[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8574 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8574

To establish an interagency committee on global catastrophic risk, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 28, 2022

 Mr. McCaul (for himself and Ms. Titus) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
 Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 
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 establish an interagency committee on global catastrophic risk, 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 ``Global Catastrophic Risk Management 
Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Basic need.--The term ``basic need''--
                    (A) means any good, service, or activity necessary 
                to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of 
                the civilian population of the United States; and
                    (B) includes--
                            (i) food;
                            (ii) water;
                            (iii) shelter;
                            (iv) basic communication services; and
                            (v) public safety.
            (2) Catastrophic incident.--The term ``catastrophic 
        incident'' means an incident, whether caused by human or 
        natural events, in which multiple levels of United States 
        critical infrastructure are destroyed, damaged or interrupted 
        in sufficient magnitude to threaten the health, safety, or 
        general welfare of the civilian population of the United 
        States.
            (3) Committee.--The term ``committee'' means the 
        interagency committee on global catastrophic risk established 
        under section 3.
            (4) Critical infrastructure.--The term ``critical 
        infrastructure'' has the meaning given the term in section 
        1016(e) of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2001 
        (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)).
            (5) Existential risk.--The term ``existential risk'' means 
        the risk of human extinction.
            (6) Global catastrophic risk.--The term ``global 
        catastrophic risk'' means the risk of events or incidents 
        consequential enough to significantly harm, set back, or 
        destroy human civilization at the global scale.
            (7) Global catastrophic and existential threats.--The term 
        ``global catastrophic and existential threats'' means those 
        threats that with varying likelihood can produce consequences 
        severe enough to result in significant harm or destruction of 
        human civilization at the global scale, or lead to human 
        extinction. Examples of global catastrophic and existential 
        threats include severe global pandemics, nuclear war, asteroid 
        and comet impacts, supervolcanoes, sudden and severe changes to 
        the climate, and intentional or accidental threats arising from 
        the use and development of emerging technologies.
            (8) National exercise.--The term ``national exercise'' 
        means a national exercise described in section 648(b) of the 
        Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 
        748(b)).
            (9) Tribal government.--The term ``Tribal government'' 
        means the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska 
        Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community, 
        component band, or component reservation, that is individually 
        identified (including parenthetically) in the most recent list 
        published pursuant to section 104 of the Federally Recognized 
        Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).

SEC. 3. INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON GLOBAL CATASTROPHIC RISK.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the President shall establish an interagency 
committee on global catastrophic risk.
    (b) Membership.--The committee shall include senior representatives 
of--
            (1) the Assistant to the President for National Security 
        Affairs;
            (2) the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
        Policy;
            (3) the Director of National Intelligence and the Director 
        of the National Intelligence Council;
            (4) the Secretary of Homeland Security and the 
        Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
            (5) the Secretary of State and the Under Secretary of State 
        for Arms Control and International Security;
            (6) the Attorney General and the Director of the Federal 
        Bureau of Investigation;
            (7) the Secretary of Energy, the Under Secretary of Energy 
        for Nuclear Security, and the Director of Science;
            (8) the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the 
        Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response;
            (9) the Secretary of Commerce, the Under Secretary of 
        Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and the Under Secretary of 
        Commerce for Standards and Technology;
            (10) the Secretary of the Interior and the Director of the 
        United States Geological Survey;
            (11) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
        Agency;
            (12) the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
        Space Administration;
            (13) the Director of the National Science Foundation;
            (14) the Secretary of the Treasury;
            (15) the Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal 
        Reserve System;
            (16) the Secretary of Defense; and
            (17) other stakeholders the President determines 
        appropriate.
    (c) Chairmanship.--The committee shall be co-chaired by a senior 
representative of the President and the Deputy Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency for Resilience.

SEC. 4. REPORT REQUIRED.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the President, with support from the committee, shall 
conduct and submit to Congress a detailed assessment of global 
catastrophic and existential risk.
    (b) Matters Covered.--The report required under subsection (a) 
shall include--
            (1) expert estimates of cumulative global catastrophic and 
        existential risk in the next 30 years, including separate 
        estimates for the likelihood of occurrence and potential 
        consequences;
            (2) expert-informed analyses of the risk of the most 
        concerning specific global catastrophic and existential 
        threats, including separate estimates, where reasonably 
        feasible and credible, of each threat for its likelihood of 
        occurrence and its potential consequences, as well as 
        associated uncertainties;
            (3) a comprehensive list of potential catastrophic or 
        existential threats, including even those that may have very 
        low likelihood;
            (4) technical assessments and lay explanations of the 
        analyzed global catastrophic and existential risks, including 
        their qualitative character and key factors affecting their 
        likelihood of occurrence and potential consequences;
            (5) an explanation of any factors that limit the ability of 
        the President to assess the risk both cumulatively and for 
        particular threats, and how those limitations may be overcome 
        through future research or with additional resources, programs, 
        or authorities;
            (6) a review of the effectiveness of intelligence 
        collection, early warning and detection systems, or other 
        functions and programs necessary to evaluate the risk of 
        particular global catastrophic and existential threats, if any 
        exist and as applicable for particular threats;
            (7) a forecast of if and why global catastrophic and 
        existential risk is likely to increase or decrease 
        significantly in the next 30 years, both qualitatively and 
        quantitatively, as well as a description of associated 
        uncertainties;
            (8) proposals for how the Federal Government may more 
        adequately assess global catastrophic and existential risk on 
        an ongoing basis in future years;
            (9) recommendations for legislative actions, as 
        appropriate, to support the evaluation and assessment of global 
        catastrophic and existential risk; and
            (10) other matters deemed appropriate by the President.
    (c) Consultation Requirement.--In producing the report required 
under subsection (a), the President shall regularly consult with 
experts on global catastrophic and existential risks, including from 
non-governmental, academic, and private sector institutions.
    (d) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

SEC. 5. REPORT ON CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS AND CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT 
              PLANNING.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the submission of 
the report required under section 4, the President shall produce a 
report on the adequacy of continuity of operations and continuity of 
government plans based on the assessed global catastrophic and 
existential risk.
    (b) Matters Covered.--The report required under subsection (a) 
shall include--
            (1) a detailed assessment of the ability of continuity of 
        government and continuity of operations plans and programs, as 
        defined by Executive Order 13961, Presidential Policy 
        Directive-40, or successor policies, to maintain national 
        essential functions following global catastrophes, both 
        cumulatively and for particular threats;
            (2) an assessment of the need to revise Executive Order 
        13961, Presidential Policy Directive-40, or successor policies 
        to account for global catastrophic and existential risk 
        cumulatively or for particular threats;
            (3) a budget proposal for continuity of government and 
        continuity of operations programs necessary to adequately 
        maintain national essential functions during global 
        catastrophes;
            (4) recommendations for legislative actions necessary to 
        improve continuity of government and continuity of operations 
        plans and programs; and
            (5) other matters deemed appropriate by the co-chairs.
    (c) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

SEC. 6. STRATEGY TO ENSURE THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND GENERAL WELFARE OF 
              THE CIVILIAN POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the President, with support from the committee, shall 
develop and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a strategy 
to--
            (1) provide for the basic needs of the civilian population 
        of the United States that is impacted by catastrophic incidents 
        in the United States;
            (2) coordinate response efforts with State and local 
        governments, the private sector, and nonprofit relief 
        organizations;
            (3) promote personal and local readiness and non-reliance 
        on government relief during periods of heightened tension or 
        after catastrophic incidents; and
            (4) develop international partnerships with allied nations 
        for the provision of relief services and goods.
    (b) Elements of the Strategy.--The strategy developed under 
subsection (a) shall include a description of--
            (1) actions the President will take to ensure the basic 
        needs of the civilian population of the United States in a 
        catastrophic incident are met;
            (2) how the President will coordinate with non-Federal 
        entities to multiply resources and enhance relief capabilities, 
        including--
                    (A) State and local governments;
                    (B) Tribal governments;
                    (C) State disaster relief agencies;
                    (D) State and local disaster relief managers;
                    (E) State National Guards;
                    (F) law enforcement and first response entities; 
                and
                    (G) nonprofit relief services;
            (3) actions the President will take to enhance individual 
        resiliency to the effects of a catastrophic incident, which 
        actions shall include--
                    (A) readiness alerts to the public during periods 
                of elevated threat;
                    (B) efforts to enhance domestic supply and 
                availability of critical goods and basic necessities; 
                and
                    (C) information campaigns to ensure the public is 
                aware of response plans and services that will be 
                activated when necessary;
            (4) efforts the President will undertake and agreements the 
        President will seek with international allies to enhance the 
        readiness of the United States to provide for the general 
        welfare;
            (5) how the strategic plan will be implemented should 
        multiple levels of critical infrastructure be destroyed or 
        taken offline entirely for an extended period of time;
            (6) how the strategic plan will be made operational within 
        the larger response strategy of the United States; and
            (7) the authorities the President would implicate in 
        responding to a catastrophic incident.
    (c) Assumptions.--In designing the strategy under subsection (a), 
the President shall account for certain factors to make the strategy 
operationally viable, including the assumption that--
            (1) multiple levels of critical infrastructure have been 
        taken offline or destroyed by catastrophic incidents or the 
        effects of catastrophic incidents;
            (2) impacted sectors include--
                    (A) the transportation sector;
                    (B) the communication sector;
                    (C) the energy sector;
                    (D) the healthcare and public health sector;
                    (E) the water and wastewater sector; and
                    (F) the financial sector;
            (3) State and local governments have been equally affected 
        or made largely inoperable by catastrophic incidents or the 
        effects of catastrophic incidents;
            (4) the emergency has exceeded the response capabilities of 
        State and local governments under the Robert T. Stafford 
        Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et 
        seq.) and other relevant disaster response laws; and
            (5) the United States military is sufficiently engaged in 
        armed or cyber conflict with State or non-State adversaries, or 
        is otherwise unable to augment domestic response capabilities 
        in a significant manner due to a catastrophic incident.
    (d) Existing Plans.--The President may incorporate existing 
contingency plans in the strategy developed under subsection (a) so 
long as those contingency plans are amended to be operational in 
accordance with the requirements under this section.
    (e) Availability.--The strategy developed under subsection (a) 
shall be available to the public but may include a classified, or other 
restricted, annex to be made available to the appropriate committees of 
Congress and appropriate government entities.

SEC. 7. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

    Not later than 90 days after the issuance of the strategy required 
under section 6, the President shall issue a plan to implement and 
operationalize the strategy, which shall include--
            (1) steps the President will take to prepare implicated 
        entities for mobilization under the strategy; and
            (2) specific actions the President will take to--
                    (A) ensure the continued readiness of the United 
                States to implement the strategy;
                    (B) educate the public on the strategy and the role 
                individual citizens should play to ensure the 
                objectives of the strategy are met;
                    (C) ensure the objectives of the strategy are met; 
                and
                    (D) ensure foreign adversaries are not able to 
                undermine the operationalization of the strategy.

SEC. 8. NATIONAL RESPONSE EXERCISE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the issuance of the 
implementation plan required under section 7, the Department of 
Homeland Security shall lead a national exercise, in coordination with 
the committee, to test and enhance the operationalization of the 
implementation plan.
    (b) Requirements.--A national exercise conducted under this section 
shall include participation from most or all entities implicated by the 
strategy required under section 4, including:
            (1) State, local, and Tribal governments.
            (2) Information sharing and analysis centers.
            (3) Owners and operators of critical infrastructure.

SEC. 9. RECOMMENDATIONS.

    (a) In General.--The President shall provide recommendations to 
Congress for--
            (1) actions that should be taken to prepare the United 
        States to implement the strategy required under section 6, 
        increase readiness, and address preparedness gaps for 
        responding to the impacts of catastrophic incidents on citizens 
        of the United States; and
            (2) additional authorities that should be considered for 
        Federal agencies and the President to more effectively 
        implement the strategy required under section 6.
    (b) Inclusion in Reports.--The President may include the 
recommendations required under subsection (a) in a report submitted 
under section 10.

SEC. 10. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    Not later than 1 year after the date on which Department of 
Homeland Security leads the national exercise under section 8, the 
President shall submit to Congress a report that includes--
            (1) a description of the efforts of the President to 
        develop and update the strategy required under section 6;
            (2) a description of the efforts of the President to 
        develop and update the implementation plan required under 
        section 7; and
            (3) an analysis of the effectiveness and benefit of the 
        national exercise conducted under section 8.
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