On October 13, the House Homeland Security Committee passed the Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for FY 2012 (H.R. 3116) by a vote of 20-12. Similar legislation, S. 1546, was passed by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in September. The bipartisan legislation reauthorizes a number of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) programs, reaffirms the Committee’s support for first responder grant programs and provides additional direction to DHS regarding the permitted uses of grant funds. In addition, the bill includes a provision stating it is the sense of Congress that the D block of 700 MHz spectrum should be reallocated to public safety for development of a nationwide public safety broadband network. The bill also requires a commission be established to re-examine the original 9/11 Commission recommendations and assess if current security programs adequately protect the United States from terrorist attack.

Link: House Homeland Security Reauthorization