[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 159 (Wednesday, October 28, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H7314-H7316]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1745
                 SOCIAL MEDIA WORKING GROUP ACT OF 2015

  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 623) to 
amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Department of 
Homeland Security to establish a social media working group, and for 
other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the Senate amendment is as follows:
  Senate amendment:

       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``DHS Social Media Improvement 
     Act of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. SOCIAL MEDIA WORKING GROUP.

       (a) In General.--Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:

     ``SEC. 318. SOCIAL MEDIA WORKING GROUP.

       ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish within 
     the Department a social media working group (in this section 
     referred to as the `Group').
       ``(b) Purpose.--In order to enhance the dissemination of 
     information through social media technologies between the 
     Department and appropriate stakeholders and to improve use of 
     social media technologies in support of preparedness, 
     response, and recovery, the Group shall identify, and provide 
     guidance and best practices to the emergency preparedness and 
     response community on, the use of social media technologies 
     before, during, and after a natural disaster or an act of 
     terrorism or other man-made disaster.
       ``(c) Membership.--
       ``(1) In general.--Membership of the Group shall be 
     composed of a cross section of subject matter experts from 
     Federal, State, local, tribal, territorial, and 
     nongovernmental organization practitioners, including 
     representatives from the following entities:
       ``(A) The Office of Public Affairs of the Department.
       ``(B) The Office of the Chief Information Officer of the 
     Department.
       ``(C) The Privacy Office of the Department.
       ``(D) The Federal Emergency Management Agency.
       ``(E) The Office of Disability Integration and Coordination 
     of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
       ``(F) The American Red Cross.
       ``(G) The Forest Service.
       ``(H) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
       ``(I) The United States Geological Survey.
       ``(J) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

[[Page H7315]]

       ``(2) Chairperson; co-chairperson.--
       ``(A) Chairperson.--The Secretary, or a designee of the 
     Secretary, shall serve as the chairperson of the Group.
       ``(B) Co-chairperson.--The chairperson shall designate, on 
     a rotating basis, a representative from a State or local 
     government who is a member of the Group to serve as the co-
     chairperson of the Group.
       ``(3) Additional members.--The chairperson shall appoint, 
     on a rotating basis, qualified individuals to the Group. The 
     total number of such additional members shall--
       ``(A) be equal to or greater than the total number of 
     regular members under paragraph (1); and
       ``(B) include--
       ``(i) not fewer than 3 representatives from the private 
     sector; and
       ``(ii) representatives from--

       ``(I) State, local, tribal, and territorial entities, 
     including from--

       ``(aa) law enforcement;
       ``(bb) fire services;
       ``(cc) emergency management; and
       ``(dd) public health entities;

       ``(II) universities and academia; and
       ``(III) nonprofit disaster relief organizations.

       ``(4) Term limits.--The chairperson shall establish term 
     limits for individuals appointed to the Group under paragraph 
     (3).
       ``(d) Consultation With Non-members.--To the extent 
     practicable, the Group shall work with entities in the public 
     and private sectors to carry out subsection (b).
       ``(e) Meetings.--
       ``(1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 90 days after the 
     date of enactment of this section, the Group shall hold its 
     initial meeting.
       ``(2) Subsequent meetings.--After the initial meeting under 
     paragraph (1), the Group shall meet--
       ``(A) at the call of the chairperson; and
       ``(B) not less frequently than twice each year.
       ``(3) Virtual meetings.--Each meeting of the Group may be 
     held virtually.
       ``(f) Reports.--During each year in which the Group meets, 
     the Group shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a report that includes the following:
       ``(1) A review and analysis of current and emerging social 
     media technologies being used to support preparedness and 
     response activities related to natural disasters and acts of 
     terrorism and other man-made disasters.
       ``(2) A review of best practices and lessons learned on the 
     use of social media technologies during the response to 
     natural disasters and acts of terrorism and other man-made 
     disasters that occurred during the period covered by the 
     report at issue.
       ``(3) Recommendations to improve the Department's use of 
     social media technologies for emergency management purposes.
       ``(4) Recommendations to improve public awareness of the 
     type of information disseminated through social media 
     technologies, and how to access such information, during a 
     natural disaster or an act of terrorism or other man-made 
     disaster.
       ``(5) A review of available training for Federal, State, 
     local, tribal, and territorial officials on the use of social 
     media technologies in response to a natural disaster or an 
     act of terrorism or other man-made disaster.
       ``(6) A review of coordination efforts with the private 
     sector to discuss and resolve legal, operational, technical, 
     privacy, and security concerns.
       ``(g) Duration of Group.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Group shall terminate on the date 
     that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this section 
     unless the chairperson renews the Group for a successive 5-
     year period, prior to the date on which the Group would 
     otherwise terminate, by submitting to the Committee on 
     Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and 
     the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives a certification that the continued existence 
     of the Group is necessary to fulfill the purpose described in 
     subsection (b).
       ``(2) Continued renewal.--The chairperson may continue to 
     renew the Group for successive 5-year periods by submitting a 
     certification in accordance with paragraph (1) prior to the 
     date on which the Group would otherwise terminate.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by 
     inserting after the item relating to section 317 the 
     following:

``Sec. 318. Social media working group.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Carson) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 623, as 
amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  As disasters become more frequent and severe, it is critical that 
emergency managers and citizens take advantage of new technologies to 
send and receive critical information.
  Social media has become an essential tool in the preparedness, 
response, and recovery for all hazards, whether natural or manmade. We 
saw how critical social media was in relaying information following 
Hurricane Sandy, the Boston Marathon bombing, and, just a few weeks 
ago, during Hurricane Joaquin and the historic flooding in South 
Carolina. Social media helps reach people in need, helps get the right 
information into the hands of the public, helps organize volunteers, 
and can be a source of critical on-the-ground information to 
decisionmakers.
  H.R. 623, as amended by the Senate, would require DHS to establish a 
social media working group to enhance the use of social media to 
support preparedness, response, and recovery of all hazards. This group 
will be required to report to Congress on an annual basis on its 
findings, emerging trends, and best practices.
  I commend the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks) for sponsoring 
this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 623, the DHS Social Media 
Improvement Act of 2015, was introduced by my good friend and colleague 
from Indiana, Congresswoman Susan Brooks.
  The bill, Mr. Speaker, was referred to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and to the Committee on Homeland 
Security. This bill codifies the Department of Homeland Security's 
Social Media Working Group to enhance the use of social media during 
disasters and other events, and to provide guidance and best practices 
in emergency preparedness and response. Social media, especially 
Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, can play a critical role in 
preparedness, response, and recovery operations during emergencies.
  Emergency managers at all levels use social media to warn those in 
harm's way of impending natural hazards. Social media is also used to 
inform survivors on how to access disaster assistance and tips for 
speedier recoveries. Equally important, Mr. Speaker, social media has 
been used to coordinate and manage assistance from nonprofits and 
volunteers who want to help in recovery efforts.
  More and more, we are seeing individuals take to social media during 
emergencies. Individuals have used social media to help identify 
locations where assistance may still be needed and to raise awareness 
of impending hazards. They have also used it, Mr. Speaker, to 
communicate with loved ones who may be impacted by an event as well as 
reconnect pets with their owners. This has certainly been the case in 
the great Hoosier State.
  This last summer, Mr. Speaker, will go down as the wettest summer in 
Indianapolis history. Rainfall in July broke a 140-year-old record in 
our great city, making it the wettest month ever recorded, and social 
media helped keep residents informed in real time. In Indianapolis, the 
National Weather Service, Department of Homeland Security, and local 
broadcasters routinely used social media to post updates on ever-
changing weather conditions.
  The very unique benefit of social media alerts is that you don't have 
to be right next to a radio or TV to be informed; you can virtually be 
anywhere. This summer, when dangerous flooding covered many roads in 
our city, social media exploded with pictures of flooded roadways and 
stranded motorists. This nontraditional tool enabled people to know 
where major problems were located and to avoid danger with the famous 
catchphrase, ``Turn Around Don't Drown.''
  The existing DHS Social Media Working Group provides recommendations 
on how to use social media before, during, and after emergencies. This 
working group, Mr. Speaker, consists of emergency responders, NGOs, 
nonprofits, and Federal agencies.
  I support the provisions in today's bill to broaden the group's 
membership to include private sector representatives and to require 
consultation with nonmembers.
  To ensure accountability, this requires an annual report to Congress 
on important issues, such as best practices and lessons learned. It 
would also provide recommendations on how to improve the use of the 
social media

[[Page H7316]]

platform for emergency management purposes.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, we recognize the importance of this platform 
for emergency management. I would be remiss not to remind our 
colleagues of the need to authorize the Integrated Public Alert and 
Warning System, also known as IPAWS.
  As the committee of primary jurisdiction over IPAWS, the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously approved the 
Barletta-Carson IPAWS authorization bill back in April and ordered the 
bill reported. It is past time for this bill to be considered in the 
House.
  Despite the Senate's inadvertent omission of the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee, I support this bill, Mr. Speaker, and I urge 
our colleagues to do the same to approve this measure.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks), the sponsor of this bill.
  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
623, the DHS Social Media Improvement Act of 2015.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for his management of 
the bill and, also, my good friend and colleague from the State of 
Indiana, Congressman Carson. Both of us have served in public safety in 
the past, and so it is especially gratifying that he is managing the 
bill as well this evening.
  Social media, as we have heard, is transforming the way the Nation is 
communicating before, during, and after terrorist attacks, natural 
disasters, and other emergencies. There are countless examples from 
recent events of how citizens are turning to Facebook, Twitter, 
Instagram, and even Snapchat for public safety information, to comfort 
survivors, tell loved ones they are safe, and request assistance.
  As has already been mentioned, citizens of South Carolina used social 
media to communicate with first responders, friends, and families after 
heavy rainfall caused destructive flash flooding across the State.
  Additionally, a quarter of Americans--let me repeat, a quarter of 
Americans--got information about the devastating terrorist attack at 
the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing from Facebook and Twitter.

  Citizens are not the only ones using social media during and after an 
emergency. First responders are proactively using social media as a 
force multiplier to get vital information out. For example, immediately 
following the terrorist attack and during the manhunt, the Boston PD 
utilized social media as a way to communicate with and solicit 
information from citizens and visitors.
  These are just a few of the hundreds of examples that demonstrate the 
prevalence of social media use before, during, and after an emergency.
  In the 113th Congress, I served as the chair of the Committee on 
Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, 
and Communications. The subcommittee held two hearings that focused on 
this new phenomenon, and I learned at that time that while the Nation 
is making great strides in this area, gaps and challenges remain.
  One of the key takeaways, however, was that during and after a 
terrorist attack, natural disaster, or other emergency, there is still 
a need for better communication between the public and the private 
sectors, specifically, with how to utilize social media as a 
communication tool.
  So last year, I was proud to work with the ranking member, 
Congressman Payne, to find ways to better utilize social media during 
disasters by leveraging both public and private resources and 
experiences.
  The bill passed with overwhelming support last Congress and, after 
reintroduction this Congress, I am pleased to say, in February, the 
House again resoundingly agreed to its passage.
  H.R. 623, while authorizing and enhancing the Department of Homeland 
Security's existing social media group, essentially what it does is it 
ensures that best practices and lessons learned on the use of social 
media during terrorist attacks or disasters are being discussed and 
shared with Federal, State, and local first responders, nongovernmental 
organizations, academia, and the private sector.
  Currently, the Virtual Social Media Working Group is made up 
primarily of State and local officials, and they are doing great work 
and developing guidance. However, this bill will increase the group's 
stakeholder participation, particularly among the private sector and 
the Federal response agencies.
  So by including private sector groups like Google and Twitter and 
Facebook, we know it will improve coordination and relief efforts. 
Also, as we have already heard, it will require the group to submit an 
annual report to Congress highlighting best practices, lessons learned, 
and any recommendations. Finally, this bill will require the group to 
meet, in person or virtually, at least twice a year, and will not be a 
financial burden on the Department.
  I appreciate the swift action of the Senate Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs Committee. I especially want to thank Chairman 
Johnson for his leadership on this issue. Their thoughtful additions 
have served to further improve the bill.
  I also want to thank Chairman Shuster and Chairman Barletta of the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for working with me to get 
this bill to the floor, and also my successor at EPRC, Ms. McSally, for 
continuing to make this issue a priority.
  Finally, I want to thank the staff, because we know that this bill 
and the improvements with technology will save lives, and it will make 
our first responders and those in danger safer.
  I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello) that the House suspend the 
rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, H.R. 623.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the Senate amendment was concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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