,i  #aacth ,,congress  #ast ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #cbhc  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,october #aj1        
#bjac,mr4 ,bilirakis introduced the     
following bill2 which was referred to   
the ,committee on ,homeland ,security1  
and in addition to the ,committee on    
,transportation and ,infrastructure1 for
 a period to be subsequently determined 
by the ,speaker1 in each case for       
consideration of such provisions as fall
 within the jurisdiction of the         
committee concerned  ,a ,,bill  ,to     
amend the ,homeland ,security ,act of   
#bjjb to direct the ,secretary of       
,homeland ,security to modernize and    
implement the national integrated public
 alert and warning system to disseminate
 homeland security information and other
 information1 and for other purposes4   
#a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited
 as the ,integrated ,public ,alert and  
,warning ,system ,modernization ,act of 
#bjac4  #b4 ,findings ,congress finds   
that-- 7#a7 numerous proven and tested  

technologies exist to enable the        
,federal ,government to enhance its     
dissemination of public alerts and      
warnings2  7#b7 the expected benefits of
 these enhancements include-- 7,a7      
greater security1 reliability1 and      
redundancy of the ,federal ,government's
 alert and warning capabilities2  7,b7  
rapid alert dissemination2  7,c7 an     
improved ability to notify remote       
locations2 and  7,d7 the ability to     
geographically target and deliver alerts
 and warnings through multiple          
communication modes2  7#c7 there is a   
need to test the viability of delivering
 messages through diverse communications
 modes to effectively alert and warn the
 public2  7#d7 there is a need to       
modernize and improve the ability of the
 ,federal ,government to provide        
residents of the ,united ,states with   
timely and effective warnings2 and  7#e7
 although significant ,federal          
integration efforts are underway1 the   
aggregation1 dissemination1 and         

reporting system necessary for effective
 public alert and warning will require  
an integrated national network for      
reliable1 secure1 and authentic         
dissemination of emergency alerts and   
warnings by ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and
 tribal entities that are authorized to 
issue alerts to the public4  #c4        
national integrated public alert and    
warning system modernization  7a7 ,in   
general  7#a7 ,amendment ,title ,v of   
the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb   
7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #caa et seq47 is amended  
by adding at the end of the following   
new section3  #ebf4 ,national integrated
 public alert and warning system        
modernization  7a7 ,in general ,in order
 to provide timely and effective        
warnings and disseminate homeland       
security information and other          
information1 the ,secretary shall1      
considering the recommendations of the  
advisory committee established under    
subsection 7d71 modernize and implement 
the national integrated public alert and

 warning system 7in this section        
referred to as the public alert and     
warning system74  7b7 ,implementation   
requirements ,in carrying out subsection
 7a71 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7       
establish or adapt1 as appropriate1     
common alerting and warning protocols1  
standards1 terminology1 and operating   
procedures for the public alert and     
warning system2  7#b7 include in the    
public alert and warning system the     
capability to adapt the dissemination of
 homeland security information and other
 information and the content of         
communications on the basis of          
geographic location1 risks1 or personal 
user preferences1 as appropriate2  7#c7 
include in the public alert and warning 
system the capability to alert1 warn1   
and provide the equivalent amount of    
information to individuals with         
disabilities and access and functional  
needs2  7#d7 ensure the conduct of      
training1 tests1 and exercises for the  
public alert and warning system1 and    

that the system is incorporated into    
other training and exercise programs of 
the ,department1 as appropriate2  7#e7  
ensure that ongoing training1 integrated
 into the ,national ,incident           
,management ,system1 for receiving and  
disseminating public alert and warning  
system messages utilizing advanced      
technologies is provided to ,state1     
local1 tribal1 and other homeland       
security stakeholders involved in the   
transmission of such messages2  7#f7    
ensure that the public alert and warning
 system uses the ,national ,terrorism   
,advisory ,system1 including ensuring   
that the ,national ,terrorism ,advisory 
,system participates in tests of the    
public alert and warning system2  7#g7  
conduct1 at least once every #c years1  
periodic nationwide tests of the public 
alert and warning system2 and  7#h7     
consult1 coordinate1 and cooperate1 to  
the extent practicable1 with other      
,federal agencies and departments and   
with ,state1 local1 and tribal          

governments1 the private sector1 and    
other key stakeholders to leverage      
existing alert and warning capabilities4
  7c7 ,system requirements ,the         
,secretary shall ensure that the        
system-- 7#a7 incorporates redundant and
 diverse modes to disseminate homeland  
security information and other          
information in warning messages to the  
public so as to reach the greatest      
number of individuals2  7#b7 can be     
adapted to incorporate future           
technologies2  7#c7 is resilient1       
secure1 and can withstand acts of       
terrorism and other external attacks2   
7#d7 promotes ,state1 local1 tribal1 and
 regional partnerships to enhance       
coordination2  7#e7 is designed to      
provide alerts that are accessible to   
the largest portion of the affected     
population feasible1 including          
nonresident visitors and tourists and   
individuals with disabilities and access
 and functional needs2  7#f7 is designed
 to improve the ability of remote areas 

and areas with underdeveloped           
telecommunications infrastructure to    
receive alerts2 and  7#g7 includes      
mechanisms to ensure the protection of  
individual privacy4  7d7 ,integrated    
public alert and warning system         
modernization advisory committee  7#a7  
,establishment ,not later than #ij days 
after the date of enactment of the      
,integrated ,public ,alert and ,warning 
,system ,modernization ,act of #bjac1   
the ,secretary shall establish an       
advisory committee to be known as the   
,integrated ,public ,alert and ,warning 
,system ,advisory ,committee 7in this   
subsection referred to as the ,advisory 
,committee74  7#b7 ,membership ,the     
,advisory ,committee shall be composed  
of the following members3 7,a7 ,the     
,chairman of the ,federal               
,communications ,commission 7or the     
,chairman's designee74  7,b7 ,the       
,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic
 and ,atmospheric ,administration 7or   
the ,administrator's designee74  7,c7   

,the ,assistant ,secretary for          
,communications and ,information of the 
,department of ,commerce 7or the        
,assistant ,secretary's designee74  7,d7
 ,the ,under ,secretary for ,science and
 ,technology of the ,department of      
,homeland ,security4  7,e7 ,the         
,director of the ,office of ,disability 
,integration and ,coordination of the   
,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency4
  7,f7 ,the following members1 to be    
appointed by the ,secretary as soon as  
practicable after the date of enactment 
of the ,integrated ,public ,alert and   
,warning ,system ,modernization ,act of 
#bjac3 7i7 ,representatives of ,state   
and local governments1 representatives  
of emergency management agencies1       
representatives of emergency response   
providers1 and representatives of       
emergency communication providers1      
selected from among individuals         
nominated by national organizations     
representing governments and personnel4 
7ii7 ,representatives from federally    

recognized ,indian tribes and national  
,indian organizations4  7iii7           
,individuals who have the requisite     
technical knowledge and expertise to    
serve on the ,advisory ,committee1      
including representatives of-- 7,i7     
communications service providers2       
7,,ii7 vendors1 developers1 and         
manufacturers of systems1 facilities1   
equipment1 and capabilities for the     
provision of communications services2   
7,,iii7 third-party service bureaus2    
7,,iv7 the broadcasting industry2  7,v7 
the cellular industry2  7,,vi7 the cable
 industry2  7,,vii7 the satellite       
industry2  7,,viii7 national            
organizations representing individuals  
with disabilities and access and        
functional needs1 and the elderly2 and  
7,,ix7 national organizations           
representing educational institutions1  
including higher education4  7iv7       
,qualified representatives of such other
 stakeholders and interested and        
affected parties as the ,secretary      

considers appropriate4  7#c7            
,chairperson ,the ,secretary 7or the    
,secretary's designee7 shall serve as   
the ,chairperson of the ,advisory       
,committee4  7#d7 ,meetings  7,a7       
,initial meeting ,the initial meeting of
 the ,advisory ,committee shall take    
place not later than #abj days after the
 date of enactment of the ,integrated   
,public ,alert and ,warning ,system     
,modernization ,act of #bjac4  7,b7     
,other meetings ,after the initial      
meeting1 the ,advisory ,committee shall 
meet1 at least annually1 at the call of 
the ,chairperson4  7,c7 ,notice2 open   
meetings ,meetings held by the ,advisory
 ,committee shall be duly noticed at    
least #ad days in advance and shall be  
open to the public4  7#e7 ,rules ,the   
,advisory ,committee may adopt such     
rules as are necessary to carry out its 
duties4  7#f7 ,consultation with        
nonmembers ,the ,advisory ,committee and
 the program office for the integrated  
public alert and warning system of the  

,united ,states shall regularly meet    
with groups that are not represented on 
the ,advisory ,committee to consider new
 and developing technology that may be  
beneficial to the public alert and      
warning system1 such as-- 7,a7 the      
,defense ,advanced ,research ,projects  
,agency2  7,b7 entities engaged in      
federally funded research2 and  7,c7    
academic institutions engaged in        
relevant work and research4  7#g7       
,recommendations ,the ,advisory         
,committee shall develop and submit in  
the annual reports under paragraph 7#h7 
recommendations for the continuation and
 improvement of an integrated public    
alert and warning system1 including--   
7,a7 recommendations for common alerting
 and warning protocols1 standards1      
terminology1 and operating procedures   
for the public alert and warning system2
  7,b7 an assessment of the             
accomplishments and deficiencies of the 
public alert and warning system1 as well
 as the impact on current alert and     

warning systems2  7,c7 recommendations  
for increasing participation in the     
system1 particularly among elementary1  
secondary1 and higher education         
institutions2 and  7,d7 recommendations 
for improvements to the system1         
including recommendations to provide for
 a public alert and warning system      
that-- 7i7 has the capability to adapt  
the distribution and content of         
communications on the basis of          
geographic location1 risks1 multiple    
communication systems and technologies  
or personal user preferences1 as        
appropriate2  7ii7 has the capability to
 alert and warn individuals with        
disabilities and access and functional  
needs and individuals with limited      
,english proficiency2  7iii7            
incorporates multiple communications    
technologies2  7iv7 is designed to adapt
 to1 and incorporate1 future            
technologies for communicating directly 
with the public2  7v7 encourages proper 
use by ,state and local governments of  

the public alert and warning system     
through training programs and other     
means2  7vi7 is designed to provide     
alerts to the largest portion of the    
affected population feasible1 including 
nonresident visitors and tourists1 and  
improve the ability of remote areas to  
receive alerts2  7vii7 promotes local   
and regional public and private         
partnerships to enhance community       
preparedness and response2  7viii7      
promotes the participation of           
representatives from underserved and    
underrepresented communities1 to ensure 
that alerts and warnings reach such     
populations2 and  7ix7 provides         
redundant alert mechanisms where        
practicable so as to reach the greatest 
number of people regardless of whether  
they have access to1 or utilize1 any    
specific medium of communication or any 
particular device4  7#h7 ,report ,not   
later than #a year after the date of    
enactment of the ,integrated ,public    
,alert and ,warning ,system             

,modernization ,act of #bjac1 and every 
year after1 the ,advisory ,committee    
shall submit to the ,secretary a report 
containing the recommendations of the   
,advisory ,committee4  7#i7 ,federal    
,advisory ,committee ,act ,neither the  
,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e  
,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 nor any rule1 order1 or
 regulation promulgated under that ,act 
shall apply to the ,advisory ,committee4
  7e7 ,report ,not later than #a year   
after the date on which the system      
established under subsection 7a7 is     
fully functional and every six months   
thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit 
to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security
 of the ,house of ,representatives and  
the ,committee on ,homeland ,security   
and ,governmental ,affairs of the       
,senate1 a report on the functionality  
and performance of the integrated public
 alert and warning system1 including--  
7#a7 the findings of the most recent    
,advisory ,committee report under       
subsection 7d77#h72  7#b7 an assessment 

of the accomplishments and deficiencies 
of the system2  7#c7 recommendations for
 improvements to the system2 and  7#d7  
information on the feasibility and      
effectiveness of disseminating homeland 
security information and other          
information1 notices1 and alerts prior  
to and following an incident requiring  
use of the system4  7f7 ,authorization  
of appropriations ,there is authorized  
to be appropriated to the ,secretary to 
carry out this section #ac1djj1jjj for  
each of fiscal years #bjad and #bjae4  4
  7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of
 contents in section #a7;b7 of such ,act
 is amended by adding at the end of the 
items relating to such title the        
following3  ,sec4 #ebf4 ,national       
integrated public alert and warning     
system modernization4  4  7b7           
,limitation on statutory construction   
7#a7 ,in general ,nothing in this ,act  
7including the amendment made by this   
,act7 shall be construed-- 7,a7 to      
affect the authority of the ,department 

of ,commerce1 the authority of the      
,federal ,communications ,commission1 or
 the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster    
,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaba et seq472  7,b7 to 
provide the ,secretary of ,homeland     
,security authority to require any      
action by the ,federal ,communications  
,commission1 the ,department of         
,commerce1 or any nongovernment entity1 
or to affect any existing obligations of
 those entities2 or  7,c7 to apply to1  
or provide the ,administrator of the    
,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency 
any authority over1 any participating   
commercial mobile service provider4     
7#b7 ,participating commercial mobile   
service provider defined ,for purposes  
of this subsection1 the term            
participating commercial mobile service 
provider has the same meaning as such   
term has in section #aj4aj7;f7 of title 
#dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 as 
in effect on the date of the enactment  
of this ,act4  7c7 ,homeland security   

grants ,section #bjjh7;a7 of the        
,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7#f   
,u4,s4,c4 #fji7;a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in
 paragraph 7#ab71 by striking and at the
 end2  7#b7 by redesignating paragraph  
7#ac7 as paragraph 7#ad72 and  7#c7 by  
inserting after paragraph 7#ab7 the     
following new paragraph3  7#ac7         
improving public alert and warning      
capabilities2 and  4