[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 182 (Monday, December 9, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H6531-H6532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WEATHER ALERT RESPONSE AND NOTIFICATION ACT
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 2892) to direct the Comptroller General of the
United States to conduct a study on the effectiveness of local alerting
systems, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2892
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 ``Weather Alert Response and
Notification Act'' or the ``WARN Act''.
SEC. 2. EFFECTIVENESS OF LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL ALERTING
SYSTEMS.
(a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United
States shall conduct a study on the
[[Page H6532]]
effectiveness of local, State, and Federal emergency alerting
systems in disseminating timely and relevant information
during weather-related emergencies to help communities
develop better policies and procedures for emergency response
and enhance public safety in the event of a weather-related
emergency.
(b) Contents.--In conducting the study under subsection
(a), the Comptroller General shall--
(1) evaluate the efficacy of various alert mediums,
including platforms such as social media, to disseminate
emergency alerts, including travel bans and mass power
outages, during extreme weather events;
(2) assess the extent that guidance and training exists for
developing alert content, such as ensuring alerts are clear,
relevant, and provide the public with actionable information;
and
(3) determine whether improvements could be made to public
alerting based on input from a selected sample of emergency
managers, local officials, and community groups.
(c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and 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 study
conducted under subsection (a).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Louisiana (Mr. Graves) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana.
General Leave
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend
their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 2892.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Louisiana?
There was no objection.
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2892, also known as the WARN Act, directs GAO to
conduct a study on the effectiveness of local, State, and Federal
emergency alerting systems in disseminating timely and relevant
information during weather-related emergencies.
By examining these alerting systems, we can better understand how to
improve communication and public safety during emergencies.
I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Langworthy) for his work on
this critical piece of legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the legislation, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2892. The bill directs the
GAO, or Government Accountability Office, to study the efficacy of
local weather alerting systems.
As the climate crisis worsens and extreme weather events strike our
communities with increasing frequency and severity, frontline
communities need time to prepare and react in the face of these
dangers.
Every wasted second endangers lives. That is why local weather
alerting systems are an indispensable tool. They give communities the
time needed to take decisive and lifesaving action. Understanding how
best to leverage, develop, and improve this important tool will help
ensure community preparedness.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Langworthy), the author of this
legislation.
Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2892,
the Weather Alert Response and Notification Act, also known as the WARN
Act, to improve public safety during extreme weather events.
I am proud to lead this bipartisan bill that would direct the
Comptroller General to evaluate the effectiveness of our emergency
alert systems--at the local, State, and Federal levels--in reaching our
communities when it matters the most.
I introduced this legislation after my district experienced tragedy
during Winter Storm Elliott in December 2022, right before Christmas
Eve. Western New York and the southern tier are used to heavy snowfall
every winter. During Winter Storm Elliott, we were hit with whiteout
blizzards and hurricane-force winds that quickly dumped more than 4
feet of snow.
People were trapped in their cars for days. Many were trapped in
their homes without power or heat. Rescue crews struggled to get those
people rescued who were in need, leading to more than 40 deaths in our
region. Some of these deaths could have been prevented, but local
warning systems failed to adequately communicate the risks to the
public. We cannot let this happen again.
That is where the WARN Act comes in. Whether it is a blizzard,
hurricane, tornado, or other severe weather event, we must ensure that
our emergency alert systems are timely, accurate, and capable of
reaching everyone, no matter what technology they have.
Preparation is the key to protecting lives and minimizing damage
during these crises. Reliable and effective emergency alerts give
individuals the opportunity to act--keeping themselves and their
families safe, clearing the way for first responders, and ensuring
repair crews can restore power, clear roads, and respond more quickly
in emergencies. This preparation helps save lives and reduces long-term
harm.
The WARN Act will examine cutting-edge technologies, such as mobile
alerts, satellite communication, and next-generation platforms, to
determine how we can improve these lifesaving systems.
It will also provide critical insights to local emergency managers
and elected officials, who are often on the front lines of these
crises.
As we are heading into 2025, we have more technology than ever at our
fingertips, but we need to make sure it is employed in the right way to
help us get through extreme weather events. By equipping our
communities with clear, more actionable alerts, we can save lives and
prevent tragedies like those we experienced during Winter Storm
Elliott.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this
commonsense, bipartisan legislation to strengthen our Nation's
emergency response systems.
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, local weather alerting systems
must work properly to save lives. This bill would direct the Government
Accountability Office to identify and document any improvements that
need to be made to such systems.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to reflect
upon Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Both storms
resulted in extraordinary death, with, I believe, around 1,700 lives
lost in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
This legislation is designed to help prevent those types of deaths
and to help communicate the risk to the public, and I strongly urge
support for this legislation. It is going to ensure that we have better
policies and procedures for alerts during weather-related emergencies.
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 Louisiana (Mr. Graves) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2892, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to direct
the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the
effectiveness of emergency alerting systems, and for other purposes.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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