READI Act

Bill: 116-hr-6096
Sponsor: Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9]
Introduced: 2020-03-05 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Congressional oversight
Emergency communications systems
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Government studies and investigations
Homeland security
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
State and local government operations
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-05
text: 

Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement Act of 2020 or READI Act

 
This bill modifies how citizens receive emergency alerts through wireless and broadcast emergency alert systems.
 
Specifically, the bill includes emergency alerts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a type of alert that mobile subscribers may not block from their devices. (Currently, only alerts from the President may not be blocked.)
 
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must adopt regulations that encourage states to establish a State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC) and provide that each SECC meets at least annually to review and update its Emergency Alert System (EAS) Plan. The FCC must approve or disapprove the updated plan.
 
The FCC shall also (1) establish a system to receive from FEMA or state, tribal, or local governments reports of false alerts under the EAS or the Wireless EAS and to record such false alerts and examine their causes; (2) modify the EAS to provide for repeating messages while an alert remains pending; and (3) examine the feasibility of offering EAS alerts through the internet, including through audio and video streaming services.
 

action_date: 2020-11-16
text: 

Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement Act of 2020 or READI Act

 
This bill modifies how citizens receive emergency alerts through wireless and broadcast emergency alert systems.
 
Specifically, the bill includes emergency alerts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a type of alert that mobile subscribers may not block from their devices. (Currently, only alerts from the President may not be blocked.)
 
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must adopt regulations that encourage states to establish a State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC) and provide that each SECC meets at least annually to review and update its Emergency Alert System (EAS) Plan. The FCC must approve or disapprove the updated plan.
 
The FCC shall also (1) establish a system to receive from FEMA or state, tribal, or local governments reports of false alerts under the EAS or the Wireless EAS and to record such false alerts and examine their causes; (2) modify the EAS to provide for repeating messages while an alert remains pending; and (3) examine the feasibility of offering EAS alerts through the internet, including through audio and video streaming services.
 

action_date: 2020-11-17
text: 

Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement Act of 2020 or READI Act

 
This bill modifies how citizens receive emergency alerts through wireless and broadcast emergency alert systems.
 
Specifically, the bill includes emergency alerts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a type of alert that mobile subscribers may not block from their devices. (Currently, only alerts from the President may not be blocked.)
 
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must adopt regulations that encourage states to establish a State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC) and provide that each SECC meets at least annually to review and update its Emergency Alert System (EAS) Plan. The FCC must approve or disapprove the updated plan.
 
The FCC shall also (1) establish a system to receive from FEMA or state, tribal, or local governments reports of false alerts under the EAS or the Wireless EAS and to record such false alerts and examine their causes; (2) modify the EAS to provide for repeating messages while an alert remains pending; and (3) examine the feasibility of offering EAS alerts through the internet, including through audio and video streaming services.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-18
text: Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 596.
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5820-5821)
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5820-5821)
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6096.
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5820-5823)
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: Mr. Pallone moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 480.
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: Committee on Transportation discharged.
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: Committee on Transportation discharged.
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 116-582, Part I.
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 116-582, Part I.
action_date: 2020-07-15
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2020-07-15
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2020-03-10
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2020-03-10
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2020-03-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2020-03-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
action_date: 2020-03-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2020-03-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2020-03-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-03-05
text: Introduced in House