[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2101 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2101
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of
Homeland Security to develop and implement the READICall emergency
alert system.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 4, 2005
Mr. Meek of Florida (for himself, Mrs. McCarthy, Ms. Loretta Sanchez of
California, Mr. Ford, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Gonzalez, Ms. Slaughter, Ms.
Norton, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr. Towns, Ms. Corrine Brown of
Florida, Mrs. Lowey, and Mr. Thompson of Mississippi) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 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 the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of
Homeland Security to develop and implement the READICall emergency
alert system.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. READICALL EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM.
(a) In General.--Title V of the Homeland Security Act of 2002
(Public Law 107-296; 6 U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``SEC. 510. READICALL EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM.
``(a) In General.--As soon as is practicable, but not later than 1
year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary,
working in coordination with appropriate Federal agencies, State, and
local domestic security agencies, and national private sector networks
and infrastructure, shall develop and implement an emergency telephonic
alert notification system which shall be known as the Responsive
Emergency Alert and Dissemination of Information Call System or
READICall System.
``(b) Functions.--The System shall be designed--
``(1) to alert persons in the United States of imminent or
current hazardous events caused by an act of terrorism, any
other man-made disaster, any natural disaster, or any
combination of the foregoing; and
``(2) to provide information to individuals regarding
appropriate measures that may be undertaken to alleviate or
minimize threats to their safety and welfare posed by such
events.
``(c) Coordination and Collaboration.--In implementing this
section, the Secretary shall--
``(1) to the maximum extent possible, make use of national
private sector networks, technology, personnel, and
infrastructure to develop and implement the System;
``(2) develop coordinated infrastructure for the System, in
collaboration with the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
Communications and Information, the national telecommunications
and teleservices industries, and other Federal, State, and
local governmental agencies as may be necessary, that--
``(A) uses the full range of available
telecomunications technology; and
``(B) will be able to--
``(i) provide immediate notification and
warning upon approval by the Secretary, via
telephone to all telephone subscribers within
the United States and its territories in the
event of an act of terrorism, any other man-
made disaster, any natural disaster, or any
combination of the foregoing;
``(ii) target specific regions,
communities, neighborhoods, or locations of
emergent local crises and provide notification
and warning to just the affected areas if
appropriate;
``(iii) to the extent possible, provide for
a distinct ring so that telephone subscribers
are immediately aware of the emergency nature
of the call; and
``(iv) disseminate necessary information to
a telephone subscriber related to the emergency
situation and appropriate courses of action to
take; and
``(3) in developing the System, undertake a collaborative
effort between the Department and other Federal agencies,
State, and local domestic security agencies, and organizations
of first responders, so that--
``(A) the System will allow for necessary
interoperability between different sources of terrorist
threat information;
``(B) the System will allow for the immediate
dissemination of information both laterally and
horizontally, such that information can be provided
from all levels of governmental sources; and
``(C) appropriate standards, protocols, procedures,
and terminology are determined to minimize
inconsistencies and miscommunication with intelligence
information, including appropriate definitions for
situations that would constitute a threat for which the
System would be used.
``(d) Authorities.--The Secretary may conduct research and pilot
programs as may be necessary to determine and improve the effectiveness
of the System.
``(e) Reports to Congress.--The Secretary shall submit a report to
the Congress on the status of the System--
``(1) by not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act; and
``(2) yearly thereafter.
``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) System.--The term `System' means the Responsive
Emergency Alert and Dissemination of Information Call System or
READICall System established under this section.
``(2) Telephone subscriber.--The term `telephone
subscriber' means any residents of the United States (including
territories of the United States) who receives telephone
service via a traditional residential telephone, business
telephone, or wireless telephone.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of
such Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 509
the following:
``510. READICall emergency alert system.''.
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