Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden
today announced the unanimous Senate passage of the Science and Technology
Emergency Mobilization Act (S. 2037). Wyden authored the legislation
along with Sen. George Allen (R-Va.). Popularly known as the "NET
Guard" bill, it offers private-sector science and technology experts
and entrepreneurs the chance to join in the fight against terrorism
and to ensure government consideration of new technologies to fight
terror. Wyden, who chairs the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science,
Technology and Space, was inspired to write the bill after hearing
numerous stories from technology experts and entrepreneurs who wished
to offer their help after the September 11 attacks, but found few
avenues to do so.
"Just as John F. Kennedy mobilized a generation of young people
to service in the 1960's, today the Senate calls a new generation
of technology experts and entrepreneurs to fight terrorism," said
Wyden. "I firmly believe that America's best hope for terrorism
response and prevention lies in technology and the people who know
how to apply it for the public good."
The Science and Technology Emergency Mobilization Act offers science
and technology experts and entrepreneurs a doorway into the Federal
government to offer their expertise, equipment and new technology
ideas to prevent and respond to terror attacks and other disasters
that cripple technology and communications systems.
The Wyden legislation seeks to engage the private science and
technology sector in preparing for and responding to disasters in
a variety of ways, including:
· Providing for the creation of "National Emergency Technology
Guard," or "NET Guard," teams of volunteers with technology and
science expertise, organized in advance and available to be mobilized
on short notice. These teams would be certified by a central office
created in the Executive Branch of the Federal Government, headed
by a director appointed by the President. The teams would be similar
to existing Urban Search and Rescue Teams under the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) and Medical Response Teams under the Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS);
· Creating a Center for Civilian Homeland Security Technology
Evaluation, modeled on the existing Technical Support. Working Group,
to serve as a national clearinghouse for innovative technologies
relating to emergency prevention and response; and
· Establishing a "communications interoperability" pilot program
awarding seven grants of $5 million each. The grants would help
fund pilot projects to enable communications systems used by fire,
law enforcement, and emergency preparedness and response agencies
to work together for cross-communication in disaster situations.
Volunteers will also be able to form certified NET Guard teams
for rapid response to disaster areas. Following the Urban Search
and Rescue Team concept, teams will be required to have both expertise
and access to equipment before they can be deployed in a disaster.
In addition, technology companies and individual experts can become
NET Guard volunteers simply by agreeing to become part of a national
database. That database will catalogue the people available to be
called on at a moment's notice.
"NET Guard volunteers will give this country a deep bench of science
and technology expertise for disaster situations," Wyden said. "I
believe the best and brightest minds in this country will answer
the call to assist fellow Americans in crisis."
Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.) has committed to advance "NET
Guard" in the House of Representatives.
