Legis Daily

Enhancing First Response Act

USA119th CongressS-725| Senate 
| Updated: 9/11/2025
Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar

Democratic Senator

Minnesota

Cosponsors (12)
Dan Sullivan (Republican)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Angus S. King (Independent)John Thune (Republican)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Mark Kelly (Democratic)Ted Budd (Republican)Mike Crapo (Republican)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The bill, titled the "Enhancing First Response Act," directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve its response to communication outages during disasters. Specifically, after the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) is activated for seven or more days, the FCC must hold annual public hearings. These hearings will gather input from various stakeholders, including state and local governments, residents, service providers, and first responders, to assess the impact of outages. Following these hearings, the FCC is required to issue a report detailing the number and duration of outages for services like broadband internet access and commercial mobile service , including their impact on 911 services. The report must also include recommendations to enhance communications resiliency and recovery efforts. Furthermore, the FCC must investigate and report on ways to improve network outage reporting, such as the value of visual information for public safety answering points and addressing unreported 911 outages. A significant provision of the bill mandates the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to categorize public safety telecommunicators as a protective service occupation under the Standard Occupational Classification system within 30 days, acknowledging their critical role in emergency response. Finally, the bill requires the FCC to publish a report on the implementation and enforcement of Kari's Law , assessing compliance by multi-line telephone system manufacturers and vendors, identifying challenges, and recommending improvements or further legislation.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3556
Enhancing First Response Act
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 25, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Apr 30, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Sep 2, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-59.
Sep 2, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 146.
Sep 10, 2025
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6555; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6555)
Sep 10, 2025
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6555-6556: 1; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6555-6556: 1)
Sep 10, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Sep 11, 2025
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Sep 11, 2025
Received in the House.
Sep 11, 2025
Held at the desk.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3556
    Enhancing First Response Act


  • February 25, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 25, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • April 30, 2025
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • September 2, 2025
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-59.


  • September 2, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 146.


  • September 10, 2025
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6555; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6555)


  • September 10, 2025
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6555-6556: 1; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6555-6556: 1)


  • September 10, 2025
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • September 11, 2025
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • September 11, 2025
    Received in the House.


  • September 11, 2025
    Held at the desk.

Science, Technology, Communications

Congressional oversightEmergency communications systemsEmergency planning and evacuationFirst responders and emergency personnelGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsTelephone and wireless communication

Enhancing First Response Act

USA119th CongressS-725| Senate 
| Updated: 9/11/2025
The bill, titled the "Enhancing First Response Act," directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve its response to communication outages during disasters. Specifically, after the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) is activated for seven or more days, the FCC must hold annual public hearings. These hearings will gather input from various stakeholders, including state and local governments, residents, service providers, and first responders, to assess the impact of outages. Following these hearings, the FCC is required to issue a report detailing the number and duration of outages for services like broadband internet access and commercial mobile service , including their impact on 911 services. The report must also include recommendations to enhance communications resiliency and recovery efforts. Furthermore, the FCC must investigate and report on ways to improve network outage reporting, such as the value of visual information for public safety answering points and addressing unreported 911 outages. A significant provision of the bill mandates the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to categorize public safety telecommunicators as a protective service occupation under the Standard Occupational Classification system within 30 days, acknowledging their critical role in emergency response. Finally, the bill requires the FCC to publish a report on the implementation and enforcement of Kari's Law , assessing compliance by multi-line telephone system manufacturers and vendors, identifying challenges, and recommending improvements or further legislation.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3556
Enhancing First Response Act
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 25, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Apr 30, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Sep 2, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-59.
Sep 2, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 146.
Sep 10, 2025
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6555; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6555)
Sep 10, 2025
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6555-6556: 1; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6555-6556: 1)
Sep 10, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Sep 11, 2025
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Sep 11, 2025
Received in the House.
Sep 11, 2025
Held at the desk.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3556
    Enhancing First Response Act


  • February 25, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 25, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • April 30, 2025
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • September 2, 2025
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-59.


  • September 2, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 146.


  • September 10, 2025
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6555; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6555)


  • September 10, 2025
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6555-6556: 1; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6555-6556: 1)


  • September 10, 2025
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • September 11, 2025
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • September 11, 2025
    Received in the House.


  • September 11, 2025
    Held at the desk.
Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar

Democratic Senator

Minnesota

Cosponsors (12)
Dan Sullivan (Republican)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Angus S. King (Independent)John Thune (Republican)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Mark Kelly (Democratic)Ted Budd (Republican)Mike Crapo (Republican)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Science, Technology, Communications

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional oversightEmergency communications systemsEmergency planning and evacuationFirst responders and emergency personnelGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsTelephone and wireless communication