H.R. 3254 – First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 7:28 AM UTC

The First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act amends the Homeland Security Act to create a uniform process for reviewing grant applications that seek to buy equipment or systems that do not meet existing national voluntary consensus standards. It aims to let first‑responder and other eligible agencies obtain innovative tools that fill capability gaps when standard‑approved gear is unavailable or insufficient. The changes affect the Department of Homeland Security, grant applicants, and the equipment they may purchase.

Key Provisions

Requires grant applicants to provide an explanation for requesting equipment that does not meet or exceed any applicable national voluntary consensus standard.
Mandates the DHS Administrator to implement a uniform review process for such applications, using grants under sections 2003 or 2004.
Specifies factors the Administrator must consider, including past federal or military use, absence of a national standard, existence of an international standard, identified capability gaps, and whether the proposed equipment better meets needs than standard‑compliant options.
Adds a review requirement for equipment not listed on the Authorized Equipment List maintained by the Administrator.
Orders the DHS Inspector General, within three years, to report to congressional homeland security committees on the number of requests, identified gaps, approvals or denials, and processing times.

Legislative Activity

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22 earlier actions

Became Law Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 118-165.

December 23, 2024

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 11, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Homeland Security Committee

May 11, 2023

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Homeland Security Committee

May 17, 2023

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

Homeland Security Committee

May 17, 2023

HouseCommittee

Reported by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 118-152.

Homeland Security Committee

July 19, 2023

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 120.

July 19, 2023

HouseFloor

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

July 25, 2023 • 7:35 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3938-3939)

July 25, 2023 • 7:35 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3254.

July 25, 2023 • 7:35 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Guest objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.

July 25, 2023 • 7:41 PM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4052)

July 27, 2023 • 2:16 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: 7/25/2023 CR H3938)

July 27, 2023 • 2:16 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: 7/25/2023 CR H3938)

July 27, 2023 • 2:16 PM

HouseFloor

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

July 27, 2023 • 2:16 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

September 5, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

July 31, 2024

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters without amendment. With written report No. 118-243.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

November 13, 2024

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 557.

November 13, 2024

SenateFloor

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6934)

December 10, 2024

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

December 11, 2024

President

Presented to President.

December 17, 2024

Became Law

Signed by President.

December 23, 2024

Became Law

Became Public Law No: 118-165.

December 23, 2024

Floor Debate

3 members

What members said about H.R. 3254 on the floor

1 Republican2 Democrats

Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr.D-NJ-10 · Jul 25, 2023

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, our communities look to our first responders to keep us safe. They are our hometown heroes, and it is a local and national…

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

Madam Speaker, our communities look to our first responders to keep us safe. They are our hometown heroes, and it is a local and national tragedy whenever a first responder loses their life in the line of duty.

Earlier this month, two brave Newark firefighters, Augusto Acabou and Wayne Brooks, Jr., lost their lives fighting a shipboard fire in the Port of Newark.

That blaze also injured five of their courageous colleagues.

I believe it is critical for first responders to be prepared by having the

tools and equipment necessary to execute their mission safely and efficiently.

Congress supports first responders through DHS homeland security grant programs. However, communities cannot use such funding to purchase novel, state-of-the-art equipment because it is not on FEMA's authorized equipment list.

This equipment is rendered ineligible not because it is inferior. It is ineligible because it is so innovative that it does not meet or exceed the consensus standards that FEMA relies upon.

I first introduced this bill in the 114th Congress to require FEMA to establish an accessible and transparent process for such equipment to be evaluated. The House approved this legislation three times already. Each time it stalled in the Senate. Nevertheless, today I feel very confident that the fourth time is the charm. With the support of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, I am hopeful that this bill will get action in the Senate.

With that, Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in sending a strong message to the Senate with a decisive ``yea'' vote on this bill.

Our first responders are always there to help us. Now it is time to help them with the most modern equipment available to do their jobs.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3254, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, in closing, we owe it to our hometown heroes to give them access to the necessary tools to carry out their missions safely and effectively.

H.R. 3254 would allow communities to use DHS grant funding to purchase advanced lifesaving technology such as systems to track firefighters in burning buildings or wildland fires.

It was cosponsored by the gentleman from Alabama, Representative Strong, and endorsed by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. The House approved the First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act in the 114th, 115th, and 116th Congresses. It is time for us to come together to get this bill enacted.

Madam Speaker, this is very timely legislation. I am sure that people saw the tragedy that we had in Newark, New Jersey, in my district where we lost two firefighters fighting a fire on a ship in the Port of Newark. They needed this type of equipment.

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

Rep. Michael GuestR-MS-3 · Jul 25, 2023

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3254) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a process to review applications for certain grants to purchase…

Sen. Charles E. SchumerD-NY · Dec 10, 2024

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 557, H.R. 3254. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and…

Bill Text

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Enrolled BillPublication date not provided

One Hundred Eighteenth Congress of the United States of America

At the Second Session

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-four

H. R. 3254

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.

1.

Short title

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

2.

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 (6 U.S.C. 747).

(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 three 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.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.