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HR 6038 110th Congress House Emergency Management Disabled Disasters Emergency communication systems Government Operations and Politics Illiteracy Information technology Regional planning Science, Technology, Communications

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2008

Introduced: May 13, 2008 Introduced by: Graves, Sam Republican · Missouri See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 14, 2008
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
May 13, 2008
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
May 13, 2008
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2008 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to direct the President, acting through the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to: (1) modernize and implement the integrated U.S. public alert and warning system to ensure that the President can alert governmental authorities and the civilian population in areas endangered by disasters under all conditions; (2) assign to the National Continuity Programs Directorate responsibility for advising on system modernization and implementation; (3) establish or adopt common alerting and warning protocols, standards, terminology, and operating procedures; (4) include in such system the capability to adapt the distribution and content of communications on the basis of geographic location, risks, or personal user preferences and to alert individuals with disabilities or limited English proficiency; and (5) ensure the conduct of training, tests, and exercises.

Requires the system to: (1) incorporate multiple communications technologies; (2) be designed to adapt to and incorporate future technologies for communicating directly with the public; (3) be designed to provide alerts to the largest portion of the affected population feasible and improve the ability of remote areas to receive alerts; (4) promote local and regional partnerships to enhance community preparedness and response; and (5) provide redundant alert mechanisms.

Requires the Director to conduct pilot programs to demonstrate the feasibility of using a variety of methods for achieving system requirements.

What's happening now May 14, 2008

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2