I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2948

To direct the Comptroller General to enter into arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences and the Librarian of Congress for conducting 

a study on the feasibility and costs of implementing an emergency electronic communications system for Congress to ensure the continuity 

of the operations of Congress during an emergency, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 25, 2003

Mr. LANGEVIN (for himself, Mr. BAIRD, Mr. BEREUTER, Mr. KENNEDY of 

Rhode Island, Mr. WYNN, and Mr. CROWLEY) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration 

A BILL

To direct the Comptroller General to enter into arrangements 

with the National Academy of Sciences and the Librarian 

of Congress for conducting a study on the feasibility 

and costs of implementing an emergency electronic communications system for Congress to ensure the continuity 

of the operations of Congress during an emergency, and 

for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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1 SECTION 1. STUDY OF EMERGENCY ELECTRONIC COMMU2 NICATIONS SYSTEM FOR CONGRESS. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General shall 

4 enter into—

5 (1) an arrangement with the National Academy 

6 of Sciences for conducting a study on the feasibility 

7 of, and the costs associated with, the implementation 

8 of an emergency electronic communications system 

9 for Congress which would ensure the continuity of 

10 the operations of Congress during an emergency (in11 cluding an emergency under which Congress would 

12 be unable to assemble at a single location); and 

13 (2) an arrangement with the Librarian of Con14 gress for conducting a study to identify any con15 stitutional and procedural issues which may arise 

16 under the implementation of such a system. 

17 (b) ELEMENTS OF ARRANGEMENT WITH NATIONAL

18 ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.—Under the arrangement entered 

19 into under subsection (a)(1), the National Academy of 

20 Sciences shall include in the study—

21 (1) the identification and evaluation of issues 

22 relating to security, authentication, and usability 

23 under the electronic communications system, and 

24 shall identify options for addressing these issues; 

25 and 
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1 (2) an evaluation of the effects of such a system 

2 on the operations of Congress (including the delib3 erations of members and committees) and the ability 

4 of the public to observe and interact with Congress, 

5 based on current understandings of the effects of 

6 comparable systems on governments and other insti7 tutions, and the identification of options for miti8 gating any negative effects. 

9 SEC. 2. REPORTS. 

10 (a) DEADLINE.—Under the arrangements entered 

11 into under section 1(a), the National Academy of Sciences 

12 and the Librarian of Congress shall each submit a report 

13 on the study conducted under the applicable arrangement 

14 to the Comptroller General not later than 1 year after the 

15 date of the enactment of this Act. 

16 (b) TRANSMISSION OF CONSOLIDATED REPORT TO

17 COMMITTEES.—Upon receiving the reports under sub18 section (a), the Comptroller General shall transmit the re19 ports in a consolidated version to the Committee on House 

20 Administration of the House of Representatives and the 

21 Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, to22 gether with a version of the report which is appropriate 

23 for release to the public. 
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1 SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

2 There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 

3 the arrangement entered into under this Act not more 

4 than $800,000.

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