(Image credit- Research Dive)
An important invention has been developed that aims to improve the safety and communication abilities of members of Congress in response to mounting worries about the security dangers they confront.
More than 50 senators have received satellite phones as a preventative measure against the growing security risks, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
These satellite phones are part of a comprehensive set of security measures being implemented by the Senate Serjeant at Arms, who assumed the job in the wake of the assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, according to the CBS News report. All 100 senators now have access to this essential security improvement that uses satellite phone technology.
Notably, over half of the senators have already adopted this approach, heeding the Senate administrative staff’s advice to keep their phones close to hand while traveling. This action shows that dependable and continuous communication may be maintained even in difficult situations.
Senate Takes Active Steps to Address Communication Issues
The Senate Serjeant at Arms, Karen Gibson, stressed the importance of satellite communication as a redundant and secure method of maintaining contact amid disruptive occurrences while testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The Senate wants to create a crucial backup in emergency situations where traditional communication infrastructure can be harmed by giving senators satellite phones. This guarantees that senators can stay in touch and work together efficiently even in the face of unanticipated disruptions.
The Role of Satellite Phones in Disaster Response is Recognised by the Department of Homeland Security
Notably, the costs of the satellite airtime needed to use these devices will be covered by the federal government, enhancing their usefulness in emergency situations.
The Department of Homeland Security has emphasized the necessity of satellite phones as an essential instrument for restoring communication in emergency situations because it recognizes their essential role in reacting to and coordinating government services during natural and man-made catastrophes.
When conventional networks are interrupted, these devices provide a dependable method of communication, allowing senators to maintain contact and support critical emergency responses. According to a report, Karen Gibson has strengthened security further by setting up an office “demonstration space” in the Russell Senate Office Building’s basement.
