Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1180
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI]
Introduced: 2015-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Disaster relief and insurance
Emergency communications systems
Government information and archives
Natural disasters
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: 

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2015

 
 Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to: (1) modernize the integrated U.S. public alert and warning system to help ensure that under all conditions the President, federal agencies, and state, tribal, and local governments can alert and warn the civilian population in areas endangered by natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters or threats to public safety; and (2) implement such system to disseminate timely and effective warnings.
 
Directs FEMA to: (1) establish common alerting and warning protocols, standards, terminology, and operating procedures for the system; (2) include in such system the capability to adapt the distribution and content of communications on the basis of geographic location, risks, and multiple communication technologies and to alert, warn, and provide equivalent information to individuals with disabilities, access and functional needs, or limited English proficiency; (3) ensure that specified training, tests, and exercises for such system are conducted and that the system is resilient, secure, and can withstand external attacks; and (4) conduct public education efforts and a general market awareness campaign about the system.
 
Requires the system to: (1) be designed to adapt to and incorporate future technologies for communicating directly with the public, provide alerts to the largest portion of the affected population feasible, and improve the ability of remote areas to receive alerts; (2) promote local and regional public and private partnerships to enhance community preparedness and response; (3) provide redundant alert mechanisms; and (4) protect individual privacy.
 
Directs FEMA to establish the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Subcommittee to develop and submit recommendations for an integrated public alert and warning system to the National Advisory Council, which shall report the recommendations it approves to agencies represented on the Subcommittee and to specified congressional committees.

action_date: 2015-06-25
text: 

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2015

 
 (Sec. 2) Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to: (1) modernize the integrated U.S. public alert and warning system to help ensure that under all conditions the President, federal agencies, and state, tribal, and local governments can alert and warn the civilian population in areas endangered by natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters or threats to public safety; and (2) implement such system to disseminate timely and effective warnings.
 
Directs FEMA to: (1) establish common alerting and warning protocols, standards, terminology, and operating procedures for the system; (2) include in such system the capability to adapt the distribution and content of communications on the basis of geographic location, risks, and multiple communication technologies and to alert, warn, and provide equivalent information to individuals with disabilities, access and functional needs, or limited English proficiency; (3) ensure that specified training, tests, and exercises for such system are conducted and that the system is resilient, secure, and can withstand external attacks; and (4) conduct public education efforts and a general market awareness campaign about the system.
 
Requires the system to: (1) be designed to adapt to and incorporate future technologies for communicating directly with the public, provide alerts to the largest portion of the affected population feasible, and improve the ability of remote areas to receive alerts; (2) promote local and regional public and private partnerships to enhance community preparedness and response; (3) provide redundant alert mechanisms; and (4) protect individual privacy.
 
Requires FEMA to make available on its public website and submit to Congress an annual report of the performance of the system.
 
Directs FEMA to establish the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Subcommittee to develop and submit recommendations for an integrated public alert and warning system to the National Advisory Council, which shall report the recommendations it approves to agencies represented on the Subcommittee and to specified congressional committees. Terminates the Subcommittee not later than three years after this Act's enactment.
 
Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act for FY2016-FY2018.

action_date: 2015-07-09
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on June 25, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2015

 
 (Sec. 2) Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to: (1) modernize the integrated U.S. public alert and warning system to help ensure that under all conditions the President, federal agencies, and state, tribal, and local governments can alert and warn the civilian population in areas endangered by natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters or threats to public safety; and (2) implement such system to disseminate timely and effective warnings.
 
Directs FEMA to: (1) establish common alerting and warning protocols, standards, terminology, and operating procedures for the system; (2) include in such system the capability to adapt the distribution and content of communications on the basis of geographic location, risks, and multiple communication technologies and to alert, warn, and provide equivalent information to individuals with disabilities, access and functional needs, or limited English proficiency; (3) ensure that specified training, tests, and exercises for such system are conducted and that the system is resilient, secure, and can withstand external attacks; and (4) conduct public education efforts and a general market awareness campaign about the system.
 
Requires the system to: (1) be designed to adapt to and incorporate future technologies for communicating directly with the public, provide alerts to the largest portion of the affected population feasible, and improve the ability of remote areas to receive alerts; (2) promote local and regional public and private partnerships to enhance community preparedness and response; (3) provide redundant alert mechanisms; and (4) protect individual privacy.
 
Requires FEMA to make available on its public website and submit to Congress an annual report of the performance of the system.
 
Directs FEMA to establish the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Subcommittee to develop and submit recommendations for an integrated public alert and warning system to the National Advisory Council, which shall report the recommendations it approves to agencies represented on the Subcommittee and to specified congressional committees. Terminates the Subcommittee not later than three years after this Act's enactment.
 
Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act for FY2016-FY2018.

action_date: 2016-03-21
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on June 25, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2015

 
 (Sec. 2) Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to: (1) modernize the integrated U.S. public alert and warning system to help ensure that under all conditions the President, federal agencies, and state, tribal, and local governments can alert and warn the civilian population in areas endangered by natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters or threats to public safety; and (2) implement such system to disseminate timely and effective warnings.
 
Directs FEMA to: (1) establish common alerting and warning protocols, standards, terminology, and operating procedures for the system; (2) include in such system the capability to adapt the distribution and content of communications on the basis of geographic location, risks, and multiple communication technologies and to alert, warn, and provide equivalent information to individuals with disabilities, access and functional needs, or limited English proficiency; (3) ensure that specified training, tests, and exercises for such system are conducted and that the system is resilient, secure, and can withstand external attacks; and (4) conduct public education efforts and a general market awareness campaign about the system.
 
Requires the system to: (1) be designed to adapt to and incorporate future technologies for communicating directly with the public, provide alerts to the largest portion of the affected population feasible, and improve the ability of remote areas to receive alerts; (2) promote local and regional public and private partnerships to enhance community preparedness and response; (3) provide redundant alert mechanisms; and (4) protect individual privacy.
 
Requires FEMA to make available on its public website and submit to Congress an annual report of the performance of the system.
 
Directs FEMA to establish the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Subcommittee to develop and submit recommendations for an integrated public alert and warning system to the National Advisory Council, which shall report the recommendations it approves to agencies represented on the Subcommittee and to specified congressional committees. Terminates the Subcommittee not later than three years after this Act's enactment.
 
Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act for FY2016-FY2018.

action_date: 2016-04-11
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on June 25, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2015

 
 (Sec. 2) Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to: (1) modernize the integrated U.S. public alert and warning system to help ensure that under all conditions the President, federal agencies, and state, tribal, and local governments can alert and warn the civilian population in areas endangered by natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters or threats to public safety; and (2) implement such system to disseminate timely and effective warnings.
 
Directs FEMA to: (1) establish common alerting and warning protocols, standards, terminology, and operating procedures for the system; (2) include in such system the capability to adapt the distribution and content of communications on the basis of geographic location, risks, and multiple communication technologies and to alert, warn, and provide equivalent information to individuals with disabilities, access and functional needs, or limited English proficiency; (3) ensure that specified training, tests, and exercises for such system are conducted and that the system is resilient, secure, and can withstand external attacks; and (4) conduct public education efforts and a general market awareness campaign about the system.
 
Requires the system to: (1) be designed to adapt to and incorporate future technologies for communicating directly with the public, provide alerts to the largest portion of the affected population feasible, and improve the ability of remote areas to receive alerts; (2) promote local and regional public and private partnerships to enhance community preparedness and response; (3) provide redundant alert mechanisms; and (4) protect individual privacy.
 
Requires FEMA to make available on its public website and submit to Congress an annual report of the performance of the system.
 
Directs FEMA to establish the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Subcommittee to develop and submit recommendations for an integrated public alert and warning system to the National Advisory Council, which shall report the recommendations it approves to agencies represented on the Subcommittee and to specified congressional committees. Terminates the Subcommittee not later than three years after this Act's enactment.
 
Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act for FY2016-FY2018.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-11
text: Became Public Law No: 114-143.
action_date: 2016-04-11
text: Became Public Law No: 114-143.
action_date: 2016-04-11
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-04-11
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-03-31
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-03-31
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-03-21
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-03-21
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1487-1488)
action_date: 2016-03-21
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H1487-1488)
action_date: 2016-03-21
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1180.
action_date: 2016-03-21
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1487-1491)
action_date: 2016-03-21
text: Mr. Costello (PA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2015-07-13
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2015-07-13
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2015-07-10
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2015-07-09
text: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4980-4983; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S4980-4982; text as passed Senate: CR S4982-4983)
action_date: 2015-07-09
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S4980-4983; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S4980-4982; text as passed Senate: CR S4982-4983)
action_date: 2015-06-25
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 132.
action_date: 2015-06-25
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 114-73.
action_date: 2015-06-25
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 114-73.
action_date: 2015-05-06
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 114-143