E2204 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks December 4, 2001 From the day they begin their active duty, nity has benefitted from having a tenacious, our area. I am honored to call him a con- members of the National Guard and Reserves committed and vocal advocate with represen- stituent. must deal with the difficult challenge of paying tation at all levels of government from L.A. f their bills and extra living expenses while serv- City Hall to Capitol Hill. ing their country. Cathy Maguire has led two delegations of HOMELAND EMERGENCY RE- To help ease this burden, soldiers placed on business leaders to our nation’s capitol to SPONSE OPERATIONS (HERO) active duty are entitled to a Basic Allowance meet with United States Senators, Members of ACT of Housing, which pays for their housing costs. Congress, Cabinet Secretaries and senior staff Soldiers receive it when they do not live on a of both the Clintons and Bush Administrations. HON. JANE HARMAN military base. The exact amount depends on VICA has taken a leadership role on Social OF CALIFORNIA grade, dependency status, and geographic lo- Security reform, small business development, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES cation. aviation and airports, water quality and reli- Tuesday, December 4, 2001 If members of the National Guard and Re- ability, a patient’s bill of rights and tele- serves serve less than 140 days, they receive communications issues under the keen leader- Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, five years ago, Level II Basic Allowance of Housing. If they ship of Cathy Maguire. Tim Grimmond, the Police Chief of El serve more than 140 days, they receive Level As California faced an energy crisis this Segundo, a small town in my district, came to I Basic Allowance of Housing. year, VICA played an important role in dis- me with a little problem called ‘‘public safety Level II Basic Allowance of Housing is simi- cussing solutions with the Administration as radio interoperability.’’ lar to the Level I Basic Allowance of Housing, well as with our colleagues in Congress— Basically, he explained, police departments but it does not include adjustments for expen- working to ensure that California had reliable, are organized by city and county jurisdictions. sive housing markets, such as Honolulu or affordable supplies of energy. Criminals are not. New York City. And while our nation mourned the losses of And the radios carried by the police in El This policy hurts soldiers placed on short September 11, 2001, VICA and its Chairman Segundo were not always compatible with the tours of duty in expensive housing markets. have worked to minimize the impacts on radios carried by the L.A. Country sheriffs or For example, an 0–1 officer in Honolulu will Southern California’s economy, convening the police departments in neighboring towns like receive $410.70 per month under Level II. region’s first Economic Impacts Summit and Redondo and Manhattan Beach. Under Level I, that same soldier would receive advocating in Washington on behalf of an eco- As a result, law enforcement agencies pur- $953.00. nomic stimulus for local businesses impacted suing a suspect couldn’t talk to each other on The current law costs soldiers hundreds of by the tragic events. the radio. They sometimes resorted to hand dollars every month. Soldiers should not have Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, signals out car windows to communicate. Or to wait 140 days before receiving the Level I please join us in honoring Cathy Maguire for they used a jerry-rigged system of radio- Basic Allowance of Housing. her leadership and accomplishments as Chair- patching and multiple radios to make it work. On November 13, 2001, I introduced H.R. man of the Valley Industry and Commerce As- The problem was not with the equipment. 3280 to correct this. It will reduce the number sociation. The problem was the shortage of spectrum— the airwaves used for radio and TV. of active duty days required for the Level I f Basic Allowance of Housing from 140 to 60 Police and fire departments had not been days. PERSONAL EXPLANATION allocated enough of the spectrum for their ra- We ask members of the National Guard and dios to be interoperable. Reserves to serve without hesitation to defend HON. XAVIER BECERRA In response to Chief Grimmond’s concerns, our nation. We must ensure that all soldiers in OF CALIFORNIA I introduced legislation that directed the FCC to license unused frequencies to public safety the military are paid enough money to cover IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES their housing costs. agencies. This bill became law. I urge my colleagues to join with me and Tuesday, December 4, 2001 The same year, Congress took another support H.R. 3280. Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, No- major step towards interoperability. It directed f vember 30, 2001, I was unable to cast my the FCC to allocate to public safety users 24 floor vote on roll call number 465, on Agreeing megahertz of spectrum licensed to analog tel- TRIBUTE TO CATHY MAGUIRE to the Conference Report for H.R. 2299, evision stations. Congress set a deadline of Transportation and Related Agencies Appro- 2006 for that transition. HON. BRAD SHERMAN priations for FY 2002. Unfortunately, that law also left a big loop- OF CALIFORNIA Had I been present for the vote, I would hole. It said the TV stations don’t have to HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN have voted ‘‘aye’’ on roll call vote 465. move to new spectrum until 85 percent of the f household have a TV that can receive digital OF CALIFORNIA TV signals. HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING Currently, only 1 percent of homes in the DAVID PEOPLES U.S. meet that criteria. OF CALIFORNIA So unless we act now, public safety agen- HON. ELTON GALLEGLY HON. ROBERT W. NEY cies will never be able to use the spectrum OF CALIFORNIA OF OHIO that Congress promised them back in 1997. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES That means * * * fire departments will con- HON. XAVIER BECERRA tinue to have problems talking at the scenes OF CALIFORNIA Tuesday, December 4, 2001 of major fires. Police and sheriff’s departments HON. HOWARD P. ‘‘BUCK’’ McKEON Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, Whereas, David chasing a suspect across city and county juris- OF CALIFORNIA Peoples serves as a Police Officer in the state dictions will still not be able to communicate IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of Ohio; and by radio. Police officers on the beat will still Whereas, Mr. Peoples has been named worry about hitting a ‘‘dead spot’’ where their Tuesday, December 4, 2001 ‘‘Police Officer of the Month’’ by the National radios don’t work because of interference or Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, we rise today Law Enforcer’s Memorial Fund for his un- poor signal penetration. to pay tribute to Cathy Maguire as she com- matched service to his community; and; The HERO Act that I and my colleagues, pletes her tenure as Chairman of the Valley Whereas, Mr. Peoples is helpful, honest, ac- Rep. WELDON of PA, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. MORAN Industry and Commerce Association (VICA). tive, hardworking and dedicated to both his of VA, Mr. MCINTYRE, BALLENGER, and Mr. Fifty-two years ago, when VICA was found- department and law enforcement; and, FRELINGHUYSEN are introducing here today ed, the San Fernardo Valley was a predomi- Whereas, Mr. Peoples has received the eliminates that 85 percent threshold require- nantly rural and agricultural area north of Los ‘‘Exceptional Service Medal,’’ the ‘‘Life Saving ment—but only for channels 63, 64, 68 and Angeles; today, the Valley is a vital part of our Medal’’ and the ‘‘Silver Torch’’ for his efforts in 69, which the FCC allocated to public safety at nation’s second-largest metropolitan area— saving and protecting the citizens of Ohio; Congress’ direction in 1997. thanks in part to the leadership of VICA. Therefore, I ask that my colleagues join me Our bill directs the FCC to assign the fre- Since Cathy Maguire was elected Chairman in recognizing David Peoples for his commit- quencies Congress promised to public safety of VICA in 1999, the Valley business commu- ment and dedication to making lives better in agencies by the end of 2006.

VerDate 112000 06:11 Dec 05, 2001 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A04DE8.052 pfrm04 PsN: E04PT1 December 4, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2205 This legislation is supported virtually every 15,000 members, I want to thank you for in- ducing this legislation that is so urgently public safety and municipal organization, in- troducing legislation to address the serious needed by law enforcement agencies cluding * * *. radio spectrum issues facing our nation’s po- throughout the United States. The International Association of Fire Chiefs, lice, fire, EMS, and other public safety agen- Respectfully, cies. Your proposed legislation would estab- S/PATRICK D. MCGOWAN, the International Association of Fire Fighters, lish a firm date for clearing television broad- President. and the Congressional Fire Services Institute; cast stations from spectrum allocated for INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS the International Association of Chiefs of Po- public safety radio systems pursuant to a OF POLICE, lice and the Major County Sheriff’s Associa- 1997 Congressional mandate. Alexandria, VA, December 3, 2001. tion; the National League of Cities, the Na- The tragic events of September 11, 2001, demonstrated yet again that public safety Hon. JANE HARMAN, tional Governors’ Association and the National U.S. House of Representatives, Cannon House Association of Counties; the Association of personal all too often lack access to suffi- cient radio spectrum to provide effective and Office Building, Washington, DC. DEAR REPRESENTATIVE HARMAN: On behalf Public-Safety Communications Officials-Inter- interoperable communications when re- of the International Association of Chiefs of national (APCO) and the International Asso- sponding to emergencies. On a day-to-day Police (IACP), I am writing to express our ciation of Arson Investigators. basis, public safety personnel from different Attached to this statement are letters of sup- support for the Homeland and Emergency agencies and jurisdictions are often unable Response Operations (H.E.R.O) Act. As you port for the legislation. to communicate at emergency scenes, usu- know, the IACP is the world oldest and larg- They all agree: Public safety needs this ally because spectrum shortages have forced est association of law enforcement execu- spectrum. And Congress should keep its com- them to operate their radio systems over dif- tives with more than 18,000 members in 100 mitment. ferent, incompatible frequency bands. In countries. many metropolitan areas, public safety per- CONGRESSIONAL FIRE SERVICES As you are aware, law enforcement and sonnel also confront dangerous radio fre- INSTITUTE, other public safety organizations in the quency congestion, again due to the inad- Washington, DC, November 28, 2001. United States are in critical need of addi- equacy of public safety spectrum allocations. tional radio spectrum to safely perform their Hon. JANE HARMAN, These problems, and proposed solutions, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, mission critical duties. In response to that were documented by the Public Safety Wire- need, in 1997 Congress directed the Federal DC. less Advisory Committee (PSWAC) in a re- DEAR CONGRESSWOMAN HARMAN: As Chair Communications Commission (FCC) to make port dated September 11, 1996. Among of the Congressional Fire Services Institute’s 24 MHz of spectrum (currently used by tele- PSWAC’s recommendations was that ap- National Advisory Committee, I extend to vision channels 63, 64, 68, 69) available for use proximately 25 MHz of new radio spectrum you the support of the committee for the by public safety. Unfortunately, the legisla- be made available for public safety within Homeland Emergency Response Operations tion was linked to the transition of tele- five years. Congress required such an alloca- vision stations on those channels from ana- Network Act. Composed of 40 national fire and emer- tion in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, and log to digital signal and there is no specific gency services organizations, the NAC pro- the FCC responded with a specific spectrum deadline by which this spectrum will be vides counsel to CFSI on public safety issues. allocation in 1998. However, when terrorists available for public safety use. The public safety community, including Among the organizations that serve on this attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon exactly five years after the the IACP, has repeatedly called on the FCC committee are the International Association to assign this much needed spectrum to pub- of Arson Investigators, International Asso- PSWAC report, public safety personnel re- sponding to those horrific events were still lic safety in order to achieve critical inter- ciation of Fire Chiefs, International Associa- operability in communications between tion of Fire Fighters, International Fire unable to use the newly allocated spectrum. The difficulty is that the spectrum remains agencies. For example, the agencies that re- Service Training Association, International sponded to the terrorist attack on the Pen- Society of Fire Service Instructors, National blocked by ongoing television broadcast op- erations in much of the nation (including tagon were unable to communicate with Fire Protection Association, National Volun- each other because they lacked the required teer Fire Council, and the North American New York and Washington). The legislation that you are offering will spectrum for interoperable radio commu- Fire Training Directors. These are the asso- establish a firm date for television stations nications. Consequently, the IACP strongly ciations that represent the interest of our 1.2 to vacate spectrum already allocated for supports the H.E.R.O. Act, which would re- million first responders. quire current television stations using those Following the release of the Public Safety public safety. If adopted, the legislation will open the door for state and local govern- channels to vacate the spectrum for use by Wireless Advisory Committee report in 1996, public safety no later than December 31, 2006. CFSI has worked aggressively in support of ments to plan, fund, and even construct the new radio systems they need, confident that We appreciate the efforts of you and your the report’s recommendations. First and colleagues in Congress who will be intro- foremost is the set aside of 24 megahertz of the necessary radio spectrum will be avail- able for use on a specific date. We hope that ducing this legislation that is so urgently broadcast spectrum for public safety use. needed by law enforcement agencies This spectrum will address an immediate your colleagues in Congress will give this matter immediate and favorable consider- throughout the United States. need of public safety, clearing the way for Sincerely, interoperable wireless communication sys- ation. Sincerely, WILLIAM B. BERGER, tems. President. Following the terrorists attacks on Sep- GLEN NASH, tember 11th, the need for this spectrum has President. INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION become a top priority for public safety. We MAJOR COUNTY SHERIFFS’ ASSOCIATION, OF FIRE CHIEFS, can no longer afford to run the risk of re- Minneapolis, MN, December 3, 2001. Fairfax, VA, November 30, 2001. sponding to large-scale disasters without Hon. JANE HARMAN, Hon. JANE HARMON, interoperable communication systems. Oth- U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. erwise, we will jeopardize the lives of all DEAR CONGRESSWOMAN HARMAN: The mem- DEAR REPRESENTATIVE HARMAN: The Inter- first responders at the scene. Congress needs bers of the Major County Sheriffs’ Associa- national Association of Fire Chiefs and, in- to remove the 85 percent exemption on pene- tion and other public safety organizations in deed, America’s fire and emergency service, tration of digital television receivers and the United States continue to be in urgent fully supports the Homeland Emergency Re- any other exemptions, and hold firm on the need of additional radio spectrum to safely sponse Operations (HERO) Act to provide for previously set 2006 deadline in the best inter- perform their mission critical duties. the expected and increased assignment of In response to that need, in 1997 the Con- est of public safety! spectrum for public safety. I look forward to working with you, Con- gress directed the FCC to make 24 MHz of In 1996 the Public Safety Wireless Advisory gressman Curt Weldon and all other federal spectrum (currently TV Channels 63, 64, 68, Committee reported to Congress on the legislators who will offer their support for 69) available for use by public safety. Unfor- needs for additional spectrum for public safe- this legislation. tunately the legislation was linked to transi- ty. In 1997 Congress responded to one of the recommendations by mandating that the Sincerely, tion of TV stations in those channels from analog to digital signals and there is no Federal Communications Commission (FCC) DENNIS COMPTON, allocate 24 MHz of spectrum for the exclusive Chair, National Advisory Committee. date-certain deadline by which public safety will be able to use this spectrum. use of public safety from the 700 MHz band ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC-SAFETY We are in support of legislation to be occupied by television channels 60–69. The COMMUNICATIONS known as ‘‘THE HOMELAND AND EMER- FCC complied; channels 63, 64, 68 and 69 have OFFICIALS INTERNATIONAL, INC., GENCY RESPONSE OPERATIONS been reserved for use by public safety agen- December 3, 2001. (H.E.R.O.) ACT’’ that would require current cies. The FCC has promulgated rules for the Hon. JANE HARMAN, TV Broadcast Incumbents on those channels 700 MHz public safety band which, when im- U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. to vacate that spectrum for use by public plemented, will provide much needed addi- DEAR REPRESENTATIVE HARMAN: On behalf safety no later than December 31, 2006. tional spectrum for both voice and data com- of the Association of Public-Safety Commu- We appreciate the efforts of you and your munication, and improve interoperability nication Officials-International, Inc and its colleagues in Congress who will be intro- among 700 MHz band users.

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These very positive developments are con- NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, ability has in disaster response and making tingent on television stations vacating this December 3, 2001. this spectrum available will enhance our spectrum by 2006—a provision in the 1997 Hon. JANE HARMAN, ability to carry out our role as ‘‘first re- Balanced Budget Act. The major barrier is a U.S. House of Representatives, Cannon House sponders’’. provision in that same law that allows sta- Office Bldg., Washington, DC. Thank you for your leadership. DEAR REPRESENTATIVE HARMAN: On behalf Sincerely, tions to keep their analog channels beyond of the National Association of Counties JAVIER GONZALES, 2006 until at least 85% of the households in (NACo), I would like to commend you, and President, the relevant market have access to digital Representative Curt Weldon, for developing National Association of Counties television signals. The problem, in short, is the, ‘‘Homeland Emergency Response Oper- Commissioner, Santa Fe, NM. that there is no time certain for clearing the ations (HERO) Act.’’ INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ARSON band for public safety. Neither public safety The HERO Act is fully consistent with NACo’s policy on releasing the 700 MHz band INVESTIGATORS, INC., agencies nor radio equipment manufacturers St. Louis, MO, November 30, 2001. can proceed until there is certainty. The for public safety purposes, which reads as follows: Hon. JANE HARMAN, benefits of this new spectrum will not be ‘‘Improve Public Safety and Emergency U.S. House of Representatives, Cannon House available to public safety until this current Management Communications: Increase Office Building, Washington, DC. uncertainty is rectified. interoperability for both voice and data, re- DEAR CONGRESSWOMAN HARMAN: The Inter- The HERO Act addresses the issue of band lease additional spectrum in the 700 MHz national Association of Arson Investigators is pleased to endorse the ‘‘Homeland Emer- clearing by providing a date certain that this band for public safety and emergency man- gency Response Operations Network Act’’. spectrum will be available for public safety. agement use, and eliminate interference problems in public safety communications.’’ This vital legislation is long overdue. Ex- This is consistent with the original intent of NACo believes it is critical that the 700 pedited assignment of the 761–776 and 794–806 Congress to provide public safety with the MHz band be made available at a date cer- megahertz to public safety use will provide key element of command and control—com- tain. This would facilitate counties making much needed additional radio spectrum for munications. Enhanced communications ca- appropriate plans for utilization of the spec- America’s emergency responders. pability will clearly enable America’s fire trum, develop solutions to the interoper- As one of the nation’s major fire service and emergency service to better deal with ability challenges for both voice and data, groups we look forward to standing with you large scale incidents, natural disasters and and allow the private sector to provide the at next week’s press conference. Following acts of terrorism. technologies and equipment necessary to introduction we would be honored to work to Very truly yours, make for efficient utilization of the spec- seek passage of this important measure. CHIEF JOHN M. BUCKMAN, trum. Sincerely, President. Clearly the events of September 11th bring STEPHEN P. AUSTIN, into focus the important role interoper- Director of Governmental Relations.

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