To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to award research and equipment grants, to provide a tax credit for employers who hire temporary workers to replace employees receiving first responder training, to provide school-based mental health training, and for other purposes.

September 28, 2004

Mr. RAHALL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Science, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to award research and equipment grants, to provide a tax credit for employers who hire temporary workers to replace employees receiving first responder training, to provide school-based mental health training, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Community Security Act'.

SEC. 2. TAX INCENTIVES TO FACILITATE TRAINING OR DISASTER RESPONSE BY INDIVIDUALS SERVING AS VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDERS.

(a) FINDINGS- Congress makes the following findings:

(1) Seventy percent of our Nation's firefighters are volunteers, as are many emergency medical service and police personnel.

(2) States rely heavily on the services of these volunteer first responders.

(3) Many career first responders begin as volunteers.

(4) Volunteer first responders need the same preparation and training as career first responders. Advanced training is frequently required before volunteer first responders can be fully integrated in a State homeland security plan.

(5) The training and duties of volunteer first responders sometimes conflict with their regular employment for significant periods of time, such as in cases of out-of-State training and disaster response. In these cases employers may need to hire temporary replacement workers on incur other related costs while the volunteer responders are away from work. The burden of temporarily replacing these employees is particularly great for small and single-employer businesses.

(b) VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDER CREDIT-

(1) IN GENERAL- Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 (relating to business-related credits), as amended by this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`SEC. 45G. CREDIT TO EMPLOYERS OF VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDERS.

`(a) GENERAL RULE- For purposes of section 38, the volunteer first responder employee credit is an amount equal to 50 percent of the sum of--

`(1) the employment credit with respect to all qualified volunteer first responder employees of the taxpayer,

`(2) in the case of a small business employer, the replacement credit with respect to all qualified volunteer first responder employees of the taxpayer, plus

`(3) the self-employment credit of a qualified volunteer first responder self-employed taxpayer.

`(b) EMPLOYMENT CREDIT- For purposes of this section--

`(1) IN GENERAL- The employment credit with respect to any qualified volunteer first responder employee of the taxpayer is an amount equal to the lesser of--

`(A) the actual compensation amount with respect to such employee for such taxable year, or

`(B) $30,000.

`(2) Actual compensation amount-

`(A) IN GENERAL- The term `actual compensation amount' means the amount of compensation paid or incurred by the taxpayer with respect to a qualified volunteer first responder employee on any day when such employee was absent from employment for the purpose of participating in a qualified activity.

`(B) COMPENSATION- The term `compensation' means any remuneration for employment, whether in cash or in kind, which is paid or incurred by a taxpayer and which is deductible from the taxpayer's gross income under section 162(a)(1).

`(3) LIMITATION- No credit shall be allowed under this subsection with respect to any day that a qualified volunteer first responder employee who takes part in a qualified activity was not scheduled to work (for reason other than to participate in a qualified activity).

`(c) REPLACEMENT CREDIT- For purposes of this section--

`(1) IN GENERAL- The replacement credit with respect to any qualified volunteer first responder employee of the taxpayer is an amount equal to the sum of--

`(A) the qualified compensation with respect to each qualified replacement employee of the taxpayer paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year, and

`(B) the qualified overtime wages paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year.

`(2) LIMITATION- The amount of the credit allowed by reason of this subsection shall not exceed $12,000 for any taxable year.

`(3) QUALIFIED COMPENSATION- The term `qualified compensation' means--

`(A) compensation which is normally contingent on the qualified replacement employee's presence for work and which is deductible from the taxpayer's gross income under section 162(a)(1),

`(B) compensation which is not characterized by the taxpayer as vacation or holiday pay, or as sick leave or pay, or as any other form of pay for a nonspecific leave of absence, and

`(C) group health plan costs (if any) with respect to the qualified replacement employee.

`(4) QUALIFIED REPLACEMENT EMPLOYEE- The term `qualified replacement employee' means an individual who is hired to replace a qualified volunteer first responder employee, but only with respect to the period during which such employee participates in a qualified activity, including time spent in travel status.

`(5) QUALIFIED OVERTIME WAGES- For purposes of this section, the term `qualified overtime wages' means overtime wages paid to an employee of the taxpayer (other than a qualified replacement employee) for duties normally performed by a qualified volunteer first responder employee, but only with respect to the period during which such qualified volunteer first responder employee participates in a qualified activity, including time spent in travel status.

`(6) COORDINATION WITH OTHER CREDITS- The amount of credit otherwise allowable under sections 51(a) and 1396(a) with respect to any employee shall be reduced by the credit allowed by reason of paragraph (1)(A) with respect to such employee.

`(d) SELF-EMPLOYMENT CREDIT- For purposes of this section--

`(1) IN GENERAL- The self-employment credit with respect to a qualified volunteer first responder self-employed taxpayer is an amount equal to the amount paid or incurred by such taxpayer with respect to a qualified self-employment replacement employee.

`(2) QUALIFIED VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDER SELF-EMPLOYED TAXPAYER- The term `qualified volunteer first responder self-employed taxpayer' means a taxpayer who--

`(A) has self-employment income (as defined in section 1402) for the taxable year, and

`(B) holds a volunteer position as a firefighter, law enforcement official, or emergency medical service provider.

`(3) QUALIFIED SELF-EMPLOYMENT REPLACEMENT EMPLOYEE- The term `qualified self-employment replacement employee' means an individual who is hired to replace the qualified volunteer first responder self-employed taxpayer, but only with respect to the period during which such taxpayer participates in a qualified activity, including time spent in travel status.

`(e) DEFINITIONS AND OTHER RULES- For purposes of this section--

`(1) QUALIFIED VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDER EMPLOYEE- The term `qualified volunteer first responder employee' means an individual who--

`(A) has been an employee of the taxpayer for the 91-day period immediately preceding the period during which the employee participates in a qualified activity, and

`(B) holds a volunteer position as a firefighter, law enforcement official, or emergency medical service provider.

`(2) QUALIFIED ACTIVITY- The term `qualified activity' means--

`(A) training with respect to duties performed in connection with the volunteer position of the qualified volunteer first responder employee or qualified volunteer first responder self-employed taxpayer, and

`(B) the performance of duties in connection with the volunteer position of the qualified volunteer first responder employee or qualified volunteer first responder self-employed taxpayer, but only to the extent that such duties take not less than 1 day to perform.

`(3) SMALL BUSINESS EMPLOYER-

`(A) IN GENERAL- The term `small business employer' means, with respect to any taxable year, any employer who employed an average of 200 or fewer employees on business days during such taxable year.

`(B) CONTROLLED GROUPS- For purposes of subparagraph (A), all persons treated as a single employer under subsection (b), (c), (m), or (o) of section 414 shall be treated as a single employer.'.

(2) CREDIT MADE PART OF GENERAL BUSINESS CREDIT- Section 38(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking `plus' at the end of paragraph (14), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (15) and inserting `, plus', and by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

`(16) the volunteer first responder employee credit determined under section 45G.'.

(3) TRANSITION RULE- Section 39(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

`(11) NO CARRYBACK OF VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDER EMPLOYEE CREDIT BEFORE ENACTMENT- No portion of the unused business credit for any taxable year which is attributable to the volunteer first responder employee credit determined under section 45G may be carried back to a taxable year beginning before January 1, 2004.'.

(4) DENIAL OF DOUBLE BENEFIT- Section 280C(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to rule for employment credits) is amended--

(A) by inserting ` or compensation' after `salaries', and

(B) by inserting `45G,', after `45A(a),'.

(5) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- The table of sections for subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

`Sec. 45G. Credit to employers of volunteer first responders.'.

(6) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2003.

(c) DEDUCTION FOR CERTAIN EXPENSES OF VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDERS-

(1) DEDUCTION FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES-

(A) DEDUCTION ALLOWED- Section 162 (relating to certain trade or business expenses) is amended by redesignating subsection (q) as subsection (r) and inserting after subsection (p) the following new subsection:

`(q) TREATMENT OF EXPENSES OF VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDERS- For purposes of subsection (a)(2), in the case of an individual who participates in a qualified activity (within the meaning of section 45G(e)(2)) as a volunteer first responder (within the meaning of section 224) at any time during the taxable year, such individual shall be deemed to be away from home in the pursuit of a trade or business for any period during which such individual is away from home in connection with such participation.'.

(B) DEDUCTION ALLOWED WHETHER OR NOT TAXPAYER ELECTS TO ITEMIZE- Section 62(a)(2) (relating to certain trade and business deductions of employees) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

`(F) CERTAIN EXPENSES OF VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDERS- The deductions allowed by section 162 which consist of expenses, determined at a rate not in excess of the rates for travel expenses (including per diem in lieu of subsistence) authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, paid or incurred by the taxpayer in connection with participation in qualified activities (as defined in section 45G(e)(2)) as a volunteer first responder for any period during which such individual is more than 100 miles away from home in connection with such qualified activities.'.

(2) DEDUCTION FOR TRAINING EXPENSES-

(A) IN GENERAL- Part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to additional itemized deduction for individuals) is amended by redesignating section 224 as section 225 and by inserting after section 223 the following new section:

`SEC. 224. CERTAIN EXPENSES OF VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDERS.

`(a) IN GENERAL- In the case of a volunteer first responder, there shall be allowed as a deduction an amount equal to the expenses paid or incurred by the volunteer first responder necessary for training with respect to duties performed in connection with the volunteer position of such volunteer first responder.

`(b) VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDER- For purposes of this section, the term `volunteer first responder' means an individual who holds a volunteer position as a firefighter, law enforcement official, or emergency medical service provider.'.

(B) DEDUCTION ALLOWED WHETHER OR NOT TAXPAYER ELECTS TO ITEMIZE- Section 62(a) of such Code (relating to adjusted gross income) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

`(20) VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDER TRAINING EXPENSES- The deduction allowed by section 224.'.

(C) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- The table of sections for part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking the item relating to section 224 and inserting the following:

`Sec. 224. Certain expenses of volunteer first responders.

`Sec. 225. Cross reference.'.

(3) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2003.

SEC. 3. CRITICAL NEED GRANTS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.

(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds the following:

(1) According to a report by the Council on Foreign Relations Independent Task Force, first responders in the United States are underfunded and unprepared for future natural, technological, and human-caused disasters.

(2) Local firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel are responsible for disaster prevention, mitigation, and response.

(3) It is essential that first responders have basic safety equipment that is in good working order and customized, if appropriate, to do their jobs as safely and effectively as possible.

(4) All first responder operation centers need basic communications equipment, including--

(A) multiple touch-tone phone lines;

(B) a fax machine with a dedicated phone line;

(C) a computer with a high-speed connection to the Internet; and

(D) personal communication devices for shift supervisors, their commanders, and all first responders in a work unit.

(b) PURPOSE- The purpose of this section is to establish a competitive grant program within the Department of Homeland Security to provide first responders with the basic equipment needed to accomplish their homeland security goals.

(c) LOCAL CRITICAL NEED HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS- Title V of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`SEC. 510. LOCAL CRITICAL NEED HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.

`(a) DEFINITIONS- As used in this section, the following definitions shall apply:

`(1) BASIC PERSONAL EQUIPMENT- The term `basic personal equipment' means equipment necessary to achieve the standard of basic preparedness established by the Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response under subsection (d), including--

`(A) personal breathing apparatus;

`(B) protective equipment; and

`(C) bulletproof vests.

`(2) COMMUNICATIONS ENHANCEMENT- The term `communications enhancement' means improvements to local first responder communications systems that are necessary to achieve the standard of basic preparedness established by the Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response under subsection (d), including the development or enhancement of--

`(A) emergency operations centers;

`(B) processes and facilities for information sharing among different levels and first responder units; and

`(C) communications capabilities within individual firehouses, police precincts, or other centers of emergency operation.

`(b) STANDARD OF BASIC PREPAREDNESS- Not later than September 30, 2005, the Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response shall establish a standard of basic preparedness for local first responders, which shall provide for maximum State flexibility.

`(c) GRANTS AUTHORIZED- The Secretary may award need-based, competitive grants to States and units of local government to be used for basic personal equipment and communications enhancement needed to perform their disaster response, mitigation, and recovery missions.

`(d) APPLICATION-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Each eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response at such time, in such manner, and containing such information, including the safety and communications equipment to be purchased with grant funds, as the Under Secretary may reasonably require.

`(2) PRIORITY-

`(A) IN GENERAL- The Under Secretary shall give the highest priority to applicants demonstrating the greatest need for basic personal equipment and communication enhancements when compared to the standard of basic preparedness established under subsection (d).

`(B) INTERIM PRIORITY- Until a standard of basic preparedness is established under subsection (d), the Secretary shall give highest priority to applicants that demonstrate the greatest need for basic personal equipment and communication enhancements when compared to the standard under consideration.

`(3) EVALUATION PLANS- The Secretary shall use evaluation plans under consideration to help determine which applicants will receive grants under this section.

`(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated, for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2007, such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section, which shall remain available until expended.'.

SEC. 4. SAFE SCHOOLS THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM.

(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED- Subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7131 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`SEC. 4131. MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS.

`(a) PURPOSE- The purpose of this section is to provide grants to States and local educational agencies--

`(1) to prepare for and respond to disasters or terrorism in or impacting schools;

`(2) to prevent avoidable disasters, such as in-school or school-related violence;

`(3) to establish community-sustainable mental health programs in schools; and

`(4) to train school personnel on mental health issues, including disaster and terrorism prevention, response, and mitigation.

`(b) FINDINGS- Congress makes the following findings:

`(1) Schools occupy a unique place in the community. In addition to their main mission of educating children, they serve a public education role and a role in community organization.

`(2) Schools have new responsibilities in the homeland security era and in terms of disaster response. Schools often serve as community meeting places, centers of operation for disaster response, and shelters, and have a place in preventing some disasters from happening. Schools may also be called upon to fill novel roles in the case of a disaster, such as keeping children safe after normal school hours.

`(3) Some disasters, such as in-school violence, are largely preventable. Mental health professionals in schools may be able to anticipate and prevent school-related disasters and are better positioned to mitigate disaster effects.

`(4) After any disaster, people benefit from returning to their normal routine to whatever extent possible. Schools may be in the position to mitigate disaster-related stress.

`(c) DEFINITION- In this section, the term `eligible entity' means a public school or a local educational agency.

`(d) SAFE SCHOOLS THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM-

`(1) GRANTS AUTHORIZED- From funds made available to carry out this subpart under section 4003(2), the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to pay the Federal share of the cost of carrying out the activities described in paragraph (3).

`(2) APPLICATION- An eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this subsection shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require, including a certification that the eligible entity will provide the necessary State or local funding to continue the activities initiated with the grant during the 5-year period beginning on the date on which such grant is awarded.

`(3) USES OF FUNDS- An eligible entity that receives a grant under this subsection may use the grant funds to--

`(A) train elementary school and secondary school teachers, administrators, and other professionals to--

`(i) identify and prevent avoidable disasters; and

`(ii) assist children in dealing with the aftermath of terrorism and disasters or other mental health issues;

`(B) provide for school-based mental health professionals to offer services in elementary and secondary schools;

`(C) provide mental health services to elementary and secondary school students who face, or have faced, disciplinary action, including students who have been suspended or expelled from school.

`(4) FEDERAL SHARE- The Federal share of the cost of carrying out the activities under paragraph (3) shall be not more than--

`(A) 80 percent of the total cost of such activities, in the first year of the grant award;

`(B) 60 percent of the total cost of such activities, in the second year of the grant award;

`(C) 40 percent of the total cost of such activities, in the third year of the grant award;

`(D) 20 percent of the total cost of such activities, in the fourth year of the grant award; and

`(E) 0 percent of the total cost of such activities, in the fifth year of the grant award.

`(5) STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING- If an eligible entity receiving a grant under this subsection fails to provide sufficient State or local funding, in accordance with paragraph (4), the eligible entity shall be subject to a penalty up to the amount received under this subsection, as determined by the Secretary, which shall be payable to the United States Treasury.

`(e) SCHOOL-BASED DISASTER MITIGATION REFUND PROGRAM-

`(1) GRANTS AUTHORIZED- From funds made available to carry out this subpart under section 4003(2), the Secretary, in an emergency declared by the President under title V of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 501 et seq.), shall award grants to eligible entities to pay the Federal share of the cost of carrying out the activities described in paragraph (3).

`(2) APPLICATION- An eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this subsection shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require.

`(3) USE OF FUNDS- An eligible entity that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to reimburse elementary and secondary schools for costs incurred by such schools--

`(A) during a disaster response; and

`(B) for in-school mental health counseling for a period of 13 months beginning on the date of the disaster.'.

(b) FEDERAL EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE- Section 502(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5192(a)) is amended--

(1) in paragraph (6), by striking `and' at the end;

(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting `; and'; and

(3) by adding at the end the following: `(8) provide financial assistance to affected State and local governments for school-based community mental health counseling.'.

SEC. 5. HOMELAND SECURITY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds the following:

(1) The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for funding the intramural and extramural research and development to address the Department's scientific and technological needs and requirements.

(2) Funding has been appropriated to the Department of Homeland Security to carry out significant levels of scientific development, and this funding will likely increase in the future.

(3) Terrorist threats against the United States are not restricted to a single geographic area, terrorist group, or method of threat. Undefended borders make terrorist attacks possible in places that have never had to prepare for, or respond to, terrorism.

(4) Every State must be prepared for disasters and will incur costs associated with homeland security.

(5) States experience varying levels of potential homeland security threats and homeland security concerns vary geographically. Addressing these threats requires regional and local expertise, thus the scientific and technological workforce and training should not be overly centralized.

(6) Academic research and development funding has not been distributed equitably in the past. Congress has taken steps to resolve this problem. Correcting this inequity will provide beneficial results for science and technology training and research.

(b) PURPOSE- The purpose of this section is to establish a competitive grant program for homeland security research and development.

(c) HOMELAND SECURITY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM- Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`SEC. 314. COMPETITIVE RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM.

`(a) ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretary, in consultation with the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, shall establish a Homeland Security Competitive Research Grant Program (referred to in this section as the `Program') to more equitably distribute Federal research and development funds by awarding competitive grants to universities and colleges in eligible States to conduct research projects relating to homeland security.

`(b) ELIGIBLE STATES- During fiscal years 2005 and 2006, colleges and universities located in States and territories that qualify for the National Science Foundation's EPSCoR program or the National Institutes of Health IDeA program shall be eligible for funding under the Program.

`(c) RESPONSIBILITIES- The Under Secretary for Science and Technology shall--

`(1) ensure that not less than 15 percent of the Department's overall academic research funding is allocated to universities and colleges in eligible States;

`(2) establish a cofunding mechanism for States with academic facilities that have not fully developed security-related science and technology to support burgeoning research efforts by the faculty or link them to established investigators;

`(3) provide for conferences, workshops, outreach, and technical assistance to researchers and academic institutions in eligible States on topics related to developing science and technology expertise in areas of high interest and relevance to the Department;

`(4) monitor the efforts of States to develop programs that support the Department's mission;

`(5) implement a merit review program, consistent with program objectives, to ensure the quality of research conducted with Program funding; and

`(6) provide annual reports on the progress and achievements of the Program to the Secretary.

`(d) ANNUAL REPORT- Not later than March 15 of each year, the Under Secretary for Science and Technology shall submit a report to Congress on the implementation of the Program.

`(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated--

`(1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2005 to carry out subsection (c)(3); and

`(2) such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006 to carry out this section.'.

SEC. 6. HOMELAND SECURITY RESEARCH EXPANSION GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds the following:

(1) The Department of Homeland Security should fund research, which explores the innovative human dimensions of homeland security.

(2) Infrastructure and transportation systems, and the systems designed to protect them, are only as effective as their operators and users.

(3) Because communication before, during, and after disasters is critical, the understanding of behavioral, psychological, and social sciences in promoting effective communications with homeland security goals in mind is vital to the department's mission.

(4) Several areas of social science are relevant to homeland security, including--

(A) theories and data regarding threat communication and the psychological impacts of such threats;

(B) citizen response to disaster;

(C) group behavior in response to a threat or actual disaster;

(D) theories and data about the impact of sustained attention and vigilance on reasoning; and

(E) risk analysis and decision-making and their application to homeland security.

(5) Since the primary goal of terrorism is to disrupt social systems, the Department of Homeland Security should support research on how attitudes and beliefs about terrorism impact--

(A) consumer confidence;

(B) population mobility;

(C) decisions about childcare;

(D) job behaviors; and

(E) attitudes toward immigrants, political institutions, and leaders.

(6) Homeland security efforts would benefit from research on--

(A) the selection, management, and training of security personnel and first responders;

(B) the impact of stereotyping and marginalization of groups;

(C) hate crimes;

(D) the emergence and maintenance of fundamentalist, extremist, and antigovernment groups within the United States; and

(E) protection against the acts inspired by the groups described in subparagraph (D).

(b) PURPOSE- The purpose of this section is to establish a program to award research grants to examine the social dimensions of terrorism.

(c) RESEARCH EXPANSION GRANTS- Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), as amended by section 5, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

`SEC. 315. RESEARCH EXPANSION GRANTS.

`(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall award research grants to colleges and universities to--

`(1) analyze group dynamics during periods of extreme stress, including how first responders--

`(A) react during such periods;

`(B) can be inoculated to stress; and

`(C) can help mitigate the stress and social disruption that often accompanies emergency situations;

`(2) analyze the social and cultural factors that may affect the performance of first responder groups;

`(3) expand human factors research to all other modes of transportation including the use of infrastructure and transportation systems under evacuation circumstances;

`(4) develop and demonstrate compliance with operability standards for new technologies designed by human factors experts in conjunction with users;

`(5) examine the decision making of voluntary first responders under extended periods of disaster, including whether volunteer first responders would report to their primary jobs or their first responder positions if simultaneously called to both; and

`(6) understand how the Homeland Security Advisory System operates as a useful communication tool for citizens.

`(b) APPLICATION- Each college and university desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.

`(c) ANNUAL REPORTS-

`(1) REPORT TO SECRETARY- Grant recipients shall submit an annual report to the Secretary containing specific research findings that may be used to improve emergency preparedness and response efforts.

`(2) REPORT TO CONGRESS- The Secretary shall submit an annual report to Congress on the grant program authorized by this section.

`(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated $40,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2007.'.

END