Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) announced this week that the U.S. House of Representatives advanced his amendment to restore funding to the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL).
NUSTL, which is located in New York City, researches, develops and assesses new technologies for use by law enforcement officers and first responders. These tools are designed to help them prevent, prepare for and respond to terror attacks and other emergency situations.
“NUSTL is constantly developing and testing new tools that ensure the brave men and women on our front lines can protect our homeland, and it’s critical they have resources to continue their innovative work,” Donovan said.
The amendment was included in the Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act legislation, which appropriates funds for the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies. NUSTL is a federal laboratory within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate’s First Responders Group.
The lab regularly tests equipment for the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and the New York Police Department (NYPD). New York City first responders often test innovative systems and technologies from the lab before they are implemented on a national scale.
“The Fire Department utilizes NUSTL resources on an approximately weekly basis to support our ability to address critical security threats,” FDNY Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro said. “Closing NUSTL would negatively affect preparedness and response planning for terrorist incidents, industrial accidents, and routine emergencies.”