WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate late yesterday adopted a conference report on legislation (H.R. 1) to implement security recommendations from the 9/11 Commission. The conference report was approved by a vote of 85 to 8 and includes provisions authored by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) as standalone bills and unanimously approved by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.  The measure was also approved today by the House of Representatives.

“America’s 9-1-1 system plays a vital role in the safety of our citizens and is critical for our first responders,” said Senator Stevens.  “In many parts of the country, the public safety community does not have the technology it needs to receive location or other information.  This 9-1-1 provision will accelerate these vital upgrades and help improve emergency services across the nation, especially in rural America.”

Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee provisions of H.R. 1 include:

The 9-1-1 Modernization Act of 2007, S. 93 -- Upgrades the 9-1-1 system used to reach operators in an emergency. This provision expedites the funding for new 9-1-1 technological upgrades using money that Congress has allocated and would fund the grant program established under the “Ensuring Needed Help Arrives Near Callers Employing 9-1-1 (ENHANCE) Act.”  The Budget Reconciliation of 2005 made $43.5 million available from the auction of television spectrum.  This provision will make those funds available immediately to public safety groups and will be replaced after the auction is held instead of being delayed.

The Surface Transportation and Rail Security (STARS) Act of 2007, S. 184 -- Authorizes new surface transportation and rail security assessments, grant programs, research and development initiatives, and security measures for the nation’s major surface transportation modes.  The provision proposes new programs to address known risks and authorizes ongoing efforts already underway at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).  It also provides a statutory framework for TSA’s surface transportation and rail security efforts, for the first time, setting specific goals, tasks, and timelines for security improvements in these critical areas.

The Aviation Security Improvement Act, S. 509 -- Addresses the aviation security recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission in the areas of cargo and baggage screening, explosive detection at airport checkpoints, passenger pre-screening, and general aviation security. The measure also increases the size of the national explosives detection and canine teams and requires TSA to report on progress developing a passenger pre-screening program.

The Interoperable Emergency Communications Act, S. 385 -- Gives the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) greater direction regarding how to use the $1 billion interoperability fund created by the Commerce Committee in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Additionally, the program authorizes a strategic technology reserve so emergency equipment can be prepositioned throughout the country prior to a disaster or emergency.

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