911, Communications Interoperability Funding Clears Congress
The House passed the 9/11 Commission report 371-40 Friday that includes provisions upgrading the nation’s 911 systems and allocating $400 million beginning in FY 2009 for interoperable emergency communications and a dedicated interoperability grant program. The grants, managed by the Department of Homeland Security, would require annual reports to Congress on state progress toward implementing interoperability plans. The Senate passed the bill late Thursday and it now goes to the President to be signed.
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The 911 provision requires that the $43.5 million allocated under the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act be made available immediately so public safety groups can being replacing old equipment. The interoperability grants, managed by the Department of Homeland Security, would require annual reports to Congress on state progress toward implementing interoperability plans.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., strongly endorsed the bill (HR-1) in a speech Friday, saying passage would strengthen the U.S. States would get interoperability grants only after the Office of Emergency Communications within the Homeland Security Department approved their interoperability plans, a step the White House added to improve administration of the funds. The bill has more safeguards against waste, fraud and abuse, Senate Homeland Security Committee aides said.
Other House leaders joined Pelosi in promoting the bill, stalled for weeks before emerging from committee and winning consensus among House and Senate conferees. “This is a critically important day for this Congress, and, indeed, our nation,” said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md. The 9-11 bill is the last major piece of legislation Congress will consider before its August recess.
“This… is a good start on the path to funding this program adequately, which is so critical to our nation’s ability to respond to disasters of all kinds,” said Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Joseph Lieberman, I- Ct., referring to the interoperability program. Ranking Member Susan Collins of Maine also endorsed the bill, saying it would provide a stable, balanced formula for state homeland security grants. The bill would require NTIA to work with the FCC to ensure the interoperability project is carried out “as soon as adequate spectrum is available as a result of the 800 MHz rebanding process in border areas.”
During House debate, discussion came up about possible consideration of the electronic surveillance provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.