Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1850) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 relating to the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory, and for other…
Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1850) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 relating to the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory, and for other purposes.
Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1850, the Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act.
First responders across the Nation are facing unprecedented challenges. Over the past year, the unrelenting demands of COVID-19 have placed great strain on our hometown heroes. In the West, first responders have had the added challenge of battling devastating wildfires; and in the East, they are in the midst of a dangerous hurricane season.
Compounding these challenges is a terrorism threat landscape that, according to the Department of Homeland Security, has ``evolved significantly and become increasingly complex and volatile in 2021.''
Given the complexity of the challenges our men and women on the front lines face, it is critical that they have the most reliable and effective technology and equipment to respond. When it comes to delivering innovative technological solutions, the first responder community looks to the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory in New York City.
NUSTL, as it has come to be known, serves a unique mission in the Federal Government. It is the only Federal lab that is solely dedicated to researching and developing technology to help first responders safely and effectively respond to emergencies that range from natural disasters and industrial incidents to active shooters and terrorist attacks.
New innovative emergency response technologies are constantly being deployed, but to keep our first responders safe, they must first be tried and tested.
Enactment of H.R. 1850 would ensure that NUSTL can continue to carry out this vital role in Homeland Security. Specifically, it would ensure that NUSTL could continue to conduct simulated scenarios with first responders to test new emergency systems, support research for innovative technology, and assist first responders in evaluating new tools.
In recent years, despite NUSTL's recognized value to the Nation, we saw the Trump administration repeatedly propose shuttering it. Thankfully, Congress rejected those shortsighted proposals and redoubled its support for this vital institution.
Looking ahead, we must not only permanently authorize NUSTL by enacting H.R. 1850, but we must also continue to prioritize funding for the lab so it can continue its critical work.
Once again, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology,
Washington, DC, July 8, 2021.
Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Thompson: I am writing to address the
jurisdictional interests of the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology (``Science Committee'') in H.R. 1850, the
``Supporting Research and Development for First Responders
Act.''
While the Science Committee has claimed jurisdiction over
versions of this bill introduced in previous Congresses, I
recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this
legislation before the House in an expeditious manner, and,
accordingly agree not to insist on a sequential referral.
This is, of course, conditional on our mutual understanding
that nothing in this legislation or my decision to forgo
sequential referral waives, reduces, or otherwise affects the
jurisdiction of the Science Committee, and that a copy of
this letter and your response will be included in the bill
report to be filed by the Committee on Homeland Security and
included in the Congressional Record when the bill is
considered on the House Floor.
Finally, I ask that you support the appointment of Science
Committee conferees during any House-Senate conference
convened on this, or similar legislation. Thank you for your
attention on this matter.
Sincerely,
Eddie Bernice Johnson,
Chairwoman.
Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice).
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1850 is a bill to protect our protectors. At the very least, those on the front lines deserve to go to work with the certainty that their equipment will work when they need it the most. They should not have to ask themselves: Will it function under pressure? Can it take the heat?
We owe it to the nearly 2 million Americans who put their lives on the line to protect us to ensure that NUSTL is operational and resourced to test their equipment.
This fall, we will be observing the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that shook this Nation to its core. The 9/11 attack was not only the single deadliest terrorist attack in human history, but it was the deadliest incident ever for firefighters and law enforcement officers in the United States.
Mr. Speaker, 343 New York City firefighters, 23 NYPD officers, and 37 Port Authority officers died that day. By enacting H.R. 1850, we can ensure that as threats continue to grow and change, NUSTL will be there to provide critical technical support to our first responder community.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice) for this legislation, and I ask that my colleagues support this bipartisan legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
