IB 

Union Calendar No. 282 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2795 

[Report No. 114–370] 

To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a study on the 

circumstances which may impact the effectiveness and availability of 

first responders before, during, or after a terrorist threat or event. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 16, 2015 

Ms. JACKSON LEE (for herself, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. FUDGE, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. PASCRELL, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr. NORCROSS, Mr. CASTRO of Texas, Mr. GENE GREEN of 

Texas, Ms. BASS, Ms. LEE, Mr. HINOJOSA, and Mr. PALLONE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 

DECEMBER 7, 2015 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 16, 2015] 


srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 2795 RH

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit 

a study on the circumstances which may impact the 

effectiveness and availability of first responders before, 

during, or after a terrorist threat or event. 


srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 2795 RH

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘First Responder Identi5 fication of Emergency Needs in Disaster Situations’’ or the 

6 ‘‘FRIENDS Act’’. 

7 SEC. 2. CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH MAY IMPACT FIRST RE8 SPONDERS DURING A TERRORIST EVENT. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 

10 date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 

11 of the United States shall submit to the Committee on 

12 Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the 

13 Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Af14 fairs of the Senate a report that describes select State and 

15 local programs and policies, as appropriate, related to the 

16 preparedness and protection of first responders. The report 

17 may include information on— 

18 (1) the degree to which such programs and poli19 cies include consideration of the presence of a first re20 sponder’s family in an area impacted by a terrorist 

21 attack; 

22 (2) the availability of personal protective equip23 ment for first responders; 


srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 2795 RH

1 (3) the availability of home Medkits for first re2 sponders and their families for biological incident re3 sponse; and 

4 (4) other related factors. 

5 (b) CONTEXT.—In preparing the report required under 

6 subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States 

7 may, as appropriate, provide information— 

8 (1) in a format that delineates high risk urban 

9 areas from rural communities; and 

10 (2) on the degree to which the selected State and 

11 local programs and policies included in the report 

12 were developed or are being executed with funding 

13 from the Department of Homeland Security, includ14 ing grant funding from the State Homeland Security 

15 Grant Program or the Urban Area Security Initiative 

16 under sections 2002 and 2003, respectively, of the 

17 Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 603 and 

18 604). 

19 (c) HOMELAND SECURITY CONSIDERATION.—After 

20 issuance of the report required under subsection (a), the 

21 Secretary of Homeland Security shall consider the report’s 

22 findings and assess its applicability for Federal first re23 sponders. 


srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS

srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 282 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2795 

[Report No. 114–370] 

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to 

threat or event. responders before, during, or after a terrorist impact the effectiveness and availability of first submit a study on the circumstances which may 

DECEMBER 7, 2015 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS