S. 1725, The Assure Emergency and Interoperable Communications for First Responders Act of 2005

• This item is from the 109th Congress (2005-2006) and is no longer current. Comments, voting, and wiki editing have been disabled, and the cost/savings estimate has been frozen.

S. 1725 would amend the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Act of 2004 to establish the Office for Emergency Communications, Interoperability, and Compatibility within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The office would be responsible for the coordination of all DHS efforts to achieve interoperable communications systems at the federal, state, and local level. The legislation also would authorize funds for communications research and emergency communications pilot projects, as well as grants to local first responders. In addition, S. 1725 would authorize a new program to protect the health and safety of disaster workers such as firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians.