Amendment to include mass-gathering venues in emergency preparedness plans added to counterterrorism bill

An amendment that requires mass-gathering venue operators to be included in law enforcement and first responder exercises to inform response plans was unanimously approved to be added to the Community Counterterrorism Preparedness Act by the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Venues included in the amendment extend to educational institutions and places of worship. The amendment was submitted by U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ).

“Law enforcement and first responders are on the front lines of preparing for and responding to these kinds of attacks,” Payne, Jr. said. “It is critical that they have the training and exercises to do their jobs effectively. The most effective planning and exercises, however, must include non-law enforcement partners who would be involved in the response.”

The full bill, which was recently submitted to the House for consideration, aims to provide guidance for the $39 million in grants that go toward first responders for training and conduct exercises to best prepare them to respond to the most-likely terrorist attack scenarios, similar to those seen in Orlando, Dallas, New Jersey, and San Bernardino.

Eligible recipients of the grant funding include law enforcement, fire fighters, EMS, and emergency management operators in any jurisdiction that currently receives or recently received funding under the Urban Area Security Initiative.

The bill now awaits a floor vote in the House.