First Responders
Bipartisan, bicameral legislation seeks to support federal firefighters
Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jon Tester (D-MT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD) reintroduced legislation last week designed to support federal firefighters by correcting disparity between federal firefighters and state, local and municipal... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee advances seven bills
The House Committee on Homeland Security advanced seven pieces of legislation this week, including bills that would secure critical infrastructure networks, enhance air travel safety during COVID-19 and future pandemics, improve information sharing, and support first responders. One of the bills... Read More »
Bill seeks to create federal penalties for criminals targeting law enforcement
Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) joined 16 colleagues to introduce this week legislation designed to create federal penalties for individuals deliberately targeting local, state, or federal law enforcement officers with violence. The Protect and Serve Act would make it a federal crime to knowingly cause,... Read More »
American 9-1-1 centers signal unease over “wasteful” provisions of LIFT America funding bill
While thankful for the support for system upgrades the newly introduced House LIFT America Act demonstrates, American 9-1-1 groups are concerned that elements of it could prove wasteful and delay and complicate deployment of a Next Generation 9-1-1 nationwide. “The infrastructure bill is a... Read More »Stimulus bill includes funding for Fire/EMS, group says
According to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the American Recovery and Rescue Act being voted on in Congress this week contains significant funding for fire and emergency medical personnel. The act passed the U.S. House of Representatives in late February and passed the... Read More »
First responders garner QuickRoute Mobile app access
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials said first responders now have access to the QuickRoute Mobile app, which aids with routing challenges. “First responders now have a commercially-available navigational tool which takes into... Read More »
Sens. Klobuchar, Burr reintroduce legislation focusing on communications networks during natural disasters
U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Richard Burr (R-NC) reintroduced legislation designed to improve communications networks during natural disasters Wednesday. The Emergency Reporting Act would ensure the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) provided resources to state and local governments... Read More »
Bill targets firefighter PFAS chemical exposure
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has introduced a bill designed to better protect firefighters in New York and nationwide from toxic exposure to PFAS chemicals. PFAS are used as an ingredient in special foam used to fight fires, called aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). The use of the foam,... Read More »
Bipartisan bill would extend concealed carry privileges for law enforcement officers
Bipartisan legislation was introduced in this House of Representatives this week that would extend concealed carry privileges for qualified retired and active law enforcement officials. The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) Reform Act (H.R. 1210) would allow active and retired law... Read More »
DHS technology aids wildland firefighters
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) personnel are touting Team Awareness Kit (TAK) utilization - a training tool aiding California firefighters in wildland response efforts. The mobile application harnesses wildfire situational awareness data and DHS... Read More »
Bill introduced in Senate to protect firefighters from harmful substances
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators introduced legislation to help protect the health and safety of firefighters and emergency responders from adverse substances. The Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act directs federal agencies to develop best practices, training, and... Read More »
Rep. Stauber introduces bill to fund better training for police officers
U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) reintroduced legislation designed to fund better training for police officers. Further, the Just and Unifying Solutions to Invigorate Communities Everywhere (JUSTICE) Act would increase the number of body cameras and provide grants to police departments to help... Read More »
Bipartisan bill seeks to restore full retirement benefits to federal first responders hurt on job
A bipartisan bill was introduced in Congress to ensure that federal firefighters, law enforcement officials, Border Patrol officers, and other federal first responders qualify for full retirement benefits if they are injured on the job. The First Responder Fair RETIRE Act addresses inequities... Read More »
DHS funds to aid Alerts, Warnings, and Notifications guidance development
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has earmarked $1,542,113 to aid Alerts, Warnings, and Notifications (AWN) guidance development. The DHS S&T funding allotment via its Long-Range Broad Agency Announcement (LRBAA) program was awarded to Corner... Read More »
Bill introduced to reimburse states for COVID-related National Guard deployments
U.S. Reps. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and Tim Ryan (D-OH) introduced a bill that would require the federal government to cover the full cost of National Guard deployments for COVID-19 response efforts. A companion bill will be introduced in the Senate on Jan. 21 by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT). These are... Read More »
Agencies developing firefighter tracking technology
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has partnered with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA JPL) to develop firefighter tracking technology. The effort would allow first responders to locate team members in burning buildings more accurately.... Read More »
Damage to communications grid in Nashville bombing prompts questions of preparedness
The violent suicide bombing that rocked downtown Nashville, Tenn., on Christmas morning and devastated dozens of businesses in the area also exposed the difficulties with an American reliance on reactive, rather than proactive, emergency planning efforts. While much focus has been placed on... Read More »
DARPA division explores innovative night-vision goggle technology
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is exploring the development of next-generation night-vision goggle (NVG) technology. The Enhanced Night Vision in eyeglass form (ENVision) program allows the DSO seeks to create lightweight NVGs offering a... Read More »
CISA, NASCAR target Daytona 500 fan safety
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and NASCAR officials recently joined Daytona International Speedway personnel, first responders, and law enforcement officials in conducting a Daytona 500 fan safety tabletop exercise. The exercise serves as an example of the planning and... Read More »
Sen. Durbin urges rural EMS agencies to apply for SIREN Act funds
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) is encouraging communities to apply for Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act funds in support of fire and emergency medical services (EMS). “In many small and rural towns in Illinois and across the country, rural fire and EMS agencies are a lifeline in... Read More »
NY Assemblyman touts proposed state bill to enact co-prescription of naloxone
New York State Assemblyman John T. McDonald III (D) is co-sponsoring a bill that would enact co-prescription of an opioid and an opioid overdose reversal drug like naloxone in New York, following a trend of similar laws enacted in California, New Jersey, and nine other states. Co-prescription... Read More »
International Association of Firefighters applauds provisions included in 2021 NDAA
The International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) is commending the inclusion of provisions benefiting IAFF members in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021. “In a year when COVID-19 has been the primary focus of Congress, I am proud of yet another successful... Read More »
Rep. Bustos advocates for National Guard COVID-19 response funding
Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) has forwarded correspondence to President Donald Trump advocating for the full restoration of federal funding for the National Guard’s COVID-19 response efforts. Bustos said the funding allotment is slated to expire at the end of the year. “With the confirmed... Read More »
Indiana alliance combats substance abuse through Narcan awareness campaign
The Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County, Ind., is wrapping up a month-long series of events to educate residents about the life-saving effects of Narcan, a medicine used for the treatment of an opioid overdose emergency. Narcan, or the generic drug naloxone, is an opioid... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Ernst, Tillis advocate expanded service member COVID-19 testing
U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) are encouraging the Department of Defense (DOD) to conduct rapid antigen COVID-19 tests of military service members, their families, civilians, and contractors. The effort stems from aiding in detecting asymptomatic virus carriers while... Read More »
Ohio lawmakers request full federal funding for Ohio National Guard’s response to COVID-19
Ohio Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) are urging federal officials to support Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s request to restore and extend full federal funding for the Ohio National Guard’s COVID-19 response mission. Since the pandemic hit, approximately 2,000 members of the Ohio... Read More »
DHS issues RFI for night vision technologies for first responders
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is seeking commercial technologies to enable night vision for first responders. Interested parties should submit their products by 5:00 p.m. EST on Dec. 10 for inclusion in a market survey by S&T’s National... Read More »
San Francisco Police Department cites Naloxone success in reducing opioid overdoses
Naloxone hydrochloride kits — or Narcan kits for short — are helping the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) stem an increase in opioid-related overdose deaths. During the last five years, SFPD has partnered with the San Francisco Department of Public Health and the Harm Reduction... Read More »
Oregon lawmakers seek financial help from FEMA in fighting wildfires
Federal lawmakers from Oregon are requesting financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help offset the costs of fighting the wildfires. Specifically, they are asking FEMA to assume 100 percent of the cost share for debris removal and emergency protective... Read More »
Report says violent crime decreased in jurisdictions that enacted police reform
According to the Center for American Progress, an independent thinktank, violent crime rates dropped in 10 jurisdictions that enacted comprehensive police reform. The group analyzed violent crime rates in 10 jurisdictions where the police department fulfilled a reform agreement with the U.S.... Read More »
IAFC urges Congress to pass Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2020
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) is urging Congress to pass legislation that would help protect and preserve retirement benefits for firefighters and emergency workers. The Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2020 (H.R. 8696), introduced by Reps. Richard Neal (D-MA) and Kevin... Read More »
Erickson Aero Tanker of Oregon wins more than $70M federal contract for wildfire fighting air tankers
In the wake of wildfires that have devastated much of Oregon this year, Erickson Aero Tanker of Hillsboro, Ore., won a $70.5 million federal contract for large air tanker services to aid wildland firefighting both in-state and abroad. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) both... Read More »
FirstNet installs new cell sites in New Hampshire for first responders
FirstNet cell sites have been installed in several locations throughout New Hampshire to improve wireless communications for first responders. FirstNet is the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform for America’s first responders and the public safety community. It is... Read More »
Indian Health System providers teach community members how to use Naloxone
Members of the Indian Health Service, the Federal Health Program for American Indians, and Alaska Natives are working with members of their communities to reduce overdose deaths by improving access to Naloxone. Commander Robert Boyle, a clinical pharmacist at the Salt River Integrated Health... Read More »