First Responder Resources: The Homeland Defense Equipment Reuse Program -- Description and Issues

RS21491 -- First Responder Resources: The Homeland Defense Equipment Reuse Program -- Description and Issues

Updated December 19, 2003

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.