The House Judiciary Committee approved the Faster & Smarter Fundi...

The House Judiciary Committee approved the Faster & Smarter Funding for First Responders Act (HR-3266), which could create more funding for public safety interoperability. The bill would create $3.4 billion in Dept. of Homeland Security grants for states and localities that can be used for several purposes, including purchase of interoperable communication systems, along with other training and equipment purchases. The bill doesn’t specifically earmark any money for interoperability. On Wed., the Judiciary Committee approved an amendment that would require each state get at least 0.25% of grant funding. Opponents of the amendment argued that funding should go where the likelihood of a strike was imminent, but House Judiciary Committee Chmn. Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) said terrorists would try to strike at weak links, which is why funding needed to be spread out more evenly. The House Transportation Emergency Management Subcommittee has also required that each state get a minimum of support, but the House Commerce Committee rejected that approach, instead favoring one that gives grants based on risk assessments. - TL