Washington, D.C. – The House today passed legislation introduced by Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-Venice) to improve emergency communications capacity at the state and local levels.  The bill, S.1694, extends the deadline to spend Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) grant funds, which help states to supply public safety personnel with interoperable communications equipment and training.  The one-year extension, with an option for an additional year approved on a case by case basis, cleared the House by a unanimous vote. 

Since 2007, the PSIC program has provided nearly $1 billion in grants to state and local governments, and the deadline to spend the funds is next year.  Because of delays in Department of Homeland Security reviews of states’ interoperability plans, many states are unable to expend grant funds by the deadline.  S.1694 cleared the Senate by unanimous consent earlier this month.  It is identical to H.R. 3633, which was introduced by Congresswoman Harman in the House.

In a letter of support, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said, “The extension is particularly critical for public safety agencies in Los Angeles County which have dedicated their PSIC allocations, as well as a significant portion of Urban Area Security Initiative and State Homeland Security Grant Program Funds, for the development of a shared regional interoperable communications system.”

The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International, Inc. said, “As public safety communications interoperability remains a matter of national priority, this legislation is a crucial first step toward ensuring that state and local public safety professionals not only have the resources they need, but the time necessary to implement their technology projects as well.”

Harman has fought for a national interoperable communications network since 9/11, when NYPD officers in helicopters overhead were unable to warn firefighters that the Twin Towers were glowing red and in danger of imminent collapse.  She introduced H.R. 1646, the Homeland Emergency Response Operations (HERO) Act in 2005, to enforce the 2006 deadline to clear analog spectrum for emergency communications.  That deadline was met in 2008.  The 700 mhz spectrum freed by the DTV transition – known as the D Block – is to be built-out for public safety.  

“The PSIC extension is a building block toward real nationwide interoperability,” said Harman.  “Hopefully it won’t take another 8 years to get there.”