to go. Most of our interoperability problems have to do with governance problems.” Paulison doesn’t support changing grant-making policy, he said: “We feel that’s the right way to go for now.”
Separately, the National Emergency Numbering Assn. Tues. wrote House and Senate Homeland Security Committee leaders urging inclusion of an E-911 measure in S-4, the 9/11 Commission Recommendations bill. That would allow the govt. to borrow in advance against anticipated DTV auction revenue $43.5 million for E-911 grants. The original bill was introduced by Senate Commerce Committee Vice Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska) at the beginning of this Congress. Each chamber has passed its own 9/11 bill, but House and Senate conferrees haven’t agreed on a measure to send the President.
“Come to an agreement on the legislation as soon as possible,” said NENA Pres. Jason Barbour in a letter to members: “We are hopeful that this [inclusion of S-4] will happen expeditiously, not only for the potential benefit of the 911 community , but also for the overall advancement of all homeland security issue.”