[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3517 Introduced in House (IH)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3517

   To amend title 36, United States Code to enhance oversight of the 
American National Red Cross by the Government Accountability Office and 
 Inspectors General at the Departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, 
and State, and require the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a 
  pilot program with the American National Red Cross to research and 
 develop mechanisms for the Department to better leverage social media 
   to improve preparedness and response capabilities, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 16, 2015

 Mr. Thompson of Mississippi introduced the following bill; which was 
 referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the 
Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and 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 title 36, United States Code to enhance oversight of the 
American National Red Cross by the Government Accountability Office and 
 Inspectors General at the Departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, 
and State, and require the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a 
  pilot program with the American National Red Cross to research and 
 develop mechanisms for the Department to better leverage social media 
   to improve preparedness and response capabilities, 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``American Red Cross Sunshine Act''.

SEC. 2. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE OVERSIGHT.

    Section 300111 of title 36, United States Code, is amended to read 
as follows:
``Sec. 300111. Authority of the Comptroller General of the United 
              States
    ``(a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States is 
authorized to review the corporation's involvement in any Federal 
program or activity the Government carries out under law, including any 
program or activity that the corporation carries out in connection with 
events for which the Government provides leadership or support under 
the national preparedness system established under section 644 of the 
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007 (6 U.S.C. 
744), or any successor system.
    ``(b) Access.--For purposes of carrying out this section, the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall have access to and the 
right to examine and copy all records and other recorded information, 
electronic or otherwise, within the possession or control of the 
corporation that the Comptroller General determines relevant to a 
review authorized under subsection (a), including such records and 
other recorded information pertaining to the corporation's financial 
transactions and internal governance. The Comptroller General shall be 
provided access, and be permitted to interview, any employee or 
volunteer of the corporation who the Comptroller General believes to 
have knowledge relevant to such a review.
    ``(c) Enforcement.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United 
        States may subpoena a record of the American National Red Cross 
        or subpoena an employee of the American National Red Cross to 
        appear for an interview when the record or employee is not made 
        available to the Comptroller General upon request under this 
        section. A subpoena shall identify the record or employee, and 
        may be issued by the Comptroller General. The Comptroller 
        General may have an individual serve a subpoena under this 
        subsection by delivering a copy to the chief executive officer 
        of the American National Red Cross or by mailing a copy of the 
        subpoena by certified or registered mail, return receipt 
        requested, to its principal place of business. Proof of service 
        is shown by a verified return by the individual serving the 
        subpoena that states how the subpoena was served or by the 
        return receipt signed by the person served.
            ``(2) Action.--If the American National Red Cross does not 
        comply with a subpoena issued under paragraph (1), the 
        Comptroller General of the United States, acting through an 
        attorney the Comptroller General designates in writing, may 
        bring a civil action in the district court of the United States 
        for the District of Columbia to require it to produce the 
        record or employee that is the subject of such subpoena. The 
        court shall have jurisdiction of such action and may punish a 
        failure to obey an order of the court under this subsection as 
        a contempt of court.''.

SEC. 3. INTERNAL REPORTING AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION.

    Subsection (a) of section 300112 of title 36, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) Establishment.--The corporation shall establish an Office of 
the Ombudsman to enhance dispute resolution regarding concerns raised 
to the Office of the Ombudsman by internal and external stakeholders 
regarding the corporation, regularly report to the board of governors 
information on trends and patterns on concerns communicated to the 
Office of the Ombudsman regarding the corporation, and carry out such 
other duties and responsibilities as may be provided in the bylaws or a 
resolution of the board of governors.''.

SEC. 4. INSPECTORS GENERAL OVERSIGHT.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 3001 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sections:
``Sec. 300114. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration audit
    ``Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
section, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration shall 
conduct an audit of the corporation's revenues, expenditures, and 
governance not less often than once every three years. Such audit shall 
be posted on the website of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax 
Administration. In carrying out this section, the Treasury Inspector 
General for Tax Administration shall coordinate activities to maximize 
the effectiveness of oversight activities, avoid unnecessary 
duplication of efforts, and minimize administrative burdens on the 
corporation.
``Sec. 300115. Department of Homeland Security Inspector General audit
    ``Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this 
section, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security 
shall evaluate the performance of the corporation's disaster assistance 
services pursuant to paragraph (4) of section 300102, including 
services provided in connection with the national preparedness system 
established under section 644 of the Department of Homeland Security 
Appropriations Act, 2007 (6 U.S.C. 744), or any successor system, not 
less often than once every three years. Such audit shall be posted on 
the website of the Inspector General. In carrying out this section, the 
Inspector General shall coordinate activities to maximize the 
effectiveness of oversight activities, avoid unnecessary duplication of 
efforts, and minimize administrative burdens on the corporation.
``Sec. 300116. United States Agency for International Development 
              Inspector General audit
    ``Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of 
this section, the Inspector General of the United States Agency for 
International Development shall evaluate the performance of the 
corporation's international activities not less often than once every 
three years. Such audit shall be posted on the website of the Inspector 
General. In carrying out this section, the Inspector General shall 
coordinate activities to maximize the effectiveness of oversight 
activities, avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts, and minimize 
administrative burdens on the corporation.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of chapter 3001 of 
title 36 is amended by adding at the end the following new items:

``300114. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
``300115. Department of Homeland Security Inspector General audit.
``300116. United States Agency for International Development Inspector 
                            General audit.''.

SEC. 5. ACCESSING THE OMBUDSMAN.

    Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the American National Red Cross shall make prominent on its website 
information on how to submit to the Office of the Ombudsman of the 
American National Red Cross concerns about the organization, including 
concerns related to the administration of its programs, policies, 
fundraising activities, advertising messages, and employment practices.

SEC. 6. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through 
the Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of 
Homeland Security, shall conduct a one-year pilot program with the 
American National Red Cross to research and develop mechanisms for the 
Department to better leverage social media to improve preparedness and 
response capabilities, including the following:
            (1) The timely dissemination of public preparedness 
        information for terrorist attacks and other disasters.
            (2) The delivery of response supplies to affected areas.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after completion of the pilot 
program required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the lessons learned from 
such pilot program and any plan to integrate such lessons into 
operations of the Department of Homeland Security.

SEC. 7. ANNUAL REPORT.

    On an annual basis, together with the President's submission of a 
budget request under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the 
Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on 
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on 
the extent to which the Department of Homeland Security partnered with 
the American National Red Cross in furtherance of preparedness and 
response capabilities in the previous year.

SEC. 8. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act may be 
construed as hindering, reducing, impeding, or otherwise impacting the 
ability of a State to conduct oversight or investigations of the 
American National Red Cross.
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