WARN Act

Bill: 118-hr-2892
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23]
Introduced: 2023-04-26
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Emergency communications systems

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations
Latest action: action_date: 2024-12-10
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-04-26
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Weather Alert Response and Notification Act or the WARN Act</strong></p> <p>This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the effectiveness of local alerting systems in disseminating timely and relevant information during weather-related emergencies.</p> <p>In conducting the study, the GAO must (1) evaluate the efficacy of various alert mediums, including platforms such as social media; and (2) establish a set of best practices for such alerts.</p>

action_date: 2024-12-05
action_desc: Reported to House
text: <p><strong>Weather Alert Response and Notification Act or the WARN Act</strong></p><p>This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the effectiveness of local, state, and federal&nbsp;alerting systems in disseminating timely and relevant information during weather-related emergencies.</p><p>In conducting the study, the GAO must (1) evaluate the efficacy of various alert mediums, including platforms such as social media; (2) assess the guidance and training for developing alert content; and (3) determine whether improvements could be made to public alerting based on input from a sample of emergency managers, local officials, and community groups.</p>

tv_txt: IIB 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 2892 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 10, 2024 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs AN ACT To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the effectiveness of emergency alerting systems, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Weather Alert Response and Notification Act or the WARN Act . 2. Effectiveness of local, State, and Federal alerting systems (a) In general The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the effectiveness of local, State, and Federal emergency alerting systems in disseminating timely and relevant information during weather-related emergencies to help communities develop better policies and procedures for emergency response and enhance public safety in the event of a weather-related emergency. (b) Contents In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall— (1) evaluate the efficacy of various alert mediums, including platforms such as social media, to disseminate emergency alerts, including travel bans and mass power outages, during extreme weather events; (2) assess the extent that guidance and training exists for developing alert content, such as ensuring alerts are clear, relevant, and provide the public with actionable information; and (3) determine whether improvements could be made to public alerting based on input from a selected sample of emergency managers, local officials, and community groups. (c) Report Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and 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 study conducted under subsection (a).

Passed the House of Representatives December 9, 2024. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 2892 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the effectiveness of emergency alerting systems, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Weather Alert Response and Notification Act or the WARN Act . 2. Effectiveness of local, State, and Federal alerting systems (a) In general The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the effectiveness of local, State, and Federal emergency alerting systems in disseminating timely and relevant information during weather-related emergencies to help communities develop better policies and procedures for emergency response and enhance public safety in the event of a weather-related emergency. (b) Contents In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall— (1) evaluate the efficacy of various alert mediums, including platforms such as social media, to disseminate emergency alerts, including travel bans and mass power outages, during extreme weather events; (2) assess the extent that guidance and training exists for developing alert content, such as ensuring alerts are clear, relevant, and provide the public with actionable information; and (3) determine whether improvements could be made to public alerting based on input from a selected sample of emergency managers, local officials, and community groups. (c) Report Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and 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 study conducted under subsection (a).

Passed the House of Representatives December 9, 2024. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 666 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 2892 [Report No. 118–814] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 26, 2023 Mr. Langworthy (for himself, Mr. Higgins of New York , Mr. Morelle , Mr. Fry , Mrs. Luna , Mr. Weber of Texas , and Ms. Norton ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure December 5, 2024 Additional sponsors: Mrs. Miller-Meeks , Mr. Moskowitz , Mr. Pappas , Mr. Gottheimer , Ms. Tokuda , Mr. Duarte , Mr. Moylan , Mr. Kilmer , Mr. Trone , Mr. Harder of California , Mr. Lawler , Mr. Rogers of Alabama , Mr. Jackson of Illinois , Mrs. Dingell , Mrs. González-Colón , Mr. Carter of Louisiana , and Ms. Spanberger December 5, 2024 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 26, 2023 A BILL To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the effectiveness of local alerting systems, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Weather Alert Response and Notification Act or the WARN Act . 2. Effectiveness of local, State, and Federal alerting systems (a) In general The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the effectiveness of local, State, and Federal emergency alerting systems in disseminating timely and relevant information during weather-related emergencies to help communities develop better policies and procedures for emergency response and enhance public safety in the event of a weather-related emergency. (b) Contents In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall— (1) evaluate the efficacy of various alert mediums, including platforms such as social media, to disseminate emergency alerts, including travel bans and mass power outages, during extreme weather events; (2) assess the extent that guidance and training exists for developing alert content, such as ensuring alerts are clear, relevant, and provide the public with actionable information; and (3) determine whether improvements could be made to public alerting based on input from a selected sample of emergency managers, local officials, and community groups. (c) Report Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and 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 study conducted under subsection (a).

Amend the title so as to read: A bill to direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the effectiveness of emergency alerting systems, and for other purposes. .

December 5, 2024 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2892 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 26, 2023 Mr. Langworthy (for himself, Mr. Higgins of New York , Mr. Morelle , Mr. Fry , Mrs. Luna , Mr. Weber of Texas , and Ms. Norton ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the effectiveness of local alerting systems, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Weather Alert Response and Notification Act or the WARN Act . 2. Effectiveness of local alerting systems (a) In general The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the effectiveness of local alerting systems in disseminating timely and relevant information during weather-related emergencies to help communities develop better policies and procedures for emergency response and enhance public safety in the event of a weather-related emergency. (b) Contents In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall— (1) evaluate the efficacy of various alert mediums, including platforms such as social media, to disseminate emergency alerts, including travel bans and mass power outages, during extreme weather events; and (2) establish a set of best practices for such alerts. (c) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and 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 study conducted under subsection (a).