United States · Bill · HR
H.R. 3998 (114th)
Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act
Introduced
16 November 2015
Last action
24 May 2016 · Introduced
Status
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Sponsors
Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6], Albio Sires, Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Bill Pascrell, Donald Payne
Subjects
Healthcare
Source updated
7 April 2025
Summary
Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to commence proceedings on the provision of roaming agreements between mobile service providers to: (1) allow for mobile service at reasonable rates during emergencies when there is a mobile service outage lasting longer than 24 hours, and (2) provide for roaming agreements at no charge for communications during emergencies to or from 911 services. The types of emergencies subject to this Act 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. The FCC must create a master point of contact directory for communications between public safety answering points and telecommunications service providers. The FCC must also submit a study on mobile service providers supplying outage data to public safety answering points and on making WiFi access points available to the public for 911 services during emergencies. The Government Accountability Office must report on the resiliency of telecommunications networks power utility during emergencies. The Stafford Act is amended to include all categories of communications service providers (currently, only telecommunications service providers) among the 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. Communications services include wireline and mobile telephone, Internet, radio and television broadcasting, cable, and direct broadcast satellite services. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must: (1) ensure that essential service providers have escorts to relevant locations and priority access to relevant resources, and (2) establish a program to provide credentials to essential service providers to facilitate such access.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
16 November 2015
Introduced
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.
Source: IntroReferral
16 November 2015
Introduced
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.
Source: IntroReferral
16 November 2015
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
16 November 2015
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
17 November 2015
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
Source: Committee
20 November 2015
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Source: Committee
18 April 2016
Committee
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
19 April 2016
Committee
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
Source: Committee
19 April 2016
Committee
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
25 April 2016
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
26 April 2016
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
27 April 2016
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
28 April 2016
Reported
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Source: Committee
28 April 2016
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
23 May 2016
Passed
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
23 May 2016
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
23 May 2016
Vote
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)
Source: Floor
23 May 2016
Vote
Passed/agreed to in House: 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)
Source: Floor
23 May 2016
Floor
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2890-2891)
Source: Floor
23 May 2016
Vote
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.
Source: Floor
23 May 2016
Floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3998.
Source: Floor
23 May 2016
Floor
Mr. Walden moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Source: Floor
23 May 2016
Calendars
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 453.
Source: Calendars
23 May 2016
Discharge
Committee on Transportation discharged.
Source: Discharge
23 May 2016
Committee
Committee on Transportation discharged.
Source: Committee
23 May 2016
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 114-583, Part I.
Source: Committee
23 May 2016
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 114-583, Part I.
Source: Committee
24 May 2016
Introduced
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Source: IntroReferral
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Referred in Senate · 24 May 2016 · Official file
- Engrossed in House · 23 May 2016 · Official file
- Reported in House · 23 May 2016 · Official file
- Introduced in House · 16 November 2015 · Official file
Documents
10 official files
Referred in Senate (text)
Referred in Senate (text)
Referred in Senate · EN · 24 May 2016
Referred in Senate (PDF)
Referred in Senate · EN · 24 May 2016
Reported in House (text)
Reported in House · EN · 23 May 2016
Reported in House (PDF)
Reported in House · EN · 23 May 2016
Engrossed in House (text)
Engrossed in House · EN · 23 May 2016
Engrossed in House (PDF)
Engrossed in House · EN · 23 May 2016
Passed House amended
summary · EN · 23 May 2016
Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 16 November 2015
Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 16 November 2015
Introduced in House
summary · EN · 16 November 2015
Sponsors
- Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6] · D · Sponsor
- Albio Sires · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] · D · Cosponsor
- Bill Pascrell · D · Cosponsor
- Donald Payne · D · Cosponsor
- · sscm00 · Standing
- · hspw00 · Standing
- · hsif00 · Standing
Related records
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/3998
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/114/hr/3998
- us · 114-hr-3998 · source updated 7 April 2025