I
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5007
To direct the Comptroller General to enter into arrangements with the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences and the Librarian of Congress for conducting
a study on the feasibility and costs of implementing an emergency elec-
tronic communications system for Congress to ensure the continuity
of the operations of Congress during an emergency, and for other pur-
poses.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 24, 2002
Mr. LANGEVIN (for himself, Mr. NEY, and Mr. HOYER) 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 com-
munications system for Congress to ensure the continuity
of the operations of Congress during an emergency, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. STUDY OF EMERGENCY ELECTRONIC COMMU-
NICATIONS SYSTEM FOR CONGRESS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General shall
enter into—
(1) an arrangement with the National Academy
of Sciences for conducting a study on the feasibility
of, and the costs associated with, the implementation
of an emergency electronic communications system
for Congress which would ensure the continuity of
the operations of Congress during an emergency (in-
cluding an emergency under which Congress would
be unable to assemble at a single location); and
(2) an arrangement with the Librarian of Con-
gress for conducting a study to identify any con-
stitutional and procedural issues which may arise
under the implementation of such a system.
(b) ELEMENTS OF ARRANGEMENT WITH NATIONAL
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.—Under the arrangement entered
into under subsection (a)(1), the National Academy of
Sciences shall include in the study—
(1) the identification and evaluation of issues
relating to security, authentication, and usability
under the electronic communications system, and
shall identify options for addressing these issues;
and
(2) an evaluation of the effects of such a system
on the operations of Congress (including the delib-
erations of members and committees) and the ability
of the public to observe and interact with Congress,
based on current understandings of the effects of
comparable systems on governments and other insti-
tutions, and the identification of options for miti-
gating any negative effects.
SEC. 2. REPORTS.
(a) DEADLINE.—Under the arrangements entered
into under section 1(a), the National Academy of Sciences
and the Librarian of Congress shall each submit a report
on the study conducted under the applicable arrangement
to the Comptroller General not later than 1 year after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) TRANSMISSION OF CONSOLIDATED REPORT TO
COMMITTEES.—Upon receiving the reports under sub-
section (a), the Comptroller General shall transmit the re-
ports in a consolidated version to the Committee on House
Administration of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, to-
gether with a version of the report which is appropriate
for release to the public.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
the arrangement entered into under this Act not more
than $800,000.
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