First Responder Anti-Terrorism Training Resources Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill and yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3978, which is sponsored by my friend from Alabama (Mr. Rogers). I am pleased to serve with Mr. Rogers on the Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response Subcommittee. He is the ranking member and works with us in a very bipartisan manner. I thank him for his service.

Mr. Rogers' district is home to the Center For Domestic Preparedness. It is the premier training site for our Nation's first responders, and it is the Department of Homeland Security's only federally chartered weapons of mass destruction training center.

DHS has facilitated training at the center for thousands of first responders from all 50 States, territories and the District of Columbia. Given the center's prominence in the first responders' community, it often receives offers of gifts and donations from a variety of sources. These donations and services include training, displays, emergency response equipment, and offers of guest lectures.

These donations and gifts would strengthen the center's ability to offer high-quality emergency response training.

Unfortunately, the center currently lacks the legal authority at this time to accept these types of services. H.R. 3978 will permit the Secretary of Homeland Security to accept and use gifts for otherwise authorized activities of the Center for Domestic Preparedness that are related to preparedness for and in response to terrorism.

The legislation further directs DHS to report annually to the Congress on any gifts that were accepted in the preceding year and how they have contributed to the center's mission. Other DHS-supported training centers are permitted to accept gifts and donations, and it is past due to give the Center for Domestic Preparedness the same authority.

I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 3978.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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