H.R. 6349: 21st Century Emergency Communications Act of 2006

109th Congress · introduced 2006-12-05 · Emergency Management · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science, and Technology.

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Where it came from: introduced 2006-12-05 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Barton, Joe [R-TX-6] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science, and Technology. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
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

21st Century Emergency Communications Act of 2006

Plain summary

21st Century Emergency Communications Act of 2006 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) an Office of Emergency Communications. Includes among the Office Director's responsibilities: (1) assisting in developing and implementing the program to enhance public safety interoperable communications at all levels of government; (2) administering DHS's authorities relating to the SAFECOM Program and the Integrated Wireless Network program; (3) promoting the development of standard operating procedures and best practices with respect to use of interoperable emergency communications capabilities for incident response; (4) establishing requirements for such capabilities for all public safety radio and data communications systems and equipment purchased using homeland security assistance; and (5) promoting the ability of emergency response providers and relevant government officials to continue to communicate in disasters. Requires the Secretary, through the Director, to: (1) develop and update a National Emergency Communications Plan; (2) assess the range of emergency communications capabilities needed; (3) report biennially on DHS progress in achieving stated goals; and (4) ensure that grant guidelines for the use of homeland security assistance administered by DHS relating to interoperable emergency communications are coordinated and consistent with National Emergency Communications Report recommendations. Directs the Secretary to support the development of national voluntary consensus standards for interoperable emergency communications. Establishes: (1) in each regional office a Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Group; and (2) the Emergency Communications Preparedness Center. Requires: (1) the Secretary to support the rapid establishment of consistent, secure, and effective interoperable emergency communications capabilities in the event of an emergency in areas at consistently high levels of risk; (2) the Director of the Office of Interoperability and Compatibility to assist the Secretary in developing and implementing science and technology aspects of specified interoperable communications programs; (3) the Under Secretary for Science and Technology to establish a research and development program to enable emergency response providers and government officials to communicate in disasters; and (4) the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to report to Congress on efforts of state, local, and tribal governments to develop plans for rerouting 911 and E911 services during disasters.

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

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

21st Century Emergency Communications Act of 2006

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Barton, Joe [R-TX-6] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

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Words on this page, explained (1)

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Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-109hr6349.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/109/hr>

Record fed-us-cong109-hr6349 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong109 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong109