U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Ted Budd (R-N.C.) introduced bipartisan legislation to accelerate federal efforts to modernize the nation’s 9-1-1 systems. Funding from this bill would ensure state and local governments can deploy next generation 9-1-1 systems.
Support legislation to provide funding for state and local governments to deploy next generation 9-1-1 systems.
Occurrences
Evidence
On March 20, 2026, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, along with Senators Amy Klobuchar and Ted Budd, introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at accelerating federal efforts to modernize the nation’s 9-1-1 systems. The proposed funding would assist state and local governments in deploying next generation 9-1-1 systems capable of handling text messages, pictures, videos, and other information from modern devices during emergencies.
Sen. Cortez Masto's office said she, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Sen. Ted Budd introduced bipartisan legislation to modernize 9-1-1 systems and that funding from the bill would let state and local governments deploy next generation 9-1-1 systems.
Axios reported that Klobuchar and Cortez Masto announced a bill creating a $10 billion federal grant program for upgrades to 911 centers, while a House committee also advanced a $10 billion next-generation 911 proposal.
Axios reported that the House Energy and Commerce proposal for $10 billion in next-generation 911 funding was reduced to $470 million in the final House Build Back Better Act version, with Senate prospects described as bleak.
Congress.gov identifies H.R. 5376 as the legislative vehicle that ultimately became the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, not an enacted next-generation 9-1-1 deployment funding law.
The enacted public law for H.R. 5376 is the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022; the enacted law did not provide the dedicated state and local next-generation 9-1-1 deployment funding described in the earlier NG911 proposals.
The release says Cortez Masto, Klobuchar, and Budd introduced bipartisan legislation to accelerate federal 9-1-1 modernization, and that funding from the bill would ensure state and local governments can deploy next generation 9-1-1 systems.
The House-passed H.R.5376 text included Subtitle J, Next Generation 9-1-1, appropriating $470,000,000 for grants to implement and maintain Next Generation 9-1-1, including deployment, operation, maintenance, cybersecurity, and training.
Congress.gov records H.R.5376 as becoming Public Law No. 117-169 on August 16, 2022, after the Senate passed an amendment and the House concurred. The final public-law text did not retain the House-passed Next Generation 9-1-1 funding section.
The public-law version shown by Congress.gov is Public Law No. 117-169. Searches within the official enacted text for Next Generation 9-1-1, public safety answering, or emergency communications did not identify an enacted NG911 deployment-funding provision.
Assessments
Cortez Masto made concrete legislative efforts matching the promise, including backing a 2021 NG911 funding push and later co-introducing 2026 bipartisan legislation for state and local next generation 9-1-1 deployment funding. But the available enacted-law evidence shows the 2021 vehicle that became Public Law 117-169 did not retain dedicated NG911 deployment funding, and the 2026 bill evidence shows introduction rather than passage. Because the promised funding legislation was pursued but not enacted or otherwise delivered, this is a failed delivery with a clear effort badge.
Senator Cortez Masto co-sponsored and introduced bipartisan legislation to fund next generation 9-1-1 deployment, which is a real legislative effort toward the claim. But the evidence shows introduction only, not enactment or enacted funding, so the promised outcome was not actually delivered.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto fulfilled the promise to support legislation by co-introducing a bill aimed at funding the deployment of next generation 9-1-1 systems. However, the evidence does not show passage or enactment of the legislation, only its introduction. Thus, the outcome (providing funding) was not delivered despite a serious legislative attempt.