I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2904 
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act to authorize the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency to modernize the integrated public alert and warning system 
of the United States, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 
Mr. DENHAM (for himself, Ms. NORTON, and Mr. DIAZ-BALART) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act to authorize the Administrator of 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency to mod-
ernize the integrated public alert and warning system 
of the United States, 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 2011’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:46 Sep 14, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2904.IH
H2904
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to enable the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to 
carry out the responsibilities required pursuant to section 
202 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5132). 
SEC. 3. INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT AND WARNING SYS-
TEM MODERNIZATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 202 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5132) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(e) INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT
AND WARNING 
SYSTEM MODERNIZATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To provide timely and ef-
fective disaster warnings under this section, the 
President, acting through the Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall— 
‘‘(A) modernize the integrated public alert 
and warning system of the United States (in 
this section referred to as the ‘public alert and 
warning system’) to ensure that the President 
under all conditions can alert and warn govern-
mental authorities and the civilian population in 
areas endangered by disasters as required pur-
suant to subsection (a); and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:46 Sep 14, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2904.IH
H2904
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(B) implement the public alert and warn-
ing system. 
‘‘(2) IMPLEMENTATION
REQUIREMENTS.—In 
carrying out paragraph (1), the Administrator shall, 
consistent with the recommendations in the final re-
port of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning 
System Advisory Committee (established under the 
Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Mod-
ernization Act of 2011)— 
‘‘(A) establish or adopt, as appropriate, 
common alerting and warning protocols, stand-
ards, terminology, and operating procedures for 
the public alert and warning system; 
‘‘(B) include in the public alert and warn-
ing system the capability to adapt the distribu-
tion and content of communications on the 
basis of geographic location, risks, or personal 
user preferences, as appropriate; 
‘‘(C) include in the public alert and warn-
ing system the capability to alert and warn in-
dividuals with disabilities and individuals with 
limited English proficiency; and 
‘‘(D) ensure that training, tests, and exer-
cises are conducted for the public alert and 
warning system. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:46 Sep 14, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2904.IH
H2904
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(3) SYSTEM
REQUIREMENTS.—The public 
alert and warning system shall— 
‘‘(A) incorporate multiple communications 
technologies; 
‘‘(B) be designed to adapt to, and incor-
porate, future technologies for communicating 
directly with the public; 
‘‘(C) be designed to provide alerts to the 
largest portion of the affected population fea-
sible, including nonresident visitors and tour-
ists, and improve the ability of remote areas to 
receive alerts; 
‘‘(D) promote local and regional public and 
private partnerships to enhance community pre-
paredness and response; and 
‘‘(E) provide redundant alert mechanisms 
if practicable so as to reach the greatest num-
ber of people regardless of whether they have 
access to, or utilize, any specific medium of 
communication or any particular device. 
‘‘(4) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.—Not later than 
6 months after the date of submission of the final 
report of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning 
System Advisory Committee, the Administrator shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:46 Sep 14, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2904.IH
H2904
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate a detailed plan to implement 
the public alert and warning system. The plan shall 
include a timeline for implementation, a spending 
plan, and recommendations for any additional au-
thority that may be necessary to fully implement 
this subsection. 
‘‘(5) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection $13,400,000 for each of fiscal years 
2012 and 2013 from amounts made available for 
management and administration.’’. 
(b) INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT AND WARNING SYS-
TEM MODERNIZATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Emergency Management Agen-
cy shall establish an advisory committee 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, to be 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:46 Sep 14, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2904.IH
H2904
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
appointed by the Administrator as soon as prac-
ticable after the date of enactment of this Act: 
(A) The Chairman of the Federal Commu-
nications Commission. 
(B) The Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the 
Department of Commerce. 
(C) The Assistant Secretary for Commu-
nications and Information of the Department of 
Commerce. 
(D) Representatives of State and local gov-
ernments, representatives of emergency man-
agement agencies, and representatives of emer-
gency response providers, selected from among 
individuals nominated by national organizations 
representing governments and personnel. 
(E) Representatives from federally recog-
nized Indian tribes and national Indian organi-
zations. 
(F) Individuals who have the requisite 
technical knowledge and expertise to serve on 
the Advisory Committee, including representa-
tives of— 
(i) communications service providers; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:46 Sep 14, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2904.IH
H2904
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(ii) vendors, developers, and manufac-
turers of systems, facilities, equipment, 
and capabilities for the provision of com-
munications services; 
(iii) third-party service bureaus; 
(iv) the broadcasting industry; 
(v) the national organization rep-
resenting the licensees and permittees of 
noncommercial broadcast television sta-
tions; 
(vi) the cellular industry; 
(vii) the cable industry; 
(viii) the satellite industry; and 
(ix) 
national 
organizations 
rep-
resenting individuals with special needs, in-
cluding individuals with disabilities and the 
elderly. 
(G) Qualified representatives of such other 
stakeholders and interested and affected parties 
as the Administrator considers appropriate. 
(3) CHAIRPERSON.—The Administrator 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 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:46 Sep 14, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2904.IH
H2904
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
not later than 60 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
(B) OTHER MEETINGS.—After the initial 
meeting, the Advisory Committee shall meet 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. 
(5) RULES.— 
(A) QUORUM.—One-third of the members 
of the Advisory Committee shall constitute a 
quorum for conducting business of the Advisory 
Committee. 
(B) SUBCOMMITTEES.—To assist the Advi-
sory Committee in carrying out its functions, 
the Chairperson may establish appropriate sub-
committees composed of members of the Advi-
sory Committee and other subject matter ex-
perts as the Chairperson considers necessary. 
(C) ADDITIONAL
RULE.—The Advisory 
Committee may adopt such other rules as are 
necessary to carry out its duties. 
(6) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Advisory Com-
mittee shall develop and submit in its final report 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:46 Sep 14, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2904.IH
H2904
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
recommendations for an integrated public alert and 
warning system, including— 
(A) recommendations for common alerting 
and warning protocols, standards, terminology, 
and operating procedures for the public alert 
and warning system; 
(B) recommendations to provide for a pub-
lic alert and warning system that— 
(i) has the capability to adapt the dis-
tribution and content of communications 
on the basis of geographic location, risks, 
or personal user preferences, as appro-
priate; 
(ii) has the capability to alert and 
warn individuals with disabilities and indi-
viduals with limited English proficiency; 
(iii) incorporates multiple communica-
tions technologies; 
(iv) is designed to adapt to, and incor-
porate, future technologies for commu-
nicating directly with the public; 
(v) is designed to provide alerts to the 
largest portion of the affected population 
feasible, including nonresident visitors and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:46 Sep 14, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2904.IH
H2904
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
tourists, and improve the ability of remote 
areas to receive alerts; 
(vi) promotes local and regional public 
and private partnerships to enhance com-
munity preparedness and response; and 
(vii) provides redundant alert mecha-
nisms where practicable so as to reach the 
greatest number of people regardless of 
whether they have access to, or utilize, any 
specific medium of communication or any 
particular device. 
(7) FINAL
REPORT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Advisory 
Committee shall submit to the Administrator, the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate a report containing the recommendations of 
the Advisory Committee. 
(8) 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. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:46 Sep 14, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2904.IH
H2904
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(9) TERMINATION.—The Advisory Committee 
shall terminate not later than 60 days after the sub-
mission of its final report. 
(c) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Section 202(c) of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5132(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘sec-
tion 611(c)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 611(d)’’. 
(d) LIMITATION ON STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.— 
Nothing in this section (including the amendment made 
by this section) shall be construed to affect the authority 
of the Department of Commerce or the Federal Commu-
nications Commission. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:46 Sep 14, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2904.IH
H2904
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS