U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ) recently introduced legislation to make it easier for first responders to acquire new equipment and technologies they need to respond to potential threats.
The First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act of 2017 would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop a transparent process and review requests by first responders to use funds under the Urban Area Security Initiative or State Homeland Security Grant Program to purchase new equipment where voluntary industry standards are lacking. Under current law, any equipment purchased through the grant programs must meet or exceed national voluntary consensus standards.
Payne, Jr.’s bill would also amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct FEMA to implement a more uniform request process for grants to purchase equipment or systems that do not meet or exceed any applicable national voluntary consensus standards.
While FEMA does review grant requests for equipment that does not meet consensus standards, some first responder groups have said that the process lacks uniformity and transparency.
“As the threats that first responders have to tackle continue to evolve, it is critical that they have the equipment necessary to respond,” Payne, Jr. said. “Many first responders, however, are unable to acquire advanced equipment because they are not permitted, by law, to use their homeland security grant funds to purchase it. This legislation will equip first responders with the tools needed to do their jobs better and safer by requiring FEMA to establish a clear, transparent process to review requests to purchase innovative technologies with homeland security grant funds.”