Dan Donovan: “As chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, I rise in support of H.R. 5460…”

“As chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, I rise in support of H.R. 5460, the First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act, which passed out of my subcommittee with bipartisan support on June 16 and was reported favorably by the Committee on Homeland Security earlier this month. With threats consistently evolving, it is reassuring to see new technology being developed to ensure the safety of our communities and first responders. {time} 1500 However, emerging technology is frequently developed faster than voluntary consensus standards can be implemented. Recipients of grants under FEMA's State Homeland Security Grant Program and the Urban Areas Security Initiative must procure equipment that meets these standards. Unfortunately, if emerging technology or equipment does not have a voluntary consensus standard and a grant recipient would like to use those funds to purchase such technology, FEMA does not have a uniform review process to consider applications for that equipment. This legislation requires FEMA to develop such a process for reviewing these requests. I want to thank the subcommittee's ranking member, Representative Payne, for introducing this commonsense bill. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R.…”