IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 671 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives concerning the need 
for a comprehensive public alert and warning system for the United 
States, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 31, 2012 
Mr. CASSIDY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives con-
cerning the need for a comprehensive public alert and 
warning system for the United States, and for other 
purposes. 
Whereas the safety and security of the Nation depends on an 
effective, reliable, integrated, flexible, and comprehensive 
system to timely alert and warn the people of the United 
States, regardless of their location, in situations of war, 
terrorist attack, natural disaster, imminent danger, or 
emergency and in other hazardous situations that threat-
en the health, safety, or well-being of persons or their 
properties; 
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•HRES 671 IH 
Whereas Executive Order 13407, signed by President George 
W. Bush on June 26, 2006, called for the establishment 
of a comprehensive public alert and warning system; 
Whereas the Federal Emergency Management Agency estab-
lished the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System 
(IPAWS) and the IPAWS Program Management Office 
in April 2007; 
Whereas in 2009, the Government Accountability Office 
found that IPAWS had encountered shifting program 
goals, a lack of continuity of planning, and poorly orga-
nized program information; 
Whereas the legislative bodies of several States have called on 
Congress to analyze, evaluate, and assess current Fed-
eral, State, territorial, tribal, and local public alert and 
warning systems, the methods and approaches used by 
such systems, the potential for integrating such systems 
and their resources, the effectiveness of such systems, 
and the ability of such systems to simultaneously alert 
100 percent of a geographic location, including remote lo-
cations and especially those remote locations where sur-
face communications do not exist, have been com-
promised, or have been otherwise rendered ineffective; 
Whereas natural disasters and terrorist attacks have dem-
onstrated that the United States requires the capability 
to give early warnings and alerts to all people in danger 
and especially to special needs populations, including chil-
dren, persons who are disabled, persons with limited 
English proficiency, persons who are confined to hospital 
or nursing home care, and persons who, because of the 
digital divide or poverty, have limited access to multiple 
broadcast and other communications pathways; 
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•HRES 671 IH 
Whereas to avoid overreach, public alerts and warnings 
should be given only to those persons in danger, regard-
less of the size or form of the targeted geographical area, 
whether it be a single home or location or the entire Na-
tion; 
Whereas there should be seamless cooperation, coordination, 
and education with owners and operators of communica-
tions facilities, including all 9–1–1 facilities and facilities 
of the Emergency Alert System program and the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Association; 
Whereas there should be renewed Federal support for train-
ing, tests, exercises, and public education efforts in order 
that Federal, State, territorial, tribal, local governments, 
the private sector, and the people of the United States 
are aware and understand the functions of IPAWS and 
have access to updates on threats and dangers at all 
times; and 
Whereas these functions should be coordinated by the Fed-
eral Communications Commission, the Department of 
Homeland Security, the Department of Commerce, and 
other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, 
along with emergency response providers and users: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That— 
(1) the House of Representatives should initiate 
and conduct analyses and hearings, acting through 
appropriate House committees, to assess the finan-
cial and technical resources that are required to re-
alize the goals of the Integrated Public Alert and 
Warning System; and 
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•HRES 671 IH 
(2) upon completion of the hearings, the com-
mittees should cooperate to jointly propose legisla-
tion, and utilize such other means and technologies 
as may be available, to provide for a comprehensive 
public alert and warning system for the United 
States. 
Æ 
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