Kevin Kiley: “I am grateful to hear that there is going to be an investigation, an audit, of the so-called Next Generation 911 system…”

“I am grateful to hear that there is going to be an investigation, an audit, of the so-called Next Generation 911 system in California by the nonpartisan State auditor. At least this is being requested. For several years, since 2019, Californians were charged extra fees on their phone bills. This was to build a Next Generation 911 system. The fees were paid by the taxpayers, and they went into a pot of money to build out this system. The Newsom administration ultimately spent $450 million building this new 911 system, which is needed. Our system is outdated in California. Yet the Newsom administration has just announced it is scrapping the entire project because the technology doesn't work. How does that happen, Mr. Speaker? This is California, by the way. Silicon Valley is a stone's throw away from the Governor's office. How do we charge Californians fees for years on their phone bills, spend $450 million, and get absolutely nothing for it because the technology doesn't work? Now our taxpayers have lost that money, and we still don't have an upgraded 911 system. We are looking at ways we can bring some scrutiny at the Federal level, as well; but we need to get answers why, once again, Californians have been forced to sacrifice and gotten absolutely nothing in return.”