I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3283 
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of 
Homeland Security to modernize and implement the national integrated 
public alert and warning system to disseminate homeland security infor-
mation and other information, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 10, 2013 
Mr. BILIRAKIS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct 
the Secretary of Homeland Security to modernize and 
implement the national integrated public alert and warn-
ing system to disseminate homeland security information 
and other information, 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. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Integrated Public Alert 
and Warning System Modernization Act of 2013’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) numerous proven and tested technologies 
exist to enable the Federal Government to enhance 
its dissemination of public alerts and warnings; 
(2) the expected benefits of these enhancements 
include— 
(A) greater security, reliability, and redun-
dancy of the Federal Government’s alert and 
warning capabilities; 
(B) rapid alert dissemination; 
(C) an improved ability to notify remote lo-
cations; and 
(D) the ability to geographically target and 
deliver alerts and warnings through multiple 
communication modes; 
(3) there is a need to test the viability of deliv-
ering messages through diverse communications 
modes to effectively alert and warn the public; 
(4) there is a need to modernize and improve 
the ability of the Federal Government to provide 
residents of the United States with timely and effec-
tive warnings; and 
(5) although significant Federal integration ef-
forts are underway, the aggregation, dissemination, 
and reporting system necessary for effective public 
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alert and warning will require an integrated national 
network for reliable, secure, and authentic dissemi-
nation of emergency alerts and warnings by Federal, 
State, local, and tribal entities that are authorized to 
issue alerts to the public. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT AND WARN-
ING SYSTEM MODERNIZATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) AMENDMENT.—Title V of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end of the following new 
section: 
‘‘SEC. 526. NATIONAL INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT AND 
WARNING SYSTEM MODERNIZATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to provide timely and 
effective warnings and disseminate homeland security in-
formation and other information, the Secretary shall, con-
sidering the recommendations of the advisory committee 
established under subsection (d), modernize and imple-
ment the national integrated public alert and warning sys-
tem (in this section referred to as ‘the public alert and 
warning system’). 
‘‘(b) IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS.—In car-
rying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 
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‘‘(1) establish or adapt, as appropriate, common 
alerting and warning protocols, standards, termi-
nology, and operating procedures for the public alert 
and warning system; 
‘‘(2) include in the public alert and warning 
system the capability to adapt the dissemination of 
homeland security information and other informa-
tion and the content of communications on the basis 
of geographic location, risks, or personal user pref-
erences, as appropriate; 
‘‘(3) include in the public alert and warning 
system the capability to alert, warn, and provide the 
equivalent amount of information to individuals with 
disabilities and access and functional needs; 
‘‘(4) ensure the conduct of training, tests, and 
exercises for the public alert and warning system, 
and that the system is incorporated into other train-
ing and exercise programs of the Department, as ap-
propriate; 
‘‘(5) ensure that ongoing training, integrated 
into the National Incident Management System, for 
receiving and disseminating public alert and warning 
system messages utilizing advanced technologies is 
provided to State, local, tribal, and other homeland 
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security stakeholders involved in the transmission of 
such messages; 
‘‘(6) ensure that the public alert and warning 
system uses the National Terrorism Advisory Sys-
tem, including ensuring that the National Terrorism 
Advisory System participates in tests of the public 
alert and warning system; 
‘‘(7) conduct, at least once every 3 years, peri-
odic nationwide tests of the public alert and warning 
system; and 
‘‘(8) consult, coordinate, and cooperate, to the 
extent practicable, with other Federal agencies and 
departments and with State, local, and tribal govern-
ments, the private sector, and other key stakeholders 
to leverage existing alert and warning capabilities. 
‘‘(c) SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that the system— 
‘‘(1) incorporates redundant and diverse modes 
to disseminate homeland security information and 
other information in warning messages to the public 
so as to reach the greatest number of individuals; 
‘‘(2) can be adapted to incorporate future tech-
nologies; 
‘‘(3) is resilient, secure, and can withstand acts 
of terrorism and other external attacks; 
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‘‘(4) promotes State, local, tribal, and regional 
partnerships to enhance coordination; 
‘‘(5) is designed to provide alerts that are ac-
cessible to the largest portion of the affected popu-
lation feasible, including nonresident visitors and 
tourists and individuals with disabilities and access 
and functional needs; 
‘‘(6) is designed to improve the ability of re-
mote areas and areas with underdeveloped tele-
communications infrastructure to receive alerts; and 
‘‘(7) includes mechanisms to ensure the protec-
tion of individual privacy. 
‘‘(d) INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT
AND WARNING 
SYSTEM MODERNIZATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of the Integrated Public 
Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 
2013, the Secretary shall establish an advisory com-
mittee to be known as the Integrated Public Alert 
and Warning System Advisory Committee (in this 
subsection referred to as the ‘Advisory Committee’). 
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Committee 
shall be composed of the following members: 
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‘‘(A) The Chairman of the Federal Com-
munications Commission (or the Chairman’s 
designee). 
‘‘(B) The Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (or 
the Administrator’s designee). 
‘‘(C) The Assistant Secretary for Commu-
nications and Information of the Department of 
Commerce (or the Assistant Secretary’s des-
ignee). 
‘‘(D) The Under Secretary for Science and 
Technology of the Department of Homeland Se-
curity. 
‘‘(E) The Director of the Office of Dis-
ability Integration and Coordination of the Fed-
eral Emergency Management Agency. 
‘‘(F) The following members, to be ap-
pointed by the Secretary as soon as practicable 
after the date of enactment of the Integrated 
Public Alert and Warning System Moderniza-
tion Act of 2013: 
‘‘(i) Representatives of State and local 
governments, representatives of emergency 
management agencies, representatives of 
emergency response providers, and rep-
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resentatives of emergency communication 
providers, selected from among individuals 
nominated by national organizations rep-
resenting governments and personnel. 
‘‘(ii) Representatives from federally 
recognized Indian tribes and national In-
dian organizations. 
‘‘(iii) Individuals who have the req-
uisite technical knowledge and expertise to 
serve on the Advisory Committee, including 
representatives of— 
‘‘(I) communications service pro-
viders; 
‘‘(II) vendors, developers, and 
manufacturers of systems, facilities, 
equipment, and capabilities for the 
provision of communications services; 
‘‘(III) third-party service bu-
reaus; 
‘‘(IV) the broadcasting industry; 
‘‘(V) the cellular industry; 
‘‘(VI) the cable industry; 
‘‘(VII) the satellite industry; 
‘‘(VIII) 
national 
organizations 
representing individuals with disabil-
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ities and access and functional needs, 
and the elderly; and 
‘‘(IX) national organizations rep-
resenting educational institutions, in-
cluding higher education. 
‘‘(iv) Qualified representatives of such 
other stakeholders and interested and af-
fected parties as the Secretary considers 
appropriate. 
‘‘(3) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary (or the 
Secretary’s designee) shall serve as the Chairperson 
of the Advisory Committee. 
‘‘(4) MEETINGS.— 
‘‘(A) INITIAL MEETING.—The initial meet-
ing of the Advisory Committee shall take place 
not later than 120 days after the date of enact-
ment of the Integrated Public Alert and Warn-
ing System Modernization Act of 2013. 
‘‘(B) OTHER MEETINGS.—After the initial 
meeting, the Advisory Committee shall meet, at 
least annually, at the call of the Chairperson. 
‘‘(C) NOTICE; OPEN MEETINGS.—Meetings 
held by the Advisory Committee shall be duly 
noticed at least 14 days in advance and shall be 
open to the public. 
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‘‘(5) RULES.—The Advisory Committee may 
adopt such rules as are necessary to carry out its 
duties. 
‘‘(6) CONSULTATION WITH NONMEMBERS.—The 
Advisory Committee and the program office for the 
integrated public alert and warning system of the 
United States shall regularly meet with groups that 
are not represented on the Advisory Committee to 
consider new and developing technology that may be 
beneficial to the public alert and warning system, 
such as— 
‘‘(A) the Defense Advanced Research 
Projects Agency; 
‘‘(B) entities engaged in federally funded 
research; and 
‘‘(C) academic institutions engaged in rel-
evant work and research. 
‘‘(7) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Advisory Com-
mittee shall develop and submit in the annual re-
ports under paragraph (8) recommendations for the 
continuation and improvement of an integrated pub-
lic alert and warning system, including— 
‘‘(A) recommendations for common alert-
ing and warning protocols, standards, termi-
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nology, and operating procedures for the public 
alert and warning system; 
‘‘(B) an assessment of the accomplish-
ments and deficiencies of the public alert and 
warning system, as well as the impact on cur-
rent alert and warning systems; 
‘‘(C) recommendations for increasing par-
ticipation in the system, particularly among ele-
mentary, secondary, and higher education insti-
tutions; and 
‘‘(D) recommendations for improvements 
to the system, including recommendations to 
provide for a public alert and warning system 
that— 
‘‘(i) has the capability to adapt the 
distribution and content of communications 
on the basis of geographic location, risks, 
multiple communication systems and tech-
nologies or personal user preferences, as 
appropriate; 
‘‘(ii) has the capability to alert and 
warn individuals with disabilities and ac-
cess and functional needs and individuals 
with limited English proficiency; 
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‘‘(iii) incorporates multiple commu-
nications technologies; 
‘‘(iv) is designed to adapt to, and in-
corporate, future technologies for commu-
nicating directly with the public; 
‘‘(v) encourages proper use by State 
and local governments of the public alert 
and warning system through training pro-
grams and other means; 
‘‘(vi) is designed to provide alerts to 
the largest portion of the affected popu-
lation feasible, including nonresident visi-
tors and tourists, and improve the ability 
of remote areas to receive alerts; 
‘‘(vii) promotes local and regional 
public and private partnerships to enhance 
community preparedness and response; 
‘‘(viii) promotes the participation of 
representatives 
from 
underserved 
and 
underrepresented communities, to ensure 
that alerts and warnings reach such popu-
lations; and 
‘‘(ix) provides redundant alert mecha-
nisms where practicable so as to reach the 
greatest number of people regardless of 
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whether they have access to, or utilize, any 
specific medium of communication or any 
particular device. 
‘‘(8) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of the Integrated Public Alert and 
Warning System Modernization Act of 2013, and 
every year after, the Advisory Committee shall sub-
mit to the Secretary a report containing the rec-
ommendations of the Advisory Committee. 
‘‘(9) FEDERAL
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
ACT.— 
Neither the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.) nor any rule, order, or regulation pro-
mulgated under that Act shall apply to the Advisory 
Committee. 
‘‘(e) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
on which the system established under subsection (a) is 
fully functional and every six months thereafter, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Secu-
rity of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate, a report on the functionality and performance of 
the integrated public alert and warning system, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(1) the findings of the most recent Advisory 
Committee report under subsection (d)(8); 
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‘‘(2) an assessment of the accomplishments and 
deficiencies of the system; 
‘‘(3) recommendations for improvements to the 
system; and 
‘‘(4) information on the feasibility and effective-
ness of disseminating homeland security information 
and other information, notices, and alerts prior to 
and following an incident requiring use of the sys-
tem. 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this section $13,400,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 
and 2015.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by add-
ing at the end of the items relating to such title the 
following: 
‘‘Sec. 526. National integrated public alert and warning system moderniza-
tion.’’. 
(b) LIMITATION ON STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act (includ-
ing the amendment made by this Act) shall be con-
strued— 
(A) to affect the authority of the Depart-
ment of Commerce, the authority of the Federal 
Communications Commission, or the Robert T. 
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Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); 
(B) to provide the Secretary of Homeland 
Security authority to require any action by the 
Federal Communications Commission, the De-
partment of Commerce, or any nongovernment 
entity, or to affect any existing obligations of 
those entities; or 
(C) to apply to, or provide the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency any authority over, any participating 
commercial mobile service provider. 
(2) PARTICIPATING COMMERCIAL MOBILE SERV-
ICE PROVIDER DEFINED.—For purposes of this sub-
section, the term ‘‘participating commercial mobile 
service provider’’ has the same meaning as such 
term has in section 10.10(f) of title 47, Code of 
Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
(c) 
HOMELAND
SECURITY
GRANTS.—Section 
2008(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
609(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (12), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
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(2) by redesignating paragraph (13) as para-
graph (14); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (12) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(13) improving public alert and warning capa-
bilities; and’’. 
Æ 
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