First Responder Identification of Emergency Needs in Disaster Situations

Bill: 114-hr-2795
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
Introduced: 2015-06-16
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Emergency planning and evacuation

First responders and emergency personnel

Government studies and investigations

Performance measurement

Terrorism
Latest action: action_date: 2015-12-14
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-06-16
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>First Responder Identification of Emergency Needs in Disaster Situations or the FRIENDS Act</strong></p> <p>Directs the Department of Homeland Security to submit a report on factors that would result in first responders failing to meet expectations based upon training and planning for terrorist incidents, which: (1) may include information on first responder performance and availability before, during, or after a terrorist threat or event; and (2) shall include first responder input on how the presence of family in the impacted area, the adequacy of personal protective equipment, and training gaps may influence performance and availability.</p> <ul> <ul> </ul> </ul>

action_date: 2015-12-07
action_desc: Reported to House with amendment(s)
text: <p><strong>First Responder Identification of Emergency Needs in Disaster Situations or the FRIENDS Act</strong></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to submit a report that describes select state and local programs and policies related to the preparedness and protection of first responders, which may include information on:</p> <ul> <li>the degree to which such programs and policies include consideration of the presence of a first responder's family in an area impacted by a terrorist attack,</li> <li>the availability of personal protective equipment for first responders, and </li> <li>the availability of home Medkits for first responders and their families for biological incident response.</li> </ul> <p>The GAO may provide information: (1) in a format that delineates high risk urban areas from rural communities; and (2) on the degree to which the selected state and local programs and policies were developed or are being executed with funding from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including grants from the State Homeland Security Grant Program or the Urban Area Security Initiative.</p> <p>DHS shall consider the report's findings and assess its applicability for federal first responders.</p> <ul> <ul> </ul> </ul>

action_date: 2015-12-10
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on December 7, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</p> <p><strong>First Responder Identification of Emergency Needs in Disaster Situations or the FRIENDS Act</strong></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to submit a report that describes select state and local programs and policies related to the preparedness and protection of first responders, which may include information on:</p> <ul> <li>the degree to which such programs and policies include consideration of the presence of a first responder's family in an area impacted by a terrorist attack,</li> <li>the availability of personal protective equipment for first responders, and </li> <li>the availability of home Medkits for first responders and their families for biological incident response.</li> </ul> <p>The GAO may provide information: (1) in a format that delineates high risk urban areas from rural communities; and (2) on the degree to which the selected state and local programs and policies were developed or are being executed with funding from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including grants from the State Homeland Security Grant Program or the Urban Area Security Initiative.</p> <p>DHS shall consider the report's findings and assess its applicability for federal first responders.</p> <ul> <ul> </ul> </ul> <ul> </ul>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2795 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 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the First Responder Identification of Emergency Needs in Disaster Situations or the FRIENDS Act . 2. Circumstances which may impact first responders during a terrorist event Not later than 260 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on factors that would result in first responders failing to meet expectations based upon training and planning for terrorist incidents. The report— (1) may include information on first responder performance and availability before, during, or after a terrorist threat or event; and (2) shall— (A) include first responder input on how the presence of family in the impacted area, the adequacy of personal protective equipment, and training gaps may influence performance and availability; and (B) contain recommendations to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.

tv_txt: IIB 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2795 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 14, 2015 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs AN ACT 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the First Responder Identification of Emergency Needs in Disaster Situations or the FRIENDS Act . 2. Circumstances which may impact first responders during a terrorist event (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that describes select State and local programs and policies, as appropriate, related to the preparedness and protection of first responders. The report may include information on— (1) the degree to which such programs and policies include consideration of the presence of a first responder’s family in an area impacted by a terrorist attack; (2) the availability of personal protective equipment for first responders; (3) the availability of home Medkits for first responders and their families for biological incident response; and (4) other related factors. (b) Context In preparing the report required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States may, as appropriate, provide information— (1) in a format that delineates high risk urban areas from rural communities; and (2) on the degree to which the selected State and local programs and policies included in the report were developed or are being executed with funding from the Department of Homeland Security, including grant funding from the State Homeland Security Grant Program or the Urban Area Security Initiative under sections 2002 and 2003, respectively, of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 603 and 604). (c) Homeland security consideration After issuance of the report required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall consider the report’s findings and assess its applicability for Federal first responders.

Passed the House of Representatives December 10, 2015. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2795 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the First Responder Identification of Emergency Needs in Disaster Situations or the FRIENDS Act . 2. Circumstances which may impact first responders during a terrorist event (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that describes select State and local programs and policies, as appropriate, related to the preparedness and protection of first responders. The report may include information on— (1) the degree to which such programs and policies include consideration of the presence of a first responder’s family in an area impacted by a terrorist attack; (2) the availability of personal protective equipment for first responders; (3) the availability of home Medkits for first responders and their families for biological incident response; and (4) other related factors. (b) Context In preparing the report required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States may, as appropriate, provide information— (1) in a format that delineates high risk urban areas from rural communities; and (2) on the degree to which the selected State and local programs and policies included in the report were developed or are being executed with funding from the Department of Homeland Security, including grant funding from the State Homeland Security Grant Program or the Urban Area Security Initiative under sections 2002 and 2003, respectively, of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 603 and 604). (c) Homeland security consideration After issuance of the report required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall consider the report’s findings and assess its applicability for Federal first responders.

Passed the House of Representatives December 10, 2015. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 282 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2795 [Report No. 114–370] 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 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the First Responder Identification of Emergency Needs in Disaster Situations or the FRIENDS Act . 2. Circumstances which may impact first responders during a terrorist event (a) In general Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that describes select State and local programs and policies, as appropriate, related to the preparedness and protection of first responders. The report may include information on— (1) the degree to which such programs and policies include consideration of the presence of a first responder’s family in an area impacted by a terrorist attack; (2) the availability of personal protective equipment for first responders; (3) the availability of home Medkits for first responders and their families for biological incident response; and (4) other related factors. (b) Context In preparing the report required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States may, as appropriate, provide information— (1) in a format that delineates high risk urban areas from rural communities; and (2) on the degree to which the selected State and local programs and policies included in the report were developed or are being executed with funding from the Department of Homeland Security, including grant funding from the State Homeland Security Grant Program or the Urban Area Security Initiative under sections 2002 and 2003, respectively, of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 603 and 604). (c) Homeland security consideration After issuance of the report required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall consider the report’s findings and assess its applicability for Federal first responders.

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