First Responder Resources: The Homeland Defense Equipment Reuse Program â Description and Issues (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Dec. 19, 2003 |
| Report Number |
RS21491 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Jonathan Medalia, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
There has been general support for providing additional equipment to state and local first
responders
to help them deal with potential terrorist attacks. The Homeland Defense Equipment Reuse (HDER)
Program is a small program operated jointly by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Office for
Domestic Preparedness (ODP) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). HDER gives first
responders identified by ODP excess radiological detection and related equipment obtained mainly
from DOE sites and the Navy. (1) It was established in 2002 as
a pilot project for large metropolitan areas to determine if there was sufficient supply and demand.
Based on their experience, DOE and DHS decided to continue HDER as a program for first
responders nationwide beginning June 1, 2003. A likely future issue is the appropriate size and role
of such a program. Should Congress expand it to foreign recipients, permit it to accept excess
equipment from nongovernmental sources, or specify the types of equipment it should provide? This
report will be updated as appropriate.
1. See U. S. Department of Homeland
Security. Office for Domestic Preparedness. "Homeland Defense Equipment Reuse
Program (HDER) Program Fact Sheet," June 2003,
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/HDERFactSheet0603.pdf , and "Homeland Defense
Equipment Reuse ... Program Bulletins,"
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/hderbulletins.htm ; and U.S. Department of Energy.
Assets Utilization Program. "Homeland Defense Equipment Reuse Program,"
http://epic.er.doe.gov/epic/pdfs/HDERP_Factsheet.pdf . For other programs that assist
first responders, see CRS Report RL32348 , Selected Federal Homeland Security
Assistance Programs: A Summary , by Shawn Reese
