Senate, House Appropriations
Committees Approve Fiscal Year 2009 Homeland Security Bills
On June 19th, the Senate Appropriations
Committee approved S. 3181, the Fiscal Year 2009 Homeland Security
Appropriations Act. The bill funds the Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE)
Grant and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER)
Grant at the same levels as Fiscal Year 2008 - $560 million and $190 million
respectively. In the Bush Administration's FY09 budget request, the
Administration recommended eliminating funding for SAFER and cutting funding
for FIRE to $300 million.
On June 24th, the House Appropriations Committee also approved a Fiscal Year
2009 spending bill for homeland security (bill number pending at press
time). Similar to the Senate, the House committee rejected the
Administration's proposed cuts, but approved a slight increase in funding
for FIRE and SAFER. The House bill funds FIRE at $570 million - a $10
million increase over FY08 - and SAFER at $230 million - a $40 million
increase over FY08.
In addition to funding FIRE and SAFER grants, the bills also provide funding
for the United States Fire Administration (USFA). The Senate bill funds
USFA at $43.3 million, maintaining the same level of funding as FY08. The
House bill provides a slight increase, funding USFA at slightly more than
$44.9. The additional funds are intended to update the National Fire
Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and make infrastructure improvements at
the National Fire Academy (NFA). The Administration had recommended cutting
funding for USFA to $40.9 million for FY09.
Both houses of Congress must now approve their respective spending bills and
resolve any differences before sending the final bill to the White House for
the President's signature. President Bush has threatened to veto any
appropriations bill that exceeds the Administration's proposed budget, so it
remains to be seen what the final outcome will be.
Congress Approves 911 Legislation
On June 23rd the House of
Representatives approved by voice vote legislation that will update the
nation's 911 laws for Internet phone services. HR 3403, the New and
Emerging Technologies (NET) 911 Improvement Act, was passed by unanimous
consent in the Senate on June 16th.
The legislation allows voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) providers to
access existing 911 infrastructures, enabling them to deliver emergency
calls and provide location and callback information. The legislation also
extends liability protection to VoIP firms, as well as users and call
centers handling emergency online phone calls.
The legislation was sent to the White House for the President's signature on
June 23rd.
