I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3274
To enhance homeland security by encouraging the development of regional 
coordination plans for emergency and disaster preparedness, response, 
and recovery. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 8, 2003
Mr. KINGSTON (for himself, Mr. SPRATT, Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky, Mr. 
HOUGHTON, Mr. WICKER, Mr. NORWOOD, Mr. ROGERS of Alabama, Mr. 
MICA, Ms. NORTON, Mr. BOUCHER, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. 
BURNS, and Mr. ROSS) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition 
to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and the Judiciary, for a 
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To enhance homeland security by encouraging the develop-
ment of regional coordination plans for emergency and 
disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Regional Comprehen-
sive Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Coordina-
tion Act of 2003’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Responders to the terrorist attacks at the 
World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the tragedy 
in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001, from nu-
merous jurisdictions assisted the fire and rescue, law 
enforcement, and health workers responsible for re-
sponding within their jurisdictions. 
(2) Even in the largest municipalities, first re-
sponders need the support of officials and personnel 
from their own and neighboring jurisdictions, as well 
as support from numerous regional, State, Federal, 
and private sector entities. 
(3) The sheer number of agencies taking part 
in any emergency response demands coordination, 
mutual support, and effective communication. Re-
gional planning and coordination of response efforts 
are essential to ensure threat-based, multi-jurisdic-
tional, and interoperable assessments and plans. 
(4) There does not exist a consistent national 
standard for allocation of homeland security grant 
money. Threat based vulnerability assessments and 
plans will provide a consistent national standard 
based on need. 
(5) Regional councils of governments, regional 
planning commissions, regional planning organiza-
tions, and development districts have the account-
ability and experience necessary to develop and co-
ordinate comprehensive regional plans that encom-
pass the needs of the Federal, State, and local gov-
ernments, the private sector, and all other parties 
with a stake in providing for the security of their 
communities. Regional councils of government can 
ensure the development of a coordinated emergency 
recovery plan involving Federal, State, and local gov-
ernments and the private sector. 
(6) Coordinated, area-wide training, equipment 
acquisition, and recovery planning is essential for ef-
fective regional preparedness and mitigation. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to encour-
age and facilitate the development and implementation of 
regional emergency and disaster preparedness, response, 
and recovery coordination plans among Federal, State, 
and local governments and the private sector within the 
region and to facilitate preparedness and mitigation ef-
forts. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act, the following definitions apply: 
(1) REGION.—The term ‘‘region’’ means a des-
ignated multijurisdictional planning area or a sub-
State district with boundaries established by inter-
state compact, State law, or through mutual agree-
ment of local governments. 
(2) REGIONAL COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘regional 
council’’ means a multipurpose association of local 
governments in a planning region, including councils 
of governments, regional planning commissions, re-
gional planning organizations, and area development 
districts. 
(3) LOCAL
GOVERNMENT.—The term ‘‘local 
government’’ means any county, city, town, or other 
municipality within the United States. 
(4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means any of 
the 50 States, the District of Columbia, or any terri-
tory of the United States. 
(5) STAKEHOLDER.—The term ‘‘stakeholder’’ 
means representatives of Federal, State, local, pri-
vate, and nonprofit entities, including—
(A) the Secretary of Homeland Security; 
(B) State and local elected officials; 
(C) representatives of Federal, State, and 
local emergency management agencies; 
(D) local fire and rescue personnel; 
(E) Federal, State, and local law enforce-
ment personnel;
(F) public and private health professionals, 
including representatives of the Centers for Dis-
ease Control and Prevention and the National 
Institutes of Health; 
(G) public and private school representa-
tives; 
(H) college and university representatives; 
(I) representatives of the business commu-
nity; 
(J) port and airport officials; 
(K) utilities officials; 
(L) representatives of State departments 
of transportation; 
(M) representatives of local chapters of the 
American Red Cross; 
(N) representatives of volunteer organiza-
tions concerned with emergency response or dis-
aster recovery; and 
(O) representatives of other entities identi-
fied by the stakeholders. 
(6) REGIONAL
PLAN.—The term ‘‘regional 
plan’’ means a regional emergency and disaster pre-
paredness, response, and recovery coordination plan 
developed under this Act.
SEC. 4. DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL PLANS. 
(a) COORDINATION OF DEVELOPMENT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each regional council shall 
convene all local governments and Federal, State, 
and private sector stakeholders within its region to 
coordinate the development of a regional plan in ac-
cordance with this section. 
(2) STATES WITHOUT REGIONAL COUNCILS.—
In States that do not have regional councils, the 
Governor should work with local officials to organize 
a regional approach involving local elected officials 
and establish a homeland defense regional planning 
advisory committee that consists of stakeholders, in-
cluding representatives of Federal, State, local, pri-
vate, and nonprofit entities, as defined in section 3. 
(3) STATES WITH AREAS NOT COVERED BY A 
REGIONAL COUNCIL.—In States with areas that are 
not covered by a regional council, the Governor may 
assign such areas to a regional council. 
(b) ELEMENTS OF THE REGIONAL PLAN.—Each re-
gional plan shall include, at a minimum, the following: 
(1) DISASTER ASSESSMENT.—An assessment of 
natural disasters, human-induced disasters, and po-
tential terrorist activities or targets that could dis-
rupt essential services or mobility, adversely affect
public health or safety, or adversely affect infra-
structure within the region. 
(2) RESPONSE
EQUIPMENT
AND
PERSONNEL 
ASSESSMENT.—An assessment of available equip-
ment and personnel to respond to a disaster. 
(3) EQUIPMENT NEEDS ASSESSMENT.—An as-
sessment of equipment needs based on disaster po-
tential, both natural and manmade. 
(4) COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM.—A plan for the 
development of a regional communication system 
among stakeholders. 
(5) SECURE
INFORMATION
REPOSITORY.—A 
plan for the development of a secure information re-
pository that includes information needed to coordi-
nate stakeholder responsibilities within the region. 
(6) 
EMERGENCY
COORDINATION
INFORMA-
TION.—Information on the following: 
(A) RESPONSE RESOURCES.—
(i) Locations, contacts, capabilities, 
and capacities of emergency medical facili-
ties. 
(ii) Locations, contacts, and equip-
ment listings for fire, police, and emer-
gency medical technician services.
(iii) Locations of, and 24-hour con-
tacts for, appropriate medical facilities and 
personnel and other potential first re-
sponders. 
(iv) Locations and contacts for area 
stakeholders involved in the operation and 
maintenance of essential services within 
the region. 
(v) Locations and contacts for area 
key military personnel and facilities. 
(vi) Locations and contacts for other 
response resources as identified by regional 
stakeholders. 
(B) SUPPORT FACILITIES.—
(i) Locations, capabilities, and capac-
ities of existing shelters. 
(ii) Locations of, and available facili-
ties at, schools, colleges, universities, 
churches, and other public buildings. 
(iii) Locations of major water and 
food supplies. 
(iv) Other support facilities as identi-
fied by regional stakeholders. 
(C) INFRASTRUCTURE.—
(i) Locations of water treatment and 
storage facilities and distribution mains. 
(ii) Locations of utilities lines, pipe-
lines, and generating facilities. 
(iii) Locations of sewer mains and 
treatment plants. 
(iv) Locations of voice, data, video, 
microwave, and satellite uplink commu-
nication facilities. 
(v) Locations of radio and television 
studios and transmission sites. 
(vi) Locations and capacities of short-
wave radio facilities and volunteers. 
(vii) Locations of major bridges and 
dams. 
(viii) Locations of major educational 
facilities. 
(ix) Other infrastructure facilities as 
identified by regional stakeholders. 
(D) TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES.—
(i) Locations and capacities of major 
transportation facilities, lines, and termi-
nals, including ports and airports. 
(ii) Locations and capacities of local 
and regional transportation routes.
(iii) Other transportation facilities as 
identified by regional stakeholders. 
(E) AT-RISK POPULATIONS.—
(i) Locations of large population con-
centrations and the times of those con-
centrations. 
(ii) Schedules of major public events 
and capacities of venues. 
(iii) Population statistics, including 
block level population data. 
(iv) School enrollment numbers. 
(v) Locations of elderly, infirm, and 
disabled persons who need special assist-
ance. 
(vi) Other at-risk populations as iden-
tified by regional stakeholders. 
(F) POTENTIAL TARGETS.—
(i) Locations of major concentrations 
of hazardous and biohazard chemicals. 
(ii) Locations of fuel depots and dis-
pensing facilities that meet certain Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency thresholds. 
(iii) Locations of major concentrations 
of munitions and explosives.