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H.R. 5159: Community Security Act

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H.R. 5159: Community Security Act

108th Congress · introduced 2004-09-28 · Emergency Management · Latest: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Science, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2004-09-28 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Rahall, Nick J., II [D-WV-3] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Science, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Community Security Act

Plain summary

Community Security Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to give business tax credits to employers of volunteer first responders. Provides individual tax deductions for travel and training expenses of such volunteers. Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a local critical need homeland security grant program for first responders. Requires the Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response to establish a standard of basic preparedness for local first responders. Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to award grants to States and localities for basic personal equipment and communications enhancement for disaster response, mitigation, and recovery missions. Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a safe schools through mental health grant program to: (1) train school personnel to identify and prevent avoidable disasters and to assist children in dealing with the aftermath; (2) provide school-based mental health services; and (3) provide such services to students who face or have faced disciplinary action. Establishes a school-based disaster mitigation refund program. Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the President to provide financial assistance to affected State and local governments for school-based community mental health counseling. Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a Homeland Security Competitive Research Grant Program to award grants to universities and colleges for homeland security-related research. Establishes a program to award research grants to colleges and universities to examine the social dimensions of terrorism.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Community Security Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Rahall, Nick J., II [D-WV-3] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong108-hr5159 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108