KARI'S LAW REPORTING ACT

On 2026-04-20, Representative Doris O. Matsui (D-CA-7) delivered a floor speech titled "KARI'S LAW REPORTING ACT" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered trade policy. It referenced legislation including HR5201, S9.

KARI'S LAW REPORTING ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 69 (Monday, April 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 69 (Monday, April 20, 2026)] [House] [Page H2976] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] KARI'S LAW REPORTING ACT 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)). The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen) and the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. McClellan) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia. General Leave Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material in the Record on the bill. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Georgia? There was no objection. 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. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5201, the Kari's Law Reporting Act. This is an important bill that follows up on legislation signed into law in 2018. The original Kari's Law was prompted by the tragic story of a young child unable to reach 911 when it mattered most. During what became a fatal domestic dispute in a hotel room, she repeatedly dialed 911 to call for help, but the call was never connected because the hotel system required guests to dial a prefix to make an external call. The young daughter of the victim did exactly as she was taught and correctly dialed 911, but that one digit ultimately stood between Kari Hunt and the help that she needed that day. Kari's Law requires providers of multiline telephone systems, which serve entities like office buildings and hotels, to reconfigure their systems to enable callers to simply dial 911 without a prefix to reach emergency assistance. Today, however, it is evident that providers have yet to fully comply with Kari's Law, and so this legislation will provide Congress and the FCC with the tools necessary to track down delinquent providers and ensure they comply with the law. This is critically important so that tragedies like that of Kari Hunt do not happen again. I thank Ranking Member Matsui and Representative Bilirakis for their leadership on this important bill, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5201. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), the ranking member. Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise in support of H.R. 5201, Kari's Law Reporting Act. In an emergency, there is no room for confusion or delay. Every second counts, and every American should have confidence that when they dial 911, help is on the way. This is why Congressman Bilirakis and I partnered in this bipartisan bill. It builds upon Kari's Law, which Congress passed in 2018, to require multiline telephone systems to allow direct dialing of 911 without needing to dial an extra digit. That law came from the tragic murder of Kari Hunt when her daughter couldn't reach emergency services from a hotel phone because she didn't know she needed to dial an extra 9 first. Our bill helps ensure the law is working as intended by directing the FCC to report on compliance in hotels, offices, and facilities nationwide. That kind of accountability matters, and we need to make sure these lifesaving protections are being followed and practiced. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the Kari's Law Reporting Act. {time} 1650 Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 5201, the Kari's Law Reporting Act, and I yield back the balance of my time. 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. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gimenez). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5201. The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays. The yeas and nays were ordered. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed. ____________________

Referenced legislation: HR5201, HR5201