Bonnie Watson Coleman: “I thank my colleague from New Jersey and fellow member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Mr. Payne, and obviously…”

“I thank my colleague from New Jersey and fellow member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Mr. Payne, and obviously my senior for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Ranking Member Payne's legislation, H.R. 615, the DHS Interoperable Communications Act. This commonsense, bipartisan legislation builds upon recommendations made by the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security by requiring DHS to develop a strategy for achieving interoperable communications among the Department's components. During an emergency, be that a terrorist attack or natural disaster such as Superstorm Sandy that devastated my home State of New Jersey, it is essential that first responders are able to communicate. It is also essential that components of the Department of Homeland Security are able to communicate with one another at all times. H.R. 615, as introduced by my colleague from New Jersey and before us on the floor today, seeks to make that aspiration a reality. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, in the 14 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, we have still not reached the day where interoperable communications is a universal reality among State, local, and Federal agencies. Ranking Member Payne's bill puts us on a path to fixing that reality as it relates to the Department of Homeland Security.…”