[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3310 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3310

To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a study on how 
to improve training and support for local emergency response providers 
in areas with high concentrations of covered chemical facilities in how 
        to respond to a terrorist attack on a chemical facility.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 18, 2019

 Ms. Jackson Lee introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce, 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 direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a study on how 
to improve training and support for local emergency response providers 
in areas with high concentrations of covered chemical facilities in how 
        to respond to a terrorist attack on a chemical facility.

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

SECTION 1. STUDY ON LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE CAPACITY TO RESPOND TO 
              CHEMICAL SECURITY INCIDENTS.

    (a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting 
through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, shall conduct a 
study on how to improve training and support for local emergency 
response providers in areas with high concentrations of covered 
chemical facilities in how to respond to a terrorist attack on a 
chemical facility.
    (b) Features.--In carrying out the study required under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall consider, as appropriate--
            (1) the degree to which jurisdictions with high 
        concentrations of covered chemical facilities have fire, 
        police, medical, and other response personnel trained and 
        equipped to respond to a terrorist attack on a chemical 
        facility and have--
                    (A) evacuation and shelter in place protocols 
                tailored to the unique needs of the jurisdiction and 
                the chemical properties of chemicals of interest that 
                would be involved in the attack and that take into 
                consideration vulnerable populations, including 
                schools, child care centers, nursing facilities, and 
                hospitals;
                    (B) community notification and warning systems; and
                    (C) surge capacities of hospitals and other health 
                care facilities in the area;
            (2) what, if any, distinctions are there in preparedness 
        for a terrorist attack on a chemical facility in jurisdictions 
        that rely on volunteers to carry out fire, police, medical and 
        other response and jurisdictions that do not rely, in whole or 
        in part, on volunteers; and
            (3) all training, equipment, and support provided by the 
        Department of Homeland Security to local emergency response 
        providers in areas with a high concentration of covered 
        chemical facilities and chemical facilities of interest.
    (c) Survey.--In carrying out the study required under subsection 
(a), the Secretary may partner with a non-Departmental entity for the 
survey of a representative sample of emergency response providers in 
areas with a high concentration of covered chemical facilities, 
chemical facilities of interest, or other facilities with large 
quantities of chemicals.
    (d) Report.--No later than two years from the date on which the 
Secretary commences the study required under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress the study, accompanied by plans, as 
appropriate, to--
            (1) improve the Department's counterterrorism preparedness 
        and response planning, training, and equipment efforts to 
        ensure that they are better tailored and resourced to address 
        the unique needs of local emergency response providers in areas 
        with a high concentration of covered chemical facilities and 
        chemical facilities of interest; and
            (2) improve coordination among Federal, State, local, 
        tribal, and territorial government officials in emergency 
        planning and response in areas with high concentrations of 
        covered chemical facilities, chemical facilities of interest, 
        or other facilities with large quantities of hazardous 
        chemicals.
    (e) Public Availability.--The report required under this section 
shall be made publicly available, but may include a classified annex.
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