Emergency communications systems

This resolution expresses support for National Safe Digging Month and encourages all homeowners and excavators to call 811 to find the location of underground utility lines before digging.

Sponsors

Todd Young (R) IN

Cosponsors

Gary Peters (D) MI, Ted Cruz (R) TX, Maria Cantwell (D) WA

Introduced on
Monday, April 7th, 2025

Subjects
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies, Commemorative events and holidays, Electric power generation and transmission, Emergency communications systems, Pipelines, Public utilities and utility rates, Water use and supply

S 1278: Fog Observations and Geographic Forecasting Act

Sponsors

Ted Cruz (R) TX

Cosponsors

Alex Padilla (D) CA

Introduced on
Thursday, April 3rd, 2025

Subjects
Atmospheric science and weather, Emergency communications systems, Geography and mapping, Hydrology and hydrography, Marine and inland water transportation, Navigation, waterways, harbors, Transportation safety and security

HR 2483: SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025

SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025

This bill reauthorizes and revises Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) programs that address substance use disorders, overdoses, and mental health.

For example, the bill reauthorizes for FY2026-FY2030 grant and other programs relating to

• addressing substance use disorders with respect to pregnant and postpartum women,
• prevention and recovery from substance use disorders for youth,
• housing for individuals in recovery from substance use disorders,
• community organizations facilitating recovery from substance use disorders,
• loan repayment for certain health care providers treating substance use disorders,
• prevention of overdoses of controlled substances,
• treatment of children experiencing psychological trauma, and
• mental and behavioral health education and training for medical and allied health students.

Also, the bill revises several programs, including by (1) expanding a program that supports resources for first responders to include the purchase of drugs or devices to treat non-opioid overdoses, (2) expanding a program that supports employment services for individuals in recovery so as to allow for the provision of related transportation services, and (3) temporarily authorizing a regional technical assistance center to assist the National Peer-Run Training and Technical Assistance Center for Addiction Recovery Support.

Additionally, the bill establishes new requirements for HHS, including requirements relating to

• protecting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline program from cybersecurity threats,
• establishing a Federal Interagency Work Group on Fentanyl Contamination of Illegal Drugs, and
• reviewing and potentially revising the scheduling of approved products containing a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone under the Controlled Substances Act.

S 1003: Lulu’s Law

Lulu’s Law

This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to issue an order explicitly permitting the transmission of wireless emergency alerts to mobile phones in the event of a shark attack.

(Under current regulations, authorized government authorities are permitted to send wireless emergency alerts regarding public safety emergencies, including severe weather, missing children, and other threats to life or property.)

Sponsors

Katie Britt (R) AL

Cosponsors

Brian Schatz (D) HI, Raphael Warnock (D) GA, Deb Fischer (R) NE, Pete Ricketts (R) NE, Shelley Capito (R) WV, Timothy Kaine (D) VA, Tommy Tuberville (R) AL, Bill Cassidy (R) LA

Introduced on
Wednesday, March 12th, 2025

Subjects
Animal protection and human-animal relationships, Emergency communications systems, Fishes

S 1007: 9–8–8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act

Sponsors

Markwayne Mullin (R) OK

Cosponsors

Alex Padilla (D) CA

Introduced on
Wednesday, March 12th, 2025

Subjects
Computer security and identity theft, Congressional oversight, Emergency communications systems, Government information and archives, Government studies and investigations, Mental health

S 861: Disaster Assistance Simplification Act

Sponsors

Gary Peters (D) MI

Cosponsors

James Lankford (R) OK, Rand Paul (R) KY, Thomas Tillis (R) NC

Introduced on
Wednesday, March 5th, 2025

Subjects
Computer security and identity theft, Computers and information technology, Congressional oversight, Crime prevention, Disaster relief and insurance, Emergency communications systems, Emergency planning and evacuation, First responders and emergency personnel, Fraud offenses and financial crimes, Government information and archives, Government studies and investigations, Intergovernmental relations, Internet, web applications, social media, State and local government operations

S 733: Taiwan Travel and Tourism Coordination Act

Sponsors

Marsha Blackburn (R) TN

Cosponsors

Brian Schatz (D) HI

Introduced on
Tuesday, February 25th, 2025

Subjects
Disaster relief and insurance, Emergency communications systems, Emergency medical services and trauma care, Emergency planning and evacuation, Executive agency funding and structure, Natural disasters

S 725: Enhancing First Response Act

Enhancing First Response Act

This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to report on certain activations of the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS). DIRS is a reporting system that is activated during severe weather and other events impacting communications service and enables communications providers to report outages and other degradations to service.

If the system was activated for at least seven days, the FCC must issue a preliminary report that includes information about the number, duration, and nature of all associated outages. The FCC must also hold at least one public field hearing in the area affected by the event, and it must issue a final report that includes recommendations for improving the resiliency of affected networks or recovery efforts.

Separately, the FCC must publish a general report on (1) the volume and nature of 9-1-1 outages that are not required to be reported under current outage notification rules, and (2) the value to public safety agencies of the inclusion of visual information in outage notifications from communications providers.

The bill also requires the Office of Management and Budget, by 30 days after the bill’s enactment, to categorize public safety telecommunicators as a protective service occupation under the Standard Occupational Classification System.

Finally, the Office of the Inspector General of the FCC is directed to publish a report on the implementation of Kari’s Law, which requires multiline telephone systems to be preconfigured to allow users to dial 9-1-1 directly from any phone without dialing any additional code or prefix.

Sponsors

Amy Klobuchar (D) MN

Cosponsors

Marsha Blackburn (R) TN, Martin Heinrich (D) NM, Dan Sullivan (R) AK, Ben Lujan (D) NM, Shelley Capito (R) WV, Edward Markey (D) MA, Ted Budd (R) NC, Angus King (I) ME, John Thune (R) SD, Mark Kelly (D) AZ

Introduced on
Tuesday, February 25th, 2025

Subjects
Congressional oversight, Emergency communications systems, Emergency planning and evacuation, First responders and emergency personnel, Government information and archives, Government studies and investigations, Telephone and wireless communication

HR 1455: ITS Codification Act

Institute for Telecommunication Sciences Codification Act or the ITS Codification Act

This bill provides statutory authority for the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS), which serves as the telecommunications research and engineering arm of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

The bill also directs ITS to establish an initiative to support the development of emergency communication and tracking technologies for use in locating trapped individuals in confined spaces (e.g., underground mines) where conventional radio communication is limited.

Cosponsors

Brittany Pettersen (D) CO

Introduced on
Friday, February 21st, 2025

Subjects
Advanced technology and technological innovations, Emergency communications systems, Government studies and investigations, Public-private cooperation, Radio spectrum allocation, Research administration and funding, Technology assessment, Technology transfer and commercialization, Telephone and wireless communication

S 666: First Responders Wellness Act

First Responders Wellness Act

This bill establishes a national mental health hotline for first responders and provides mental health services for emergency response providers responding to major disasters.

The bill requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to establish a mental health hotline staffed with specialists trained to provide first responders and their families with peer support, mental and behavioral health and substance use disorder assistance, and referral services. SAMHSA must raise awareness about the hotline and develop guidance regarding first responders for personnel operating the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA must report to Congress annually on the hotline.

Also, the bill expands the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program, which provides mental health services to victims of major disasters, so that emergency response providers responding to major disasters may also receive these services.

Additionally, the bill requires SAMHSA to publish a report with recommendations for establishing a mobile health care delivery site to provide crisis services to emergency response providers responding to a major disaster.

Sponsors

Kirsten Gillibrand (D) NY

Cosponsors

Josh Hawley (R) MO

Introduced on
Thursday, February 20th, 2025

Subjects
Congressional oversight, Emergency communications systems, Employment and training programs, First responders and emergency personnel, Health care coverage and access, Health programs administration and funding, Mental health

S 613: Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025

Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025

This bill provides statutory authority for the National Mesonet Program (NMP) maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (Mesonets are networks of automated weather and soil observation stations that collect data used in measuring, tracking, and forecasting weather and its effects. The NMP is a national network of local mesonets that collects and disseminates non-federal atmospheric weather observations in the United States.)

The bill sets forth certain requirements for the NMP, including that the program must obtain weather observations in order to improve understanding and forecasting of atmospheric, drought, fire, and water events, and establish means to integrate increased numbers and types of environmental observations into the program annually. However, NOAA may obtain data under the program only when it is demonstrably cost effective and meets or exceeds certain data quality standards.

Of funds appropriated to the program annually, NOAA must award at least 15% to state, tribal, private, and academic entities seeking to build, expand, or upgrade mesonet system equipment and capacity. Entities receiving funds must agree to provide data to the NMP. In allocating funding, NOAA must prioritize providing funds to entities in remote areas and areas that lack environmental monitoring stations.

NOAA must also ensure the NMP has an active advisory committee, comprised of subject matter experts, to make recommendations on data needs and procurement, among other topics.

Sponsors

Brian Schatz (D) HI

Cosponsors

Roger Marshall (R) KS

Introduced on
Tuesday, February 18th, 2025

Subjects
Agricultural practices and innovations, Agricultural research, Atmospheric science and weather, Emergency communications systems, Environmental assessment, monitoring, research, Fires, Floods and storm protection, Government information and archives, Government studies and investigations, Higher education, Natural disasters, State and local finance