A Letter from

Dan Henry,

NENA’s Director of Government Affairs

Chapter Leaders and Board Members,

Late last night, the House Energy & Commerce Committee passed language in its budget-reconciliation recommendations (as part of the Build Back Better Act) that would authorize $10B for a federal Next Generation 9-1-1 grant program. NENA participated heavily in the development of this language, and is proud to support the Committee’s recommendation. You can find the full text of the recommendation here.

What’s next? The Energy & Commerce Committee’s recommendations (of which NG9-1-1 is just one of many) will go to the House Budget Committee for further consideration. Upon passage out of the Budget Committee, the recommendations will then be reviewed by the House Rules Committee and, if passed there, will go to the floor for a vote by the entire House of Representatives.

Of course, the Senate must also introduce similar budget reconciliation recommendations. We are currently working with Senate staff on their recommendations, and will keep you updated on that quickly evolving situation.

How can you help? If you have a relationship with your Democratic Member of Congress, call them today and tell them to support NG9-1-1 funding in budget reconciliation! While our chances at federal NG9-1-1 grant funds have never been better, Congress still needs to hear from us! Opposition to the budget reconciliation recommendations largely involves the criticism that the entire package is too expensive. Thus, compromise means shrinking — or even cutting completely — programs in the reconciliation recommendations. We must tell Congress that America cannot wait for NG9-1-1 and we cannot afford to cut NG9-1-1 from the budget-reconciliation package.

What should we tell Congress?

• America needs at least $10B in federal funding to ensure a complete nationwide transition to Next Generation 9-1-1;

• NG9-1-1 will allow 9-1-1 to natively support today’s smartphones, IoT devices, and intelligent alarms to create more robust, user-friendly, lifesaving connections to emergency services;

• NG9-1-1 will promote seamless interoperability among states, cities, and field-responder agencies, allowing for transfer of information anywhere it’s needed, at a moment’s notice; and

• NG9-1-1 will improve 9-1-1’s resiliency, flexibility, and adaptability in the face of natural disasters, cyberattacks, and other failures of telecommunications infrastructure.

With your help, we can get NG9-1-1 funding through Congress and signed into law!

Dan Henry

Director, Government Affairs

National Emergency Number Association

dhenry@nena.org

Upcoming Events