I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 42 

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, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 3, 2019 

Ms. JACKSON LEE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the 

Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 

as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

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, and for 

other purposes. 

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 Iden5 tification of Emergency Needs in Disaster Situations’’ or 

6 the ‘‘FRIENDS Act’’. 


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•HR 42 IH

1 SEC. 2. CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH MAY IMPACT FIRST RE2 SPONDERS DURING A TERRORIST EVENT. 

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

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

5 of the United States shall submit to the Committees on 

6 Homeland Security and Transportation and Infrastruc7 ture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

8 on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 

9 Senate a report that describes select State and local pro10 grams and policies, as appropriate, related to the pre11 paredness and protection of first responders. The report 

12 may include information on— 

13 (1) the degree to which such programs and poli14 cies include consideration of the presence of a first 

15 responder’s family in an area impacted by a terrorist 

16 attack; 

17 (2) the availability of personal protective equip18 ment for first responders; 

19 (3) the availability of home Medkits for first re20 sponders and their families for biological incident re21 sponse; and 

22 (4) other related factors. 

23 (b) CONTEXT.—In preparing the report required 

24 under subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the 

25 United States may, as appropriate, provide information— 


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•HR 42 IH

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

2 areas from rural communities; and 

3 (2) on the degree to which the selected State 

4 and local programs and policies included in such re5 port were developed or are being executed with fund6 ing from the Department of Homeland Security, in7 cluding grant funding from the State Homeland Se8 curity Grant Program or the Urban Area Security 

9 Initiative under sections 2002 and 2003, respec10 tively, of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 

11 U.S.C. 603 and 604). 

12 (c) HOMELAND SECURITY CONSIDERATION.—After 

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

14 Secretary of Homeland Security shall consider such re15 port’s findings and assess its applicability for Federal first 

16 responders. 

Æ 


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