American Red Cross Sunshine Act

Bill: 114-hr-3517
Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
Introduced: 2015-09-16 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Disaster relief and insurance
Emergency planning and evacuation
Government studies and investigations
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: 

American Red Cross Sunshine Act

 
This bill authorizes the Comptroller General to review the involvement of the American National Red Cross (the corporation) in any federal program or activity the corporation carries out (current law), including in connection with events for which the government provides leadership or support under the national preparedness system. For purposes of such review, the Comptroller General shall have: (1) access to and the right to examine and copy all corporation records the Comptroller General deems relevant, and (2) access to and the right to interview any corporation employee or volunteer the Comptroller General believes to have relevant knowledge.
 
The Comptroller General may: (1) subpoena a record or employee of the corporation, and (2) bring a civil action in U.S. district court for the District of Columbia to enforce compliance with such subpoena.
 
The corporation's Office of the Ombudsman must enhance dispute resolution regarding concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the corporation and regularly report to the corporation's board of governors information on trends and patterns on concerns communicated to the Office regarding the corporation. The Office must make information available on its website on how to submit concerns about the organization.
 
The bill requires audits, every three years, by: (1) the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration of the corporation's revenues, expenditures, and governance; (2) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General of the corporation's disaster assistance services; and (3) the U.S. Agency for International Development Inspector General of the corporation's international activities.
 
DHS must: (1) conduct a one-year pilot program with the corporation to develop mechanisms for DHS to better leverage social media to improve preparedness and response capabilities, and (2) annually report on the extent to which DHS partnered with the corporation in furtherance of preparedness and response capabilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications.
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Homeland Security, 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: 2015-09-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Homeland Security, 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: 2015-09-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Homeland Security, 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: 2015-09-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Homeland Security, 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: 2015-09-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: Introduced in House