I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2948
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 
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 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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