Kari's Law Reporting Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5201) to direct the Federal Communications Commission to publish a report on implementation of the Kari's Law Act of 2017, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5201

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 ``Kari's Law Reporting Act''. SEC. 2. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF KARI'S LAW ACT OF 2017.

(a) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall publish on the website of the Commission a report regarding the enforcement by the Commission of section 721 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 623), which shall include--

(1) a summary of the extent to which multi-line telephone system manufacturers and vendors have complied with such section;

(2) potential difficulties and obstacles in complying with such section;

(3) potential ways, if necessary, to improve the policies of the Commission to better enforce such section; and

(4) recommendations to Congress, if necessary, on further legislation that could mitigate problems like those that are addressed by such section.

(b) Definitions.--In this section:

(1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal Communications Commission.

(2) Multi-line telephone system.--The term ``multi-line telephone system'' has the meaning given such term in section 721(f) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 623(f)).
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Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, H.R. 5201, Kari's Law Reporting Act, led by Representative Matsui.

Kari's Law, enacted in 2018, was named in honor of Kari Hunt, who was killed in a motel room in Marshall, Texas, in 2013. Ms. Hunt's 9-year- old daughter tried to call 911 for help four times from the motel room phone, but the call did not go through because the phone system required dialing 9 for an outbound call before dialing 911.

The law requires multiline telephone systems, such as those in offices, campuses, and hotels, to allow direct 911 dialing without extra digits when a 911 call is made. This legislation would require the FCC to issue a report within 180 days to determine the extent to which multiline telephone system manufacturers are complying with Kari's Law Act of 2017. Requiring these systems in large buildings or campuses will help save lives in case of an emergency.

This legislation has strong bipartisan support.

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Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their support of this bill and Ms. Matsui for her work on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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