American Red Cross Sunshine Act

Bill: 114-hr-3517
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
Introduced: 2015-09-16
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
Latest action: action_date: 2015-09-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-09-16
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>American Red Cross Sunshine Act</strong></p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p>  <p>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.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3517 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 16, 2015 Mr. Thompson of Mississippi introduced the following bill; which was 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 A BILL To amend title 36, United States Code to enhance oversight of the American National Red Cross by the Government Accountability Office and Inspectors General at the Departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, and State, and require the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a pilot program with the American National Red Cross to research and develop mechanisms for the Department to better leverage social media to improve preparedness and response capabilities, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the American Red Cross Sunshine Act . 2. Government Accountability Office oversight Section 300111 of title 36, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 300111. Authority of the Comptroller General of the United States (a) In general The Comptroller General of the United States is authorized to review the corporation’s involvement in any Federal program or activity the Government carries out under law, including any program or activity that the corporation carries out in connection with events for which the Government provides leadership or support under the national preparedness system established under section 644 of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007 ( 6 U.S.C. 744 ), or any successor system. (b) Access For purposes of carrying out this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall have access to and the right to examine and copy all records and other recorded information, electronic or otherwise, within the possession or control of the corporation that the Comptroller General determines relevant to a review authorized under subsection (a), including such records and other recorded information pertaining to the corporation’s financial transactions and internal governance. The Comptroller General shall be provided access, and be permitted to interview, any employee or volunteer of the corporation who the Comptroller General believes to have knowledge relevant to such a review. (c) Enforcement (1) In general The Comptroller General of the United States may subpoena a record of the American National Red Cross or subpoena an employee of the American National Red Cross to appear for an interview when the record or employee is not made available to the Comptroller General upon request under this section. A subpoena shall identify the record or employee, and may be issued by the Comptroller General. The Comptroller General may have an individual serve a subpoena under this subsection by delivering a copy to the chief executive officer of the American National Red Cross or by mailing a copy of the subpoena by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to its principal place of business. Proof of service is shown by a verified return by the individual serving the subpoena that states how the subpoena was served or by the return receipt signed by the person served. (2) Action If the American National Red Cross does not comply with a subpoena issued under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General of the United States, acting through an attorney the Comptroller General designates in writing, may bring a civil action in the district court of the United States for the District of Columbia to require it to produce the record or employee that is the subject of such subpoena. The court shall have jurisdiction of such action and may punish a failure to obey an order of the court under this subsection as a contempt of court. . 3. Internal reporting and dispute resolution Subsection (a) of section 300112 of title 36, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) Establishment The corporation shall establish an Office of the Ombudsman to enhance dispute resolution regarding concerns raised to the Office of the Ombudsman by internal and external stakeholders regarding the corporation, regularly report to the board of governors information on trends and patterns on concerns communicated to the Office of the Ombudsman regarding the corporation, and carry out such other duties and responsibilities as may be provided in the bylaws or a resolution of the board of governors. . 4. Inspectors General oversight (a) In general Chapter 3001 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new sections: 300114. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration audit Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration shall conduct an audit of the corporation’s revenues, expenditures, and governance not less often than once every three years. Such audit shall be posted on the website of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. In carrying out this section, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration shall coordinate activities to maximize the effectiveness of oversight activities, avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts, and minimize administrative burdens on the corporation. 300115. Department of Homeland Security Inspector General audit Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security shall evaluate the performance of the corporation’s disaster assistance services pursuant to paragraph (4) of section 300102, including services provided in connection with the national preparedness system established under section 644 of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007 ( 6 U.S.C. 744 ), or any successor system, not less often than once every three years. Such audit shall be posted on the website of the Inspector General. In carrying out this section, the Inspector General shall coordinate activities to maximize the effectiveness of oversight activities, avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts, and minimize administrative burdens on the corporation. 300116. United States Agency for International Development Inspector General audit Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Inspector General of the United States Agency for International Development shall evaluate the performance of the corporation’s international activities not less often than once every three years. Such audit shall be posted on the website of the Inspector General. In carrying out this section, the Inspector General shall coordinate activities to maximize the effectiveness of oversight activities, avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts, and minimize administrative burdens on the corporation. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents of chapter 3001 of title 36 is amended by adding at the end the following new items: 300114. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. 300115. Department of Homeland Security Inspector General audit. 300116. United States Agency for International Development Inspector General audit. . 5. Accessing the Ombudsman Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the American National Red Cross shall make prominent on its website information on how to submit to the Office of the Ombudsman of the American National Red Cross concerns about the organization, including concerns related to the administration of its programs, policies, fundraising activities, advertising messages, and employment practices. 6. Department of Homeland Security pilot program (a) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security, shall conduct a one-year pilot program with the American National Red Cross to research and develop mechanisms for the Department to better leverage social media to improve preparedness and response capabilities, including the following: (1) The timely dissemination of public preparedness information for terrorist attacks and other disasters. (2) The delivery of response supplies to affected areas. (b) Report Not later than 90 days after completion of the pilot program required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the lessons learned from such pilot program and any plan to integrate such lessons into operations of the Department of Homeland Security. 7. Annual report On an annual basis, together with the President’s submission of a budget request under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the extent to which the Department of Homeland Security partnered with the American National Red Cross in furtherance of preparedness and response capabilities in the previous year. 8. Rule of construction Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act may be construed as hindering, reducing, impeding, or otherwise impacting the ability of a State to conduct oversight or investigations of the American National Red Cross.