To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and implement the READICall emergency alert system.

Bill: 108-hr-2250
Sponsor: Rep. Meek, Kendrick B. [D-FL-17]
Introduced: 2003-05-22 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Disasters
EBB Terrorism
Emergency communication systems
Emergency medicine
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Fire departments
Fire fighters
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Medical personnel
Paramedical personnel
Police
Science, Technology, Communications
Telephone
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and implement an emergency telephonic alert notification system (the Responsive Emergency Alert and Dissemination of Information Call System or READICall System) to: (1) alert persons of imminent or current hazardous events caused by terrorist acts and other man-made disasters; and (2) provide information to individuals regarding measures to alleviate or minimize threats to their safety and welfare. Directs the Secretary to: (1) make use of national private sector networks, technology, personnel, and infrastructure to develop and implement the System; (2) develop coordinated infrastructure for the System that will be able to provide immediate notification and warning to all telephone subscribers in the United States in a national crisis resulting from a terrorist act and to target specific locations and warn just the affected areas; and (3) collaborate with other Federal, State, and local agencies to allow interoperability between different sources of terrorist threat information, allow the immediate dissemination of information from all levels of governmental sources, and develop standards, protocols, procedures, and terminology to minimize inconsistencies and miscommunication with intelligence information.
Authorizes the Secretary to conduct research and pilot programs as may be necessary for improving the effectiveness of such System.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
action_date: 2003-05-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Science, and Research and Development, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
action_date: 2003-05-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness and Response, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
action_date: 2003-05-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1069)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security (Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security (Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security (Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Introduced in House