United States 114th Congress Status: Died 1 D cosponsors

HR 3998 — Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act

Last action — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. Died in session

This bill died with 114th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act (Sec. 2) This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to submit to Congress and publish on the FCC website a study on the public safety benefits, technical feasibility, and cost of providing the public with access to 9-1-1 services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable, through: telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points and other communications technologies operating on unlicensed spectrum, without requiring any login credentials; non-telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points; and other alternative means. The types of emergencies subject to this bill are: (1) occasions or instances under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for which the President determines that federal assistance is needed to supplement state and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States; or (2) an emergency declared by the governor of a state or U.S. territory. (Sec. 3) The Stafford Act is amended to expand the categories of essential service providers that may access a disaster site to restore and repair essential services in an emergency or major disaster without being denied or impeded by a federal agency. Services to be considered essential are wireline or mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio or television broadcasting, cable service, or direct broadcast satellite service.

Bill Text

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Read HR 3998 on the official United States source →

Action History

  1. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

  2. The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

  3. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  4. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 389 - 2 (Roll no. 230). (text: CR H2890)

  5. Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2930)

  6. At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

  7. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3998.

  8. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2890-2891)

  9. Mr. Walden moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  10. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 453.

  11. Committee on Transportation discharged.

  12. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 114-583, Part I.

  13. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

  14. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  15. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  16. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  17. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  18. Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

  19. Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  20. Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  21. Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

  22. Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.

  23. Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure

  24. Referred to House Energy and Commerce

  25. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  26. Introduced in House

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety technology
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HR 3998 do?
Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act (Sec. 2) This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to submit to Congress and publish on the FCC website a study on the public safety benefits, technical feasibility, and cost of providing the public with access to 9-1-1 services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable, through: telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points and other communications technologies operating on unlicensed spectrum, without requiring any login credentials; non-telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points; and other alternative means. The types of emergencies subject to this bill are: (1) occasions or instances under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for which the President determines that federal assistance is needed to supplement state and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States; or (2) an emergency declared by the governor of a state or U.S. territory. (Sec. 3) The Stafford Act is amended to expand the categories of essential service providers that may access a disaster site to restore and repair essential services in an emergency or major disaster without being denied or impeded by a federal agency. Services to be considered essential are wireline or mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio or television broadcasting, cable service, or direct broadcast satellite service.
Who sponsors HR 3998?
HR 3998 is sponsored by Frank Pallone (D).
What is the current status of HR 3998?
This bill died with 114th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 3998?
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