H.R. 3998Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act

1 recorded action125 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Frank Pallone, Jr. [D-NJ-06]
Cosponsors: 4 · 4 Democrats
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Committees: Energy and Commerce Committee, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee · and 1 more
Latest action: May 24, 2016 · Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

IntroducedNov 16, 2015
Passed the HouseMay 23, 2016
Passed the SenateNot yet reached
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS summary

Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act

(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to submit to Congress and publish on the FCC website a study on the public safety benefits, technical feasibility, and cost of providing the public with access to 9-1-1 services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable, through:

telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points and other communications technologies operating on unlicensed spectrum, without requiring any login credentials;

non-telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points; and
other alternative means. The types of emergencies subject to this bill are: (1) occasions or instances under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for which the President determines that federal assistance is needed to supplement state and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States; or (2) an emergency declared by the governor of a state or U.S. territory.

(Sec. 3) The Stafford Act is amended to expand the categories of essential service providers that may access a disaster site to restore and repair essential services in an emergency or major disaster without being denied or impeded by a federal agency. Services to be considered essential are wireline or mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio or television broadcasting, cable service, or direct broadcast satellite service.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 3998 as passed House amended on May 23, 2016. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

How every member votedHouse roll call 230

House May 23, 2016

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act

Passed · Two-thirds required

389 Yea 2 Nay 42 not voting

Crossed both parties 2 of 391 voting members broke with their own party: 2 Republicans.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

By party select a segment to filter

All members433 members

Democratic188 members

Republican245 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors4 · 4 Democrats

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 3998 and vote against it. 0 signed when it was filed.

DAlbio Sires [D-NJ-08]Joined Jan 12, 2016

DBonnie Watson Coleman [D-NJ-12]Joined Jan 12, 2016

DWILLIAM PASCRELL [D-NJ-09]Joined Jan 12, 2016

DDonald Payne [D-NJ-10]Joined Feb 9, 2016

Loading the public record

Who lobbied on H.R. 399814 organizations

Organizations that named H.R. 3998 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

NCTA - THE INTERNET & TELEVISION ASSOCIATIONfiled by PAUL UNGER PLLC, MINTZ LEVIN COHN FERRIS GLOVSKY AND POPEO, P.C., NCTA - THE INTERNET & TELEVISION ASSOCIATIONIts PAC: Ncta - the Internet & Television Association PAC

Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV · Telecommunications · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Homeland Security +3 more7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2016Filing

CTIA-THE WIRELESS ASSOCIATIONfiled by CTIA-THE WIRELESS ASSOCIATION, MINTZ LEVIN COHN FERRIS GLOVSKY AND POPEO, P.C.Its PAC: Ctia - the Wireless Association PAC

Budget/Appropriations · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Telecommunications · Transportation6 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2016Filing

AMERICAN CABLE ASSOCIATION, INC. DBA ACACONNECTSIts PAC: American Cable Association Inc PAC

Telecommunications · Intelligence · Homeland Security · Agriculture +2 more5 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2016Filing

AT&T SERVICES INC AND ITS AFFILIATESfiled by MERCURY STRATEGIES, LLC, AT&T SERVICES, INC. AND ITS AFFILIATES

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Copyright/Patent/Trademark · Telecommunications · Torts +3 more5 filings · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2016Filing

COMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATIONIts PAC: Competitive Carriers Association PAC

Telecommunications4 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2016Filing

COMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATION (FORMERLY RURAL CELLULAR ASSOCIATION)filed by TWINLOGIC STRATEGIES, LLPIts PAC: Competitive Carriers Association PAC

Telecommunications · Consumer Issues/Safety/Products · Copyright/Patent/Trademark · Intelligence4 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2016Filing

LG ELECTRONICS USA, INC.filed by LAW OFFICES OF KEVIN G. CURTIN

Environment/Superfund · Manufacturing · Telecommunications · Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV +3 more3 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2016Filing

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERSIts PAC: National Association of Broadcasters PAC

Aviation/Airlines/Airports · Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV · Copyright/Patent/Trademark · Advertising3 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2016Filing

TWIN LOGIC ON BEHALF OF COMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATIONfiled by WINN STRATEGIES, LLC

Copyright/Patent/Trademark · Telecommunications · Consumer Issues/Safety/Products · Intelligence3 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2016Filing

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC AND ITS SUBSIDIARIESfiled by MERCURY STRATEGIES, LLCIts PAC: Verizon Communications, Inc. PAC

Copyright/Patent/Trademark · Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice · Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV · Intelligence +1 more3 filings · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2016Filing

50 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-05. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.