[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1178 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1178


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 13, 2009

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
                        and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
  To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a 
study on the use of Civil Air Patrol personnel and resources to support 
          homeland security missions, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. CIVIL AIR PATROL STUDY.

    (a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study of the functions and capabilities of the Civil Air 
Patrol to support the homeland security missions of State, local, and 
tribal governments and the Department of Homeland Security. In 
conducting the study, the Comptroller General shall review the process 
by which the Civil Air Patrol may provide assistance to the Secretary 
of Homeland Security, other Federal agencies, and States to support 
homeland security missions by--
            (1) providing aerial reconnaissance or communications 
        capabilities for border security;
            (2) providing capabilities for collective response to an 
        act of terrorism, natural disaster, or other man-made event by 
        assisting in damage assessment and situational awareness, 
        conducting search and rescue operations, assisting in 
        evacuations, transporting time-sensitive medical or other 
        materials;
            (3) providing assistance in the exercise and training of 
        departmental resources responsible for the intercept of 
        aviation threats to designated restricted areas; and
            (4) carrying out such other activities as may be determined 
        appropriate by the Comptroller General in the conduct of this 
        review.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, the Committees on Homeland Security and 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate a report containing the findings of the review conducted under 
subsection (a). The report shall include--
            (1) an assessment of the feasibility and cost effectiveness 
        of using Civil Air Patrol assets for the purposes described in 
        subsection (a); and
            (2) an assessment as to whether the current mechanisms for 
        Federal agencies and States to request support from the Civil 
        Air Patrol are sufficient or whether new agreements between 
        relevant Federal agencies and the Civil Air Patrol are 
        necessary.
    (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
receipt of the report under subsection (b), the Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall review and analyze the study and submit to the 
Committees on Homeland Security and Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on such review and 
analysis, which shall include any recommendations of the Secretary for 
further action that could affect the organization and administration of 
the Department of Homeland Security.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 12, 2009.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.