Panel OKs First Responder Funds

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved a measure that would authorize the Homeland Security Department to dole out $3.3 billion over the next five years to enable first responders to communicate better during an emergency. The bill, S. 1725, would authorize $400 million in state grants to strengthen emergency communications systems next year and increase the amount annually to $1 billion by 2010. It also would establish an office of emergency communications, interoperability and compatibility within the Homeland Security Department. The office would replace the department's interoperability and compatibility unit proposed earlier this year by the Bush administration. Lawmakers want the new office to create a comprehensive research and development initiative to solve technology and policy problems that have hindered the government's progress on the issue.
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Greta Wodele]

* For more info on the bill, see:
http://hsgac.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&Affiliation=R&PressRelease_id=1098&Month=9&Year=2005