[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4153 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 621
116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4153

                          [Report No. 116-318]

  To require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to evaluate the 
National Response Framework based on lessons learned from the COVID-19 
                   pandemic, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              July 2, 2020

  Mr. Johnson introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

                           December 14, 2020

               Reported by Mr. Johnson, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to evaluate the 
National Response Framework based on lessons learned from the COVID-19 
                   pandemic, and for other purposes.

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

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``National Response Framework 
Improvement Act of 2020''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. EVALUATION OF NATIONAL RESPONSE FRAMEWORK.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency (referred to in this Act as the ``Administrator''), 
acting through the National Integration Center, shall conduct an 
initial evaluation of the National Response Framework of the Department 
of Homeland Security to determine whether there are any gaps or 
inefficiencies in the Framework based on the response to the COVID-19 
pandemic.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Requirements.--After conducting the evaluation 
required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in accordance with section 509(b)(2) of the 
        Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 319(b)(2)), update the 
        National Response Framework, in coordination with the heads of 
        the primary and support agencies of the emergency support 
        functions, based on the gaps or inefficiencies identified 
        through the evaluation;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) provide recommendations on actions relevant 
        agencies can take to address gaps identified through the 
        evaluation; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) conduct an additional evaluation as part of 
        the after-action review process of the Federal Emergency 
        Management Agency.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. INTERAGENCY INFORMATION SHARING.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) evaluate the processes for collecting and 
        sharing information across the primary and support agencies of 
        the emergency support functions during an incident for which 
        the emergency support functions are activated under the 
        National Response Framework;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) provide recommendations to the heads of the 
        primary and support agencies of emergency support functions for 
        how to improve processes under paragraph (1); and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) update the National Response Framework to 
        account for new information collection and sharing processes 
        that result from the evaluation and recommendations under 
        paragraphs (1) and (2).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Coordination.--In evaluating the processes required 
under subsection (a)(1), the Administrator shall coordinate with the 
head of each emergency support function coordinator and the heads of 
primary and support agencies of the emergency support 
functions.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Modifications.--The Administrator may make 
modifications to the processes incorporated into the National Response 
Framework under subsection (a)(3) during an incident in which the 
emergency support functions are activated under the National Response 
Framework if the Administrator determines such modifications are 
necessary to ensure efficient communication and information 
sharing.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. TRAINING.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Evaluation of Training Program.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) conduct an assessment of the training programs 
        for primary and support agencies of the emergency support 
        functions under the National Response Network that are in 
        effect on the date of enactment of this Act; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) provide recommendations to the heads of the 
        primary and support agencies of emergency support functions for 
        how to improve the training programs described in paragraph 
        (1).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Annual Training.--The Administrator shall, on an 
annual basis and in coordination with the heads of primary and support 
agencies of the emergency support functions under the National Response 
Framework, provide training on enhancements or updates made to the 
National Response Framework.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 5. REQUIRED BRIEFING.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall brief the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the 
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives on--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the evaluation conducted under section 2, 
        including the updates made to the National Response Framework 
        and the recommendations required under section 2(b);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the evaluation and recommendations developed 
        under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 3(a); and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) the training program required to be 
        established under section 4, including information relating to 
        how frequently training is offered and the attendance of the 
        training by employees of relevant agencies.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Notification.--The Administrator shall provide notice 
to Congress on any technology system updates that develop after the 
briefing required under subsection (a) that may impact information 
sharing efforts across the emergency support functions.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Response Framework 
Improvement Act of 2020''.

SEC. 2. ROLLING SUMMARIES OF NATIONAL RESPONSE FRAMEWORK.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and as frequently thereafter as the 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (referred to 
in this Act as the ``Administrator'') determines appropriate until the 
date on which the first biennial evaluation required under subparagraph 
(D) of section 509(b)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
319(b)(2)), as added by section 4 of this Act, is submitted, the 
Administrator shall provide not less than 1 summary on any gaps or 
inefficiencies in the National Response Framework of the Department of 
Homeland Security based on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic to--
            (1) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
        Affairs of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
        Representatives.
    (b) Requirements.--After the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, as part 
of the after-action review process of the COVID-19 pandemic by the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Administrator shall conduct an 
evaluation of the National Response Framework, which shall include--
            (1) any updates, as determined necessary by the 
        Administrator, to the National Response Framework, in 
        coordination with the heads of the primary and support agencies 
        of the emergency support functions, based on the gaps or 
        inefficiencies identified through the evaluation; and
            (2) recommendations on actions relevant agencies can take 
        to address gaps identified through the evaluation.

SEC. 3. REQUIRED BRIEFINGS.

    The Administrator shall brief the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland 
Security of the House of Representatives on each summary required to be 
provided under section 2(a) not later than 1 year after the date on 
which the summary is provided.

SEC. 4. BIENNIAL EVALUATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 509(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 
2002 (6 U.S.C. 319(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) not less frequently than once every 2 years--
                            ``(i) evaluating potential gaps and 
                        inefficiencies in the National Response 
                        Framework, including by evaluating the 
                        processes for collecting and sharing 
                        information across the emergency support 
                        function coordinators, primary agencies, and 
                        support agencies during an incident for which 
                        the emergency support functions are activated 
                        under the National Response Framework;
                            ``(ii) providing recommendations to the 
                        heads of the emergency support function 
                        coordinators, primary agencies, and support 
                        agencies for how to improve processes described 
                        in clause (i);
                            ``(iii) updating the National Response 
                        Framework to account for new information 
                        collection and sharing processes that result 
                        from the evaluation and recommendations under 
                        clauses (i) and (ii), including by modifying 
                        any previously incorporated processes if the 
                        Administrator determines such modifications are 
                        necessary to ensure efficient communication and 
                        information sharing;
                            ``(iv) conducting an assessment of the 
                        training programs for emergency support 
                        function coordinators, primary agencies, and 
                        support agencies; and
                            ``(v) providing recommendations to the 
                        heads of the emergency support function 
                        coordinators, primary agencies, and support 
                        agencies of emergency support functions for how 
                        to improve the training programs described in 
                        clause (iv).''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Congressional notification.--Not later than 30 days 
        after the date on which the Administrator, acting through the 
        National Integration Center, completes an evaluation required 
        under paragraph (2)(D), the Administrator shall provide written 
        notice to the appropriate congressional committees.''.
    (b) After-action Evaluation.--For purposes of the biennial 
evaluation required under subparagraph (D) of section 509(b)(2) of the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 319(b)(2)), as added by 
subsection (a) of this section, if the evaluation required under 
section 2(b)(3) of this Act is completed during the 2-year period 
following the date of enactment of this Act, the evaluation shall be 
considered to fulfill the biennial evaluation requirement in 
subparagraph (D) of such section 509(b)(2) for the first 2-year period 
after the date of enactment of this Act.
                                                       Calendar No. 621

116th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 4153

                          [Report No. 116-318]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

  To require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to evaluate the 
National Response Framework based on lessons learned from the COVID-19 
                   pandemic, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           December 14, 2020

                       Reported with an amendment