being present a subcommittee will come to order today we're meeting to consider the following three bills h r thirty nine eighty the redundancy elimination and enhance performance for preparedness grants act h r thirty nine seventy eight the first responders and the terrorism training resources this is harry to keep our community safe the first bill which i have introduced as h r thirty nine eighty the redundancy elimination and enhance performance for preparedness grants act vital the fema be able to determine how it's homeland security grant programs building and sustaining cap abilities to prepare for and protect against acts of terrorism it became clear at last week's subcommittee hearing that female has not made much progress in developing performance metrics for homeland nation's preparedness my legislation would read fema to identify and eliminate unnecessary reporting requirements rules and regulations for homeland security grants it also would break them up to develop a strategy for establishing performance  metrics for grants finally the bill will require fema to complete a program assessment for each homeland security grant program fema would need to report back to this committee on implementation within one hundred twenty days this bill is a commonsense approach to ensur keeping our nation safe the second bill we're considering this afternoon is sponsored by a ranking member mr rogers the first responders and the terrorism training resource act will permit the center for domestic preparedness to receive donations of goods and services and help the center fulfill its mission to train first responders other government agencies have this is third t n and believe it's appropriate that the center in alabama have it as well the third bill is h r thirty eight thirty seven strengthening and updating resources and equipment act this bill sponsored by mr roy would overturn female's new policy this allow in state and local governments from using preparedness grants to keep vital homeland security equipment operational state and local governments are not in the financial position to certainly assume the concept keep in sophisticated homeland security equipment operational members of this subcommittee have heard loud and clear from their states and districts about the negative straightforward and will help our state and local partners keep the state save thank mr rogers for his cooperation and his work and hope that we can pass all three measures this afternoon i now recognize the ranking member of the subcommittee the gentleman from alabama mr rogers to make an opening statement thank you mr chairman thank you for holding this hearing on these three important bills these three bills are discussed by the chairman important to supporting state and local like locals and our first responder community support all three bills h r thirty nine eighty introduced by the subcommittee chair dresses several issues related to themis policies and management of state and local homeland security grants the chairs bill would require fame of todd and if any redundant rules regulations  reporting requirements that currently exist for grant recipients it would also require fame to develop a plan for improving performance metrics for preparedness grants our subcommittee hearing last week bogost on this very topic the need to improve measurements of paradise since two thousand and six congress is mandated fema to develop tools to answer the question how prepared are we i'm pleased to support the chairman and please just to support the chairman to make sure th developing sound performance measures and eliminating any duplicative reporting requirements that continue to put an unnecessary burden on state and locals in addition i've introduced h r thirty nine seventy eight which gives the secretary of homeland security authorities to accept donations for any terrorism training activities at the center for domestic preparedness this important first responder training center located in my district in anniston alabama often receives offers of donations including railroad cars traders emergency response equipment and other property to enhance first responder training currently city p d is not have the authority to accept these donations other d h is training centers such as the federal law enforcement training center flips he already has this is already ma bill will authorize the secretary to accept donations of property as well as services such as guest speakers that will benefit and support the purchase bonder training c d p the bill also requires a secretary to issue a report to congress that describes the donations that were accepted how they will benefit terrorism peronist training and any federal savings from the acceptance of these donations i'd like to d p just celebrated its five hundred thousand first responder graduates a great accomplishment for this important east alabama facility with its critical role in mind i urge my colleagues to support this important measure and lashly h r thirty eight thirty seven sponsored by  congresswoman kilroy seeks to reverse the most ill advised policy that restricts state local grant recipients from using their homeland security grant money to pay in maintaining a quick bite or maintain and sustain equipment first responders especially those in rural communities committee with a recommendation that it be adopted those in favor say aye those opposed say no and the opinion of the chair or the eyes have it in the bills for it to the full committee with the recommendation that it be adopted there be be no further business thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank