First Responders
Senate advances legislation to expand FEMA preparedness capacity to assist with technological hazards
While much of what the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deals with are natural disasters, a new bill – the Technological Hazards Preparedness and Training Act (S.4166) – advanced through the Senate last week seeks to expand its ability to address technological hazards as... Read More »
Firefighter training legislation receives Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing
U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Steve Daines (R-MT) are commending a recent Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing regarding the Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act, which seeks to address more firefighter training. The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture and... Read More »
Committee advances measure bolstering support of local fire departments across United States
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) recently applauded the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for advancing their legislation increasing federal for local fire departments nationwide. The Fire Grants and Safety Act reauthorizes Federal Emergency Management... Read More »
Federal Public Health Emergency declared for Florida as Hurricane Ian descends
Facing down a Category 3 Hurricane Ian, fresh off its stormy crash through Cuba, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra declared a Public Health Emergency for Florida this week, following an emergency declaration from President Joe Biden. As... Read More »
BARDA, Johns Hopkins to collaborate on medical resource-tracking, communication application
A new application envisioned by the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) will seek to create a means of effective communication during mass casualty incidents. In collaboration, the two... Read More »
U.S. House advances police department funding measure
The U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 22 advanced bipartisan legislation that seeks to fund local police departments and help reduce crime. The Invest to Protect Act of 2022, H.R. 6448, was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and has 86 cosponsors. It would establish a new grant... Read More »
DHS deploys Ford Mustang Mach-E battery electric vehicle for law enforcement
With the debut this week of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shook up the law enforcement sector with a first-of-its-kind electric vehicle (EV). The vehicle, fitted to tackle the particular challenges of law enforcement, also made DHS the first federal... Read More »
Legislation targets increased support for local fire departments
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) recently introduced the Fire Grants and Safety Act, which seeks to bolster nationwide federal support for local fire departments. Specifically, the legislation reauthorizes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant programs local fire... Read More »
Bill seeks to improve information sharing for missing persons on federal lands
U.S. Reps. Joe Neguse (D-CO) and Tim Burchett (R-TN) introduced a bill they said seeks to improve information-sharing efforts for missing persons on federal lands. The Tracking and Reporting Absent Community-members Everywhere (TRACE) Act would enhance information sharing efforts by making a... Read More »
Senate advances Coast Guard Authorization Act
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has advanced the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Subcommittee on Oceans Chair Tammy Baldwin... Read More »
Civilian Reservist Emergency Workforce Act pledges to protect FEMA reservists’ jobs
With approval from Congress, the Civilian Reservist Emergency Act headed for President Joe Biden’s desk for a final signature this week, granting new protections for reservists with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from losing their full-time employment when called to... Read More »
DHS S&T releases interactive training tool for explosive detection canine teams
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently initiated a new interactive training tool for handlers and trainers of explosive detection canines. The effort would upgrade Person-Borne Explosives Detection (PBED) capabilities. PBED canines must... Read More »
FirstNet expands 5G for first responders to more than 40 cities
The public safety wireless communications provider known as FirstNet announced plans this week to expand 5G operations, improve connectivity and enhance 9-1-1 resiliency now that it has reached more than 40 cities throughout the United States. “By delivering 5G on FirstNet in this unique way,... Read More »
Reps. Thompson, Calvert advocate wildfire fighting support, resources
U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Ken Calvert (R-CA) have joined 25 congressional colleagues in advocating additional support for combating wildfires and ensuring communities have resources to suppress wildfires. Thompson and Calvert recently spearheaded the effort to forward correspondence... Read More »
CBP initiates Virtual Career Expo
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are espousing the benefits of the Fall 2022 Virtual Career Expo, which will help the agency recruit law enforcement professionals. The Sept. 13 event stems from the CBP seeking entry-level and experienced law enforcement personnel interested in a... Read More »
Pennsylvania to invest $185M into new law enforcement, community safety programs
An announcement from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf last week revealed that $185 million in state funding would go toward two new programs to improve community safety, both through support for local law enforcement and county district attorneys’ offices. The governor’s final capstone budget... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Murray pushes federal wildfire disaster response in roundtable with local firefighters
At a roundtable with local firefighters and Kittitas and Yakima County officials in Washington, United States Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), drove home the need for -- and her efforts to secure -- additional federal wildfire disaster prevention and mitigation funding. Kittitas County has experienced... Read More »
DHS offers proof-of-concept for vehicular Wildland Urban Interface alert system
The Integrated Public Alert Warning System (IPAWS) used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may soon be capable of providing hazard and evacuation alerts directly to vehicles’ infotainment screens. This week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology... Read More »
Bill to make simplified application for federal disaster assistance advances to Senate
A bill from United States Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and James Lankford (R-OK), the Disaster Assistance Simplification Act, advanced out of Senate committee last week, putting to the Senate floor the idea of simplifying the application process for federal disaster assistance. “Victims of natural... Read More »
Caucus targets disaster preparedness, recovery initiatives
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has joined three House of Representatives colleagues in forming a caucus that targets disaster preparedness and recovery efforts. Mace recently joined Reps. Troy A. Carter Sr. (D-LA), Carlos A. Gimenez (R-FL) and Joe Neguse (D-CO) in launching the Bipartisan Congressional... Read More »U.S. Senate passes police training bill
A pair of lawmakers are commending Senate passage of a measure enhancing law enforcement training for those interacting with individuals with mental health, behavioral health and substance use issues. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and John Cornyn (R-TX) joined 19 colleagues in co-sponsoring... Read More »
DHS S&T, National Urban Security Technology Lab host Urban OpEx for first responders to evaluate new tech
To improve first responder operations and get them the best technology, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) hosted the Urban Operational Experimentation (OpEx) 2022 from July 18-22, 2022. At this gathering, S&T and its National Urban Security... Read More »
International IED training at New York State preparedness training center deemed success
Over the course of a week, the latest iteration of the Raven’s Challenge, an improvised explosive devices (IED) training exercise for state, federal, and international partners in public safety and military, gathered more than 100 personnel in New York’s Oneida County this month. The State... Read More »
Bill addresses federal police, first responder full compensation
U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), Don Bacon (R-NE), Val Demings (D-FL), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) recently introduced legislation that seeks to ensure federal police and first responders are paid full compensation earned. The Law Enforcement Officer Fair Retirement Act enables officers to... Read More »
DHS S&T aiding indoor mapping capability development
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is funding the development of a cloud-based capability aiding digital indoor mapping capability. Collaboration with Waterloo, Ontario-based Mappedin Inc. yielded Mappedin Response, which enables first... Read More »
Sens. Booker, Durbin introduce VICTIM Act in effort to increase rates of solved murder cases
Taking up a law enforcement-focused bill first introduced by U.S. Rep. Val Demings (D-FL), U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced a companion to the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act this week. Backed by both police groups... Read More »
NIST challenge targets advancement in incident command dashboard tech
The U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced plans to launch a competition seeking to advance incident command dashboard technologies aiding emergency response. The Command Dashboard Integrating Next-Gen or CommanDING, Tech Challenge would unite... Read More »
DHS awards vehicle alerting technology contract
Corner Alliance, Inc., has secured a $100,000 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) contract award to aid first responder driver emergency alerts on roads. S&T is collaborating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Integrated Public Alert... Read More »
Federal Firefighter Fairness Act advances out of Senate committee
An effort to net federal firefighters financial support for illnesses and diseases acquired from their duties – the Federal Firefighter Fairness Act – was advanced by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) this week. “Every day across the country,... Read More »
Bills target wildfire response, recovery
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced two bills seeking to support efforts in California and nationwide to extinguish fires faster. The Fire Suppression Improvement Act would also protect communities from post-fire flooding and expand Federal Emergency Management... Read More »
Senate panel advances federal firefighter benefits legislation
U.S. Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are commending the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) for advancing legislation aiding the federal firefighter benefits platform. Carper and Collins, co-chairs of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus,... Read More »
Measure seeks to address police department staffing shortages
U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) recently joined nine colleagues in co-sponsoring a bill to address nationwide police staffing shortages. The Pathways to Policing Act invests in programs to aid state and local law enforcement agencies struggling to maintain adequate staffing levels by... Read More »
Measure seeks to strengthen firefighting efforts for federal weather service
U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) recently introduced a bill that seeks to enhance federal weather service firefighting efforts. The Fire Ready Nation Act of 2022 would create a fire weather services program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration... Read More »
FirstNet, NIST initiate public safety virtual experience center
First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) officials are espousing the launch of the Public Safety Immersive Test Center in Boulder, Colo. Authorities indicated the effort would nurture the development and deployment of... Read More »