II 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1630 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 7, 2005 Mr. Obama introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish the National Emergency Family Locator System.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Emergency Family Locator Act.

2.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Department

The term Department means the Department of Homeland Security. (2)

Emergency

The term emergency has the meaning given the term in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122). (3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Homeland Security. (4)

System

The term System means the National Emergency Family Locator System established under section 3(a).

3.

National Emergency Family Locator System

(a)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish within the Department the National Family Locator System. (b)

Purposes

The purposes of the System are— (1)to enable individuals displaced by an emergency to provide to the Department the name and location of the displaced individuals and any other relevant information using the telephone, the Internet, and other means determined to be appropriate by the Secretary; and (2)to enable the Department— (A)to compile the information collected under paragraph (1); and (B)to provide the information collected and compiled under the System to the family members of the displaced individuals and law enforcement officials. (c)

Considerations

In establishing the System under subsection (a), the Secretary shall take into account and, to the maximum extent practicable, incorporate into the System— (1)intermediary-based locator systems such as the National Next of Kin Registry; and (2)information from existing family locator databases, such as the Family News Network of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

4.

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.