(D) assessed to learn best practices, which 
shall be shared with appropriate Federal, State, 
and local personnel and authorities; and 
(3) assist State and local governments with the 
implementation of exercises that—
(A) conform to the requirements of para-
graph (2); and 
(B) are consistent with any applicable 
State homeland security strategy or plan. 
SEC. 502. GRANT AWARD NOTIFICATION AND DISTRIBU-
TION. 
(a) NOTIFICATION.—With respect to any grant 
awarded by the Department of Homeland Security to any 
local government (as that term is defined in section 2 of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101)), the 
Secretary of Homeland Security shall promptly provide 
notice of the award of such grant, including the name of 
the recipient and the amount of the award, to the appro-
priate State government official. 
(b) DISTRIBUTION.—In making any grant targeted 
to a high-threat, high-density urban area, the Secretary 
shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that such 
grants are distributed among the jurisdictions that could 
reasonably be expected to provide support to the high-
threat, high-density urban area following an act of ter-
rorism, including interstate jurisdictions. 
SEC. 503. MUTUAL AID PROGRAM. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish 
a program supporting the development of mutual aid sys-
tems for preparedness for and response to acts of ter-
rorism and other emergencies throughout the Nation, 
by—
(1) identifying and cataloging existing mutual 
aid agreements related to preparedness for and re-
sponse to acts of terrorism and other emergencies at 
the State and local levels of government; 
(2) disseminating to State and local govern-
ments examples of best practices in the development 
of mutual aid agreements and models of existing 
mutual aid agreements, including agreements involv-
ing interstate jurisdictions; and 
(3) completing an inventory of Federal response 
capabilities for acts of terrorism and other emer-
gencies, making such inventory available to appro-
priate Federal, State, and local government officials, 
and ensuring that such inventory is as current and 
accurate as practicable.
SEC. 504. NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS GOAL. 
(a) DEADLINE.—No later than 120 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and consistent with the 
provisions of section 505 of the Homeland Security Act 
of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 315), the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity shall develop and publish a domestic emergency na-
tional preparedness goal, with a particular emphasis on 
preparedness for acts of terrorism. 
(b) PREPAREDNESS GOAL DEFINED.—The national 
preparedness goal shall—
(1) establish measurable readiness priorities; 
(2) balance the potential threat and magnitude 
of acts of terrorism, major disasters, and other 
emergencies with the resources required to prevent, 
respond to, and recover from them; 
(3) include readiness metrics and elements to 
measure achievement of the national preparedness 
goal; 
(4) include standards for preparedness assess-
ments and strategies; and 
(5) establish a system for assessing the Na-
tion’s overall preparedness to respond to major 
events, especially those involving acts of terrorism. 
(c) COORDINATION AND CONSULTATION.—In devel-
oping the national preparedness goal, the Secretary 
shall—
(1) coordinate with the heads of other appro-
priate Federal departments and agencies; 
(2) consult with State and local governments, 
including representatives of a cross section of emer-
gency response provider disciplines; and 
(3) consult with national voluntary consensus 
standards development organizations. 
(d) SUBMISSION.—Upon completion of the national 
preparedness goal, the Secretary shall submit to the Con-
gress a description of such goal and the coordination and 
consultation process used to develop it under subsection 
(c). 
SEC. 505. CLARIFICATION OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR INTER-
OPERATIVE COMMUNICATIONS. 
(a) UNDER SECRETARY
FOR EMERGENCY PRE-
PAREDNESS
AND RESPONSE.—Section 502(7) of the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 312(7)) is 
amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘developing comprehensive pro-
grams for developing interoperative communications 
technology, and’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘such’’ and inserting ‘‘inter-
operative communications’’.
(b) OFFICE FOR DOMESTIC PREPAREDNESS.—Sec-
tion 430(c) of such Act (6 U.S.C. 238(c)) is amended to 
read as follows: 
(1) in paragraph (7) by striking ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (8) by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(9) helping to ensure the acquisition of inter-
operative communication technology by State and 
local governments and emergency response pro-
viders.’’. 
SEC. 506. NATIONAL BIODEFENSE STRATEGY. 
(a) STRATEGY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Consistent with the provi-
sions of section 505 of the Homeland Security Act 
of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 315) and subsections (a) and (b) 
of section 304 of such Act (6 U.S.C. 184), the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, in consultation with 
the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, 
shall develop a comprehensive national biodefense 
strategy (in this section referred to as the ‘‘bio-
defense strategy’’) for meeting the requirements, re-
sponsibilities, and authorities of the Homeland Secu-
rity Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.), including