House Passes Interoperability Bill 414-2
The House Tues. passed 414-2 a bill (HR-5852) that would coordinate national, state and local emergency communications efforts through a new Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) office. The bipartisan bill largely sailed through the House, save for an attack by Rep. Stupak (D-Mich.). The former police officer said the bill solves only “half the problem” since it doesn’t fund the changes it proposes. Stupak slammed Republicans for rushing the bill to the floor with no hearing, markup or opportunity for amendment. The bill was introduced July 20.
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“I strongly oppose the process by which this bill has been brought to the floor today,” said the House Commerce Committee member. The bill went on the suspension calendar, precluding amendments. Admitting the bill’s goals are worthy, Stupak said they're what DHS should have done years ago. “My colleagues should vote for this bill,” he said in a floor speech, but they “should not be under any false illusions” that the bill fully solves problems. Republicans don’t want to “invest in public safety communications grants for our communities,” Stupak said.
The bill was a “congenial, combined effort” emerging from 4 hearings and dozens of meetings with safety officials, said Rep. Reichert (R-Wash.), chmn. of the Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness Subcommittee. Reichert, also a former police officer, said the bill was months in development in meetings his committee held. “I know the importance of finding solutions to this problem,” he said: “Interoperability is a life and death issue. We've been dealing with interoperability issues as police officers for over 30 years.” Reichert thinks the bill will solve many problems safety officials face, he said.
Many House Democrats backed the bill, including Homeland Security Ranking Member Thompson (D-Miss.). Despite the bill’s convenient pre-election timing, “I'm grateful we're doing something to help our men and women on the front lines,” he said.
The head of the new DHS emergency communications office would oversee all such communications nationwide. States would have to write plans and coordinate regionally among federal, state and local officials. Emergency communications would be elevated within DHS by the bill, which would speed development of national standards for emergency communications gear. The bill would tie award of DHS grants to development of “effective statement interoperable communications plans.”
“Our first responders have been using many of the same communications as Paul Revere in situations such as Columbine, 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina,” said Rep. Lowey (D- N.Y.), a backer. An interoperability strategy is “desperately” needed to address such crises and to “validate manufacturers’ claims that standards are needed,” she said, decrying the bill’s lack of funding. Still, it’s a “vast improvement” over today’s lack of policy, she said.
House Commerce Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R- Mich.) said the bill “builds on work” by Congress with the DTV bill to help first responders get equipment they need. The bill goes next to the Senate.