Conference Report On H.R. 5441, Department Of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 5441, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007 -- (House of Representatives - September 29, 2006)
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Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Fiscal Year 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Conference Report. It includes several provisions that I authored in the Homeland Security and Appropriations Committees, including much-needed provisions to help first responders communicate.
More than two years ago, I proposed legislation to require the Department of Homeland Security to create a national interoperability strategy. It is time that we give our first responders the tools they need to adequately communicate with one another without having to use many of the same tactics as Paul Revere.
This strategy is long overdue. Ten years ago, the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee recommended that ``unless immediate measures are taken to promote interoperability, public safety agencies will not be able to adequately discharge their obligation to protect life and property in a safe, efficient, and cost effective manner.'' Because of inadequate radios, 343 firefighters died while heroically rescuing thousands of workers at the World Trade Center on September 11th. Last year, communications failures exacerbated the poor response to Hurricane Katrina.
Amazingly, the Department has no real plan to solve the communications crisis and has not made the issue a priority. This bill will require it to complete a baseline study to assess current capabilities; create a resource plan; expedite voluntary consensus standards; set goals and time frames; identify obstacles; coordinate planning with other federal as well as state, local, and private sector partners; design backup systems in the event that primary systems fail; and verify manufacturers' claims that equipment meets certain standards.
Unfortunately, the conference report does not include my dedicated communications grant program. While it is imperative that we have a workable strategy, it can only be executed when local public safety agencies have funding to plan, design, implement, and maintain interoperable networks. In addition, the bill cuts funding for the major first responder grant programs, further delaying the progress that state and local governments should be making to increase communications capabilities.
Although the conference report is not perfect, I am pleased that conferees took the first step in adopting my interoperability strategy.
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