H.R. 687House115th Congress (2017-2019)Passed House

First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 12:08 PM UTC

The First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act changes the Homeland Security Act to create a uniform process for reviewing DHS grant applications that seek to buy equipment or systems that do not meet existing national voluntary consensus standards. It sets out what the DHS Administrator must consider when deciding whether to fund such purchases and requires a report on how the process works. The bill mainly affects agencies and organizations that apply for DHS equipment grants, such as first‑responder groups.

Key Provisions

Adds a new application requirement and a uniform review process for grant requests to purchase equipment that doesn’t meet or exceed any applicable national voluntary consensus standard.
Specifies factors the Administrator must weigh, including past federal or military use, lack of a national standard, existence of an international standard, the identified capability gap, and how the equipment better meets the applicant’s needs.
Creates a new subsection requiring the Administrator to review requests for equipment not listed on the Authorized Equipment List.
Mandates that the DHS Inspector General submit a report within three years detailing the number of such requests, the capability gaps cited, grant outcomes, and processing times.

Legislative Activity

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8 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

February 1, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 24, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Homeland Security Committee

January 24, 2017

HouseFloor

Mr. Donovan moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

January 31, 2017 • 3:53 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H792-793)

January 31, 2017 • 3:53 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 687.

January 31, 2017 • 3:53 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H792)

January 31, 2017 • 4:00 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H792)

January 31, 2017 • 4:00 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

January 31, 2017 • 4:00 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

February 1, 2017

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about H.R. 687 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat

Rep. Daniel M. Donovan, Jr.R-NY-11 · Jan 31, 2017

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 687) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a process to review applications for certain grants to purchase equipment or systems that do not meet or exceed any applicable national voluntary consensus standards, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

As chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, I rise today in support of H.R. 687. This legislation would establish a review process for grant applicants seeking to purchase equipment or systems that do not meet or exceed national voluntary consensus standards.

With threats consistently evolving, it is reassuring to see new technology emerge which will promote the safety of our communities and first responders. 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 Area 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 process to consider applications for that equipment.

H.R. 687 requires FEMA to develop such a process for reviewing these requests. Previously, this bill was introduced in the 114th Congress by the subcommittee's ranking member, Mr. Payne, and subsequently received bipartisan support by my subcommittee and the Committee on Homeland Security as well as the House when it was passed under suspension of the rules in September of 2016.

I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for reintroducing this commonsense bill. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 687 because it will ensure our first responders have the ability to purchase equipment and emerging technology needed to effectively adapt to the current threat landscape.

Earlier this month, the Committee on Homeland Security released the January Terror Threat Snapshot, which found that the United States remains a top target for terrorists. It is clear that the threat to our communities is not going away.

Congress has the responsibility to make America safer and stronger. We can do so by ensuring commonsense measures are in place to ensure first responders have the tools that they need to address these threats.

I urge all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 687.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 687, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr.D-NJ-10 · Jan 31, 2017

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 687, the First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act. Mr. Speaker, in my time serving as ranking member of…

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of H.R. 687, the First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act.

Mr. Speaker, in my time serving as ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, I have come to learn a great deal about the very important, very challenging job of first responders. These brave men and women run toward danger with our safety as their number one priority.

Since the September 11 attacks, the private sector has redoubled its efforts to develop innovative technologies for first responders to use and to carry out their vital missions.

Yet, through our subcommittee's oversight, we have seen where, in some instances, industry standards have

failed to keep the pace with breakthroughs in technology. As a result, we have found that first responders cannot always access the most up- to-date equipment because they cannot use Homeland Security grant funds to purchase equipment and technology that does not meet or exceed voluntary industry standards.

H.R. 687 would require FEMA to develop a transparent process for reviewing requests to use grant funds to purchase technologies that do not meet or exceed voluntary industry standards and/or that are not on the authorized equipment list.

The bill has the support of the Security Industry Association and unanimously passed the House last September. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the Security Industry Association.

Security Industry Association,

Silver Spring, MD, January 27, 2017.

Hon. Dan Donovan,

Chairman, House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency

Preparedness, Response and Communications, Washington,

Mr. Speaker, our first responders are on the front lines of emergency response. In recognition of their bravery and sacrifices they make every day, in and out, we must make sure that they have the access to the most up-to-date technologies to help them do their jobs better and safer. To that end, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 687.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued February 1, 2017

IIB

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 687

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 1, 2017

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

AN ACT

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a process to review applications for certain grants to purchase equipment or systems that do not meet or exceed any applicable national voluntary consensus standards, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act.

Approval of certain equipment

(a)

In general

Section 2008 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 609) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (f)—

(A)

by striking If an applicant and inserting the following:

(1)

Application requirement

If an applicant

; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

(2)

Review process

The Administrator shall implement a uniform process for reviewing applications that, in accordance with paragraph (1), contain explanations to use grants provided under section 2003 or 2004 to purchase equipment or systems that do not meet or exceed any applicable national voluntary consensus standards developed under section 647 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006.

(3)

Factors

In carrying out the review process under paragraph (2), the Administrator shall consider the following:

(A)

Current or past use of proposed equipment or systems by Federal agencies or the Armed Forces.

(B)

The absence of a national voluntary consensus standard for such equipment or systems.

(C)

The existence of an international consensus standard for such equipment or systems, and whether such equipment or systems meets such standard.

(D)

The nature of the capability gap identified by the applicant and how such equipment or systems will address such gap.

(E)

The degree to which such equipment or systems will serve the needs of the applicant better than equipment or systems that meet or exceed existing consensus standards.

(F)

Any other factor determined appropriate by the Administrator.

; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(g)

Review process

The Administrator shall implement a uniform process for reviewing applications to use grants provided under section 2003 or 2004 to purchase equipment or systems not included on the Authorized Equipment List maintained by the Administrator.

(b)

Inspector General report

Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report assessing the implementation of the review process established under paragraph (2) of subsection (f) of section 2008 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as added by subsection (a) of this section), including information on the following:

(1)

The number of requests to purchase equipment or systems that do not meet or exceed any applicable consensus standard evaluated under such review process.

(2)

The capability gaps identified by applicants and the number of such requests granted or denied.

(3)

The processing time for the review of such requests.

Passed the House of Representatives January 31, 2017.

Karen L. Haas,

Clerk.