Sen Cornyn Introduces Bill to Bolster Flood Response, Natural Disaster Infrastructure in Texas

Sen John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Strengthening Infrastructure, Readiness, and Emergency Notifications Act, which would allow Texas and other states to repurpose unused Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program funding to go toward strengthening natural disaster response and mitigation infrastructure, including through investments in severe weather warning siren systems or rapid notification and disaster sensor technologies. The SIREN Act would:

• Add the procurement and installation of the following natural disaster response, prevention, and mitigation capabilities as eligible uses of BEAD non-deployment funding:
  • Audible warning sirens or other similar rapid notification technologies and infrastructure;
  • Wind, flood, fire, earthquake, or other sensor technologies for detecting and responding to major disasters;
  • And any IT equipment or software necessary to the operation of such infrastructure.
• Permit multi-state agreements for infrastructure that crosses state lines;
• Prioritize proposals that include a 25 percent state and local cost-share for projects;
• And prevent the redistribution of state BEAD funding until each state is given the opportunity to use leftover funding for these new purposes.