First Responders
Federal agencies come together to train first responders on lithium-ion battery risks
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) joined other agencies this week to train first responders on the safety risks posed by lithium-ion batteries. In collaboration with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the Fire Department of the city of... Read More »
Commerce secretary appoints members to FirstNet Authority board
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo recently appointed 11 public safety, technology, and business leaders to the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) board of directors. FirstNet Authority is an independent entity within the Department of Commerce’s National... Read More »
Tribes receive more than $84M to combat public safety challenges
The U.S. Justice Department recently awarded 90 American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes more than $84 million in Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) grants. The grants help enhance tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses, fund an array of services for crime... Read More »
Rep. D’Esposito questions FEMA storm modeling after Helene
On Saturday, U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), asked FEMA for answers on how it used advanced forecasting and rainfall modeling to prepare for Hurricane Helene. D’Esposito, chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology, sent a letter to the FEMA... Read More »
House passes legislation to bolster wildfire tech
On Thursday, the U.S. House passed legislation designed to combat wildfires across the country. The Wildfire Tech Demonstration, Evaluation, Modernization, and Optimization (DEMO) Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) would allow private entities to partner with... Read More »
DHS S&T delivers wildfire sensors to Colorado
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) celebrated National Preparedness Month by announcing the delivery and phased implementation of wildland fire sensors throughout Colorado. S&T said 20 wildfire detection and four wind sensors are... Read More »
DOJ awards $600M in grants to hire more law enforcement officers
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Offices) announced it had awarded more than $600 million in grants to law enforcement agencies across the country. The funding will be used for a variety of efforts, from hiring new law... Read More »
Legislation introduced to recruit, retain firefighters
U.S. Reps. Greg Landsman (D-OH) and Mike Carey (R-OH) announced they had introduced bipartisan legislation to recruit and retain firefighters across the country. The Enhancing SAFER Grants for Local Firefighters Act would enhance existing federal grant programs used by local fire departments,... Read More »
Legislation reauthorizing firefighter assistance signed into law
On Tuesday, legislation to extend federal programs aimed at helping to support local fire departments across the country was signed into law. The Fire Grants and Safety Act, authored by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK),... Read More »
Bipartisan Congressional group calls for passage of wildland firefighter pay fix
On Monday, a bipartisan group called for Congress to swiftly pass legislation to raise the pay for federal wildland firefighters in advance of wildfire season. U.S. Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Jack Bergman (R-MI), met with wildland... Read More »
DHS to make new fire safety technology available for testing
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced it would be making an innovative new fire safety tool available to fire departments across the country for testing. The tool – a helmet-mounted indoor visualization and navigation device... Read More »
Bipartisan Recruit and Retain Act to bolster U.S. police force heads for president’s signature
With its passage through the House last week, the Recruit and Retain Act (S. 546) is headed for President Joe Biden, bringing with it a possible expansion of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant program to back law enforcement recruitment efforts. Originally introduced in the... Read More »
Effort to equip female DHS officers with better tailored body armor advances through Senate committee
A bill from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Katie Britt (R-AL) to get next generation body armor – better suited to its wearers – to the Department of Homeland Security’s(DHS) law enforcement personnel advanced swiftly out of committee last week. The senators introduced the DHS Better... Read More »
Fire Grants and Safety Act proposes new support for firefighter, first responder services
With approval from the House this week, the Fire Grants and Safety Act (S.870) seems set for signature by President Joe Biden, and would bring with it extended authorization for firefighter and first responder support nationwide. Sponsored by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), the bill incorporated... Read More »
New federal report connects emergency responders with non-detonable training aids for explosive detection dogs
In order to properly prepare working canines for explosives detection, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) released a new report to help emergency responders find non-detonable training aids. “The Detection Canine Program at S&T plays a critical... Read More »
Protect and Serve Act would elevate the harming or attempted harm of law enforcement to a federal crime
Following the deaths of four police officers while executing an arrest warrant in North Carolina last week, a group of U.S. senators introduced the Protect and Serve Act (S. 4258) to turn attempts to harm or successfully harming a law enforcement officer into a federal crime. Traditionally, such... Read More »
Sens. Duckworth, Blackburn press for improvements to emergency communication technology
Through introduction of the ITS Codification Act (S. 3781) earlier this month, U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) sought to codify the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) and improve the nation’s emergency communication technology. “It’s critical that... Read More »
FirstNet Authority, AT&T agree to 10-year, $8B investment into public safety broadband network
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) and its network partner, AT&T, recently announced the next phase of its public safety broadband network, with 5G upgrades, coverage enhancements and service updates spurred by more than $8 billion of investments. Those investments will... Read More »
Republican bill proposes death penalty or life sentences for killing police officers
Through the Fallen Law Enforcement Act introduced this week, U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and John Cornyn (R-TX) seek to strengthen penalties for attacks on law enforcement across the board. The bill would require death penalties or life imprisonment imposed on anyone... Read More »
Public safety broadband network to expand as FirstNet transitions to full 5G network
After an initial five-year buildout, the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) Board recently voted to invest further into the public safety broadband network, expanding and fully transitioning it to a fully 5G network. “The FirstNet Authority is making a major investment in... Read More »
Applications for $324M in FEMA firefighters assistance grants now open
In a bid to protect firefighters from fire-related hazards, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) opened applications for the 2023 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program this week, dangling $324 million for safety measures. “As a former firefighter, I know the hazards and... Read More »
Disasters Expo USA
March 6th & 7th, 2024 - Miami Beach Convention Center Homeland Preparedness News has announced collaboration with Disasters Expo USA, the leading event mitigating the world’s most costly disasters, curated for professionals looking to source the solutions helping our communities prepare,... Read More »Homeland Security releases 2024 Law Enforcement Resource Guide for departments nationwide
For Law Enforcement Appreciation Day this week, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a 2024 Law Enforcement Resource Guide for state, local, tribal, territorial and campus law enforcement to check for training and resource support. It was the third annual release of... Read More »
South Dakota lawmakers call on Interior Secretary to coordinate on resources for tribal law enforcement
Following up on a letter from June that requested additional support for tribal law enforcement agencies in South Dakota, federal lawmakers from the state last week urged Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to coordinate those resource issues with other federal departments. U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds... Read More »
Senate bill proposes new reporting requirements for attacks on law enforcement
With the introduction of the Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act this week, five senators sought to increase the information that can be supplied about anti-police attacks and explore their impacts on officers’ mental health. According to the group, it would... Read More »
Funding for 9/11 health care included in FY24 National Defense Authorization Act
Among the items that were included in the final version of the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) last week was $676 million in funding for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), providing millions in coverage support for responders to the 9/11 aftermath. The... Read More »
University of Illinois wins $3.15M DHS S&T award for next generation 9-1-1 interoperability testing
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) awarded $3.15 million to the Critical Infrastructure Resilience Institute at the University of Illinois to develop Next Generation 911 interoperability testing. NG911 systems allow for interconnection among... Read More »
Federal legislation would reclassify 9-1-1 dispatchers as first responders
In introducing the Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services (SAVES) Act this week, U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Norma Torres (D-CA) sought to reclassify 9-1-1 dispatchers as first responders. Otherwise, the bill would not change anything about these dispatchers’ work or the... Read More »
U.S. Reps. McCaul, Gallego ask House for greater funding for first responders dealing with migrants
In a letter to the House Appropriation Committee this week, U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) urged leadership to include funding for first responder aid programs in any FY 2024 supplemental appropriations to support those affected by immigration. “Increased operations... Read More »
Justice Department makes recommendations to counteract law enforcement recruitment, retention woes
Following meetings with more than 35 law enforcement and community leaders nationwide, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) this week released recommendations to reverse challenges facing recruitment and retention at law enforcement agencies nationwide. The causes are many. In its... Read More »
Justice Department doles out nearly $75M for various law enforcement efforts
For a mix of active shooter training, efforts to counter illegal drug trafficking and law enforcement mental health and wellness training, the U.S. Justice Department Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) awarded nearly $75 million to agencies nationwide last week. While the... Read More »
U.S. DOT awards more than $30M to hazardous materials response efforts
Through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) last week announced an award of more than $30 million for first responders and the bolstering of local responses to hazardous materials incidents. In all, six grants split up... Read More »
Safe Response Act pledges training for first responders to prevent overdoses
U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced legislation on Tuesday that would provide investments for a grant program meant to help train and provide resources to first responders working to prevent overdose deaths. The Safe Response Act, S.... Read More »
FirstNet Authority Board approves $451M budget for FY24
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) last week approved its Fiscal Year 2024 budget, allocating $451 million to fund operations and consider network improvements. “This budget positions the FirstNet Authority for continued growth and success as we implement our... Read More »