In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``9/11 Can You Hear Me Now Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) After two terrorist attacks it is time to fix the 
        communications system for the New York City Fire Department.
            (2) During its response to the 1993 bombing of the World 
        Trade Center in New York City, the New York City Fire 
        Department's radios did not work in the twin towers of the 
        World Trade Center. The resulting lack of communication 
        complicated operations but did not result in the death of any 
        firefighter.
            (3) Eight years later, on September 11, 2001, the World 
        Trade Center was attacked again and the fire department's radio 
        system failed again.
            (4) Soon before the collapse of Tower One of the World 
        Trade Center, fire department officials tried in vain to radio 
        firefighters to evacuate the building.
            (5) The firefighters' radio system failed the firefighters 
        in Tower One and as a result many were not able to receive this 
        warning. The failure of the radio system was largely 
        responsible for the death of many of the 343 firefighters who 
        died in the collapse of the World Trade Center twin towers.
            (6) Since September 11, 2001, the fire department has taken 
        steps to improve the communications system that failed them. 
        However, many tall buildings in New York City have not 
        installed repeaters that are needed to boost signals, and the 
        signals are often lost in high-rise buildings and underground.
            (7) In August 2003, New York City experienced a blackout. 
        During the blackout the fire department's radio system was 
        again found not to work reliably during emergency situations or 
        in high buildings.
            (8) The dispatch system currently used by the New York City 
        Fire Department was acquired in the early 1970s and hampers the 
        ability of the department to fully communicate with its 
        firefighters and provide appropriate detailed information about 
        the buildings and locations to which they respond.
            (9) Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, 
        executive branch officials have repeatedly warned that future 
        terror attacks are not a matter of if, but when. The Secretary 
        of Homeland Security has identified New York City as one of the 
        main terrorist targets.
            (10) With New York City remaining a top terrorist target, 
        such communications system should be a national priority.
            (11) A new state-of-the-art communications system and 
        upgrades to the critical information dispatch system for the 
        New York City Fire Department should be--
                    (A) seamless from the receipt of a 911 call to the 
                dispatch of the firefighter; and
                    (B) interoperable with other public safety offices 
                within the City of New York.

SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT TO PROCURE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM FOR NEW YORK CITY 
              FIRE DEPARTMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall, by not 
later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, procure 
development and provision of a communications system for the New York 
City Fire Department, including appropriate radios for the entire 
department and upgrades to the critical information dispatch system of 
the department.
    (b) Requirements.--
            (1) Radios.--Radios procured pursuant to this section must 
        be capable of operating in all locations, and under all 
        conditions, in which firefighters can reasonably be expected to 
        work in responding to an emergency in New York City.
            (2) Supplemental communication device.--Any communications 
        system procured pursuant to this section must include provision 
        to each firefighter of a supplemental radio communication 
        device that--
                    (A) allows the firefighter to transmit audio and 
                radio emergency notification warning signals to other 
                firefighters whenever the firefighter is in distress 
                and in immediate need of assistance; and
                    (B) has the capability to operate automatically in 
                a passive mode by transmitting audio and radio messages 
                that will relay the firefighter's identification and 
                location if the firefighter--
                            (i) becomes incapacitated and motionless; 
                        and
                            (ii) is unable to physically transmit a 
                        call for help.
            (3) Dispatch system.--Upgrades to the critical information 
        dispatch system procured pursuant to this section must--
                    (A) allow the fire department to communicate with 
                firefighters in all locations, and under all 
                conditions, in which firefighters can reasonably be 
                expected to work in responding to an emergency in New 
                York City, including all high-rise buildings and 
                subways;
                    (B) provide useful, detailed data concerning all 
                likely terrorist target locations in the City of New 
                York; and
                    (C) be capable of providing to responding 
                firefighters, instantaneously, details about particular 
                buildings and other locations to assist them in making 
                decisions about how to mitigate a terrorist attack and 
                save lives and property.
    (c) Testing.--Radios, any dispatch system upgrades, and 
supplemental communication devices procured pursuant to this section 
must have been tested to ensure they will operate in all locations and 
under all conditions in which firefighters can reasonably be expected 
to work in responding to an emergency in New York City.
    (d) Coordination.--In carrying out this section the Secretary shall 
coordinate with the City of New York to ensure that the communications 
system procured under this section is--
            (1) compatible with the plans of the City of New York to 
        upgrade its 911 system; and
            (2) interoperable with other public safety communications 
        systems.
    (e) Progress Report.--The Secretary shall submit to the Congress a 
report on progress made in carrying out this section, on--
            (1) February 26, 2008; and
            (2) September 11, 2008.

A: 9/11 Can You Hear Me Now Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to procure development and provision of a communications system for the New York City Fire Department, including appropriate radios and upgrades to the Department's critical information dispatch system that allow communication in all locations and under all conditions in which firefighters can reasonably be expected to work, including all high-rise buildings and subways.

Directs that any communications system procured include provision to each firefighter of a supplemental radio communication device that: (1) allows the firefighter to transmit emergency notification warning signals to other firefighters; and (2) has the capability to operate automatically by transmitting messages that will relay an incapacitated firefighter's identification and location.

Requires that upgrades procured: (1) provide useful, detailed data concerning all likely terrorist target locations in the city; and (2) be capable of providing to responding firefighters, instantaneously, details about particular buildings and other locations to assist in making decisions about how to mitigate a terrorist attack.

Requires that: (1) radios, any dispatch system upgrades, and supplemental communication devices procured be tested; and (2) the Secretary coordinate with the city to ensure that the communications system procured is compatible with city plans to upgrade its 911 system and interoperable with other public safety communications systems.
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Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Government Accountability Office 
Improvement Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO OBTAIN RECORDS.

    (a) Authority To Obtain Records.--Section 716 of title 31, United 
States Code, is amended in subsection (a)--
            (1) by striking ``(a)'' and inserting ``(2)''; and
            (2) by inserting after the section heading the following:
    ``(a)(1) The Comptroller General is authorized to obtain such 
agency records as the Comptroller General requires to discharge his 
duties (including audit, evaluation, and investigative duties), 
including through the bringing of civil actions under this section. In 
reviewing a civil action under this section, the court shall recognize 
the continuing force and effect of the authorization in the preceding 
sentence until such time as the authorization is repealed pursuant to 
law.''.
    (b) Interviews.--Section 716(a) of title 31, United States Code, as 
amended by subsection (a), is further amended in the second sentence of 
paragraph (2) by inserting ``and interview agency officers and 
employees'' after ``agency record''.

SEC. 3. ADMINISTERING OATHS.

    Section 711 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking 
paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
            ``(4) administer oaths to witnesses, except that, in 
        matters other than auditing and settling accounts, the 
        authority of an officer or employee to administer oaths to 
        witnesses pursuant to a delegation under paragraph (2) shall 
        not be available without the prior express approval of the 
        Comptroller General (or a designee).''.

SEC. 4. ACCESS TO CERTAIN INFORMATION.

    (a) Access to Certain Information.--Subchapter II of chapter 7 of 
title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``Sec. 721. Access to certain information
    ``(a) No provision of the Social Security Act shall be construed to 
limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to 
obtain any information, to inspect any record, or to interview any 
officer or employee under section 716 of this title, including with 
respect to any information disclosed to or obtained by the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services under part C or D of title XVIII of the 
Social Security Act.
    ``(b) No provision of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 
shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the 
Comptroller General to obtain any information, to inspect any record, 
or to interview any officer or employee under section 716 of this 
title, including with respect to any information concerning any method 
or process which as a trade secret is entitled to protection.
    ``(c) No provision of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements 
Act of 1976 and the amendments made by that Act shall be construed to 
limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to 
obtain any information, to inspect any record, or to interview any 
officer or employee under section 716 of this title, including with 
respect to any information disclosed to the Assistant Attorney General 
of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice or the Federal 
Trade Commission for purposes of pre-merger review under section 7A of 
the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 18a).
    ``(d)(1) The Comptroller General shall prescribe such policies and 
procedures as are necessary to protect from public disclosure 
proprietary or trade secret information obtained consistent with this 
section.
    ``(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed--
            ``(A) to alter or amend the prohibitions against the 
        disclosure of trade secret or other sensitive information 
        prohibited by section 1905 of title 18 and other applicable 
        laws; or
            ``(B) to affect the applicability of section 716(e) of this 
        title, including the protections against unauthorized 
        disclosure contained in that section, to information obtained 
        consistent with this section.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 7 of title 31, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 720 the following:

``721. Access to certain information.''.

SEC. 5. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORTS.

    Section 719 of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1)(B), by striking ``and'' at the 
        end;
            (2) in subsection (b)(1)(C), by striking the period at the 
        end and inserting ``; and'';
            (3) by adding at the end of subsection (b)(1) the 
        following:
            ``(D) for agencies subject to sections 901 to 903 and other 
        agencies designated by the Comptroller General, an assessment 
        of their overall degree of cooperation in making personnel 
        available for interview, providing written answers to 
        questions, submitting to an oath authorized by the Comptroller 
        General under section 711, granting access to records, 
        providing timely comments to draft reports, adopting 
        recommendations in reports and responding to such other matters 
        as the Comptroller General deems appropriate.'';
            (4) in subsection (c)(2)(B), by striking ``and'' at the 
        end;
            (5) in subsection (c)(3), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and'', and
            (6) by adding at the end of subsection (c) the following:
            ``(4) as soon as practicable when an agency does not, 
        within a reasonable time, respond to a request by the 
        Comptroller General regarding any matter described in 
        subsection (b)(1)(D).''.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 29, 2008.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.

A: Government Accountability Office Improvement Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Comptroller General to: (1) obtain federal agency records required to discharge his or her duties, including through bringing civil actions under this Act; (2) interview agency officers and employees to get information about agency duties, powers, activities, organization, and financial transactions; and (3) administer oaths to witnesses (currently, the Comptroller General may administer oaths to witnesses when auditing and settling accounts).

Requires the Comptroller General to prescribe such policies and procedures as are necessary to protect from public disclosure proprietary or trade secret information obtained under this Act.

Declares that no provision of the Social Security Act, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to obtain information, inspect records, or interview specified agency officers or employees, including with respect to: (1) information disclosed to or obtained by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Social Security Act; (2) information concerning any method or process protected as a trade secret; and (3) information disclosed to the Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for purposes of pre-merger review under the Clayton Act. Declares that this Act shall not be construed to: (1) alter or amend the prohibitions against the disclosure of trade secret or other sensitive information; and (2) affect the applicability of requirements governing the availability of agency information to information obtained.

Requires the Comptroller General to: (1) report annually on the cooperation of agencies subject to the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 and other agencies designated by the Comptroller General in making personnel available for interviews, providing written answers to questions, submitting to an oath authorized by the Comptroller General, granting access to records, providing timely comments to draft reports, adopting report recommendations, and responding to such matters as the Comptroller General deems appropriate; and (2) report to Congress when agencies do not respond to requests regarding such matters.
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Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Continuity of Operations 
Demonstration Project Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to enhance the ability of Federal agencies to manage 
        their personnel and to otherwise continue to operate during an 
        extended emergency situation;
            (2) to enhance the ability of Federal employees to carry 
        out their duties and responsibilities from home or other sites 
        removed from their usual and customary workplace;
            (3) to enhance flexibility in Government operations 
        generally; and
            (4) to determine what technologies, changes in work 
        processes, or other measures are needed to accomplish the 
        foregoing, while preserving data security.

SEC. 3. CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.

    (a) In General.--In order to test the preparedness of the Federal 
Government to continue to operate in the event of an extended emergency 
situation, the Chief Human Capital Officers Council and the Interagency 
Continuity of Operations Working Group shall jointly provide for a 
demonstration project under which 2 or more agencies shall perform a 
representative range of Government services and operations (both 
essential and nonessential) under circumstances simulating a situation 
in which Federal employees are, as a result of a sudden and unexpected 
contingency, required to work--
            (1) from locations apart from their usual and customary 
        workplace, including from home and from agency-designated 
        facilities; and
            (2) for a period of not less than 10 consecutive workdays.
    (b) Other Requirements.--In carrying out the demonstration project, 
the Council and the Working Group shall ensure--
            (1) that appropriate mechanisms exist so that participating 
        agencies and employees will be able to engage in any necessary 
        communications, and so that appropriate oversight of employees 
        can be maintained, at all times;
            (2) that participating employees have received appropriate 
        training relating to what their duties and responsibilities are 
        during an emergency situation and how those duties and 
        responsibilities are to be carried out;
            (3) that participating employees have available to them or 
        are able to access any technologies, resources, information, or 
        other assistance they may require in order to carry out their 
        duties and responsibilities effectively and efficiently;
            (4) that such project is conducted in coordination with the 
        earliest Governmentwide continuity of operations interagency 
        exercise following the date of the enactment of this Act which 
        is conducted by the Department of Homeland Security and as to 
        which the implementation of this paragraph is practicable;
            (5) that, at least 3 months before such project is 
        implemented, all agencies that are scheduled to participate 
        have developed plans detailing which operations will be 
        performed during the simulated emergency, which employees will 
        perform those operations, and how those operations are to be 
        performed;
            (6) that participation will be limited to those employees 
        who, irrespective of this Act, would otherwise have been 
        eligible to telework; and
            (7) that such project will be conducted in coordination 
        with otherwise existing Federal teleworking policies, 
        requirements, and funding, so that no additional resources are 
        needed in order to carry out this Act.

SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Council and the Working Group shall submit to the Committee on 
Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a written 
evaluation of the demonstration project, including a description of the 
approaches taken and lessons learned by participating agencies, and 
recommendations for such legislation or administrative action as the 
Council and the Working Group consider appropriate.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act--
            (1) the term ``Chief Human Capital Officers Council'' or 
        ``Council'' refers to the Chief Human Capital Officers Council, 
        as established by section 1303 of the Homeland Security Act of 
        2002 (5 U.S.C. 1401 note);
            (2) the term ``Interagency Continuity of Operations Working 
        Group'' or ``Working Group'' refers to the Interagency 
        Continuity of Operations Working Group, established by the 
        Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland 
        Security, pursuant to Federal Preparedness Circular 65, dated 
        June 15, 2004;
            (3) the term ``Federal agency'' or ``agency'' means an 
        Executive agency, as defined by section 105 of title 5, United 
        States Code; and
            (4) the term ``Federal employee'' or ``employee'' means an 
        individual employed in or under an agency.

A:
Continuity of Operations Demonstration Project Act - Directs the Chief Human Capital Officers Council and the Interagency Continuity of Operations Working Group, in order to test the preparedness of the federal government to continue to operate in the event of an extended emergency situation, to jointly provide for a demonstration project under which two or more agencies shall perform a representative range of government services and operations (both essential and nonessential) under circumstances simulating a situation in which federal employees are, as a result of a sudden and unexpected contingency, required to work: (1) from locations apart from their usual and customary workplace, including from home and from agency-designated facilities; and (2) for a continuous period of not less than ten consecutive workdays.

Directs the Council, in carrying out the demonstration project, to ensure that specified requirements are met with respect to: (1) communications; (2) training relating to duties and responsibilities during an emergency situation; (3) access to technologies, information, or other assistance; (4) coordination with the earliest governmentwide continuity of operations interagency exercise; (5) plans detailing which operations will be performed, which employees will perform those operations, and how those operations are to be performed; (6) participation (limited to those employees who would otherwise have been eligible to telework); and (7) coordination with otherwise existing federal telework policies, requirements, and funding.
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