[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 11263-11267]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT AND WARNING SYSTEM MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2015

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 132, S. 1180.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1180) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
     to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency to modernize the integrated public alert 
     and warning system of the United States, and for other 
     purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs, with amendments, as follows:
  (The parts of the bill intended to be stricken are shown in boldface 
brackets and the parts of the bill intended to be inserted are shown in 
italic.)

[[Page 11264]]



                                S. 1180

       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 ``Integrated Public Alert and 
     Warning System Modernization Act of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT AND WARNING SYSTEM 
                   MODERNIZATION.

       (a) In General.--Title V of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:

     ``SEC. 526. INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT AND WARNING SYSTEM 
                   MODERNIZATION.

       ``(a) In General.--To provide timely and effective warnings 
     regarding natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other 
     man-made disasters or threats to public safety, the 
     Administrator shall--
       ``(1) modernize the integrated public alert and warning 
     system of the United States (in this section referred to as 
     the `public alert and warning system') to help ensure that 
     under all conditions the President and, except to the extent 
     the public alert and warning system is in use by the 
     President, Federal agencies and State, tribal, and local 
     governments can alert and warn the civilian population in 
     areas endangered by natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and 
     other man-made disasters or threats to public safety; and
       ``(2) implement the public alert and warning system to 
     disseminate timely and effective warnings regarding natural 
     disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters or 
     threats to public safety.
       ``(b) Implementation Requirements.--In carrying out 
     subsection (a), the Administrator shall--
       ``(1) establish or adopt, as appropriate, common alerting 
     and warning protocols, standards, terminology, and operating 
     procedures for the public alert and warning system;
       ``(2) include in the public alert and warning system the 
     capability to adapt the distribution and content of 
     communications on the basis of geographic location, risks, 
     and multiple communication systems and technologies, as 
     appropriate and to the extent technically feasible;
       ``(3) include in the public alert and warning system the 
     capability to alert, warn, and provide equivalent information 
     to individuals with disabilities, individuals with access and 
     functional needs, and individuals with limited-English 
     proficiency, to the extent technically feasible;
       ``(4) ensure that training, tests, and exercises are 
     conducted for the public alert and warning system, including 
     by--
       ``(A) incorporating the public alert and warning system 
     into other training and exercise programs of the Department, 
     as appropriate;
       ``(B) establishing and integrating into the National 
     Incident Management System a comprehensive and periodic 
     training program to instruct and educate Federal, State, 
     tribal, and local government officials in the use of the 
     Common Alerting Protocol enabled Emergency Alert System; and
       ``(C) conducting, not less than once every 3 years, 
     periodic nationwide tests of the public alert and warning 
     system;
       ``(5) to the extent practicable, ensure that the public 
     alert and warning system is resilient and secure and can 
     withstand acts of terrorism and other external attacks;
       ``(6) conduct public education efforts so that State, 
     tribal, and local governments, private entities, and the 
     people of the United States reasonably understand the 
     functions of the public alert and warning system and how to 
     access, use, and respond to information from the public alert 
     and warning system through a general market awareness 
     campaign;
       ``(7) consult, coordinate, and cooperate with the 
     appropriate private sector entities and Federal, State, 
     tribal, and local governmental authorities, including the 
     Regional Administrators and emergency response providers;
       ``(8) consult and coordinate with the Federal 
     Communications Commission, taking into account rules and 
     regulations promulgated by the Federal Communications 
     Commission; and
       ``(9) coordinate with and consider the recommendations of 
     the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Subcommittee 
     established under section 2(b) of the Integrated Public Alert 
     and Warning System Modernization Act of 2015.
       ``(c) System Requirements.--The public alert and warning 
     system shall--
       ``(1) to the extent determined appropriate by the 
     Administrator, incorporate multiple communications 
     technologies;
       ``(2) be designed to adapt to, and incorporate, future 
     technologies for communicating directly with the public;
       ``(3) to the extent technically feasible, be designed--
       ``(A) to provide alerts to the largest portion of the 
     affected population feasible, including nonresident visitors 
     and tourists, individuals with disabilities, individuals with 
     access and functional needs, and individuals with limited-
     English proficiency; and
       ``(B) to improve the ability of remote areas to receive 
     alerts;
       ``(4) promote local and regional public and private 
     partnerships to enhance community preparedness and response;
       ``(5) provide redundant alert mechanisms where practicable 
     so as to reach the greatest number of people; and
       ``(6) to the extent feasible, include a mechanism to ensure 
     the protection of individual privacy.
       ``(d) Use of System.--Except to the extent necessary for 
     testing the public alert and warning system, the public alert 
     and warning system shall not be used to transmit a message 
     that does not relate to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, 
     or other man-made disaster or threat to public safety.
       ``(e) Performance Reports.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System 
     Modernization Act of 2015, and annually thereafter through 
     2018, the Administrator shall make available on the public 
     website of the Agency a performance report, which shall--
       ``(A) establish performance goals for the implementation of 
     the public alert and warning system by the Agency;
       ``(B) describe the performance of the public alert and 
     warning system, including--
       ``(i) the type of technology used for alerts and warnings 
     issued under the system;
       ``(ii) the measures taken to alert, warn, and provide 
     equivalent information to individuals with disabilities, 
     individuals with access and function needs, and individuals 
     with limited-English proficiency; and
       ``(iii) the training, tests, and exercises performed and 
     the outcomes obtained by the Agency;
       ``(C) identify significant challenges to the effective 
     operation of the public alert and warning system and any 
     plans to address these challenges;
       ``(D) identify other necessary improvements to the system; 
     and
       ``(E) provide an analysis comparing the performance of the 
     public alert and warning system with the performance goals 
     established under subparagraph (A).
       ``(2) Congress.--The Administrator shall submit to the 
     Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and 
     the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
     and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives each report required under paragraph (1).''.
       (b) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System 
     Subcommittee.--
       (1) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency (in this subsection referred to 
     as the ``Administrator'') shall establish a subcommittee to 
     the National Advisory Council established under section 508 
     of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 318) to be 
     known as the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System 
     Subcommittee (in this subsection referred to as the 
     ``Subcommittee'').
       (2) Membership.--Notwithstanding section 508(c) of the 
     Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 318(c)), the 
     Subcommittee shall be composed of the following members (or 
     their designees):
       (A) The Deputy Administrator for Protection and National 
     Preparedness of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
       (B) The Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
       (C) The Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Commerce.
       (D) The Assistant Secretary for Communications and 
     Information of the Department of Commerce.
       (E) The Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the 
     Department of Homeland Security.
       (F) The Under Secretary for the National Protection and 
     Programs Directorate.
       (G) The Director of Disability Integration and Coordination 
     of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
       (H) The Chairperson of the National Council on Disability.
       (I) Qualified individuals appointed by the Administrator as 
     soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act 
     from among the following:
       (i) Representatives of State and local governments, 
     representatives of emergency management agencies, and 
     representatives of emergency response providers.
       (ii) Representatives from federally recognized Indian 
     tribes and national Indian organizations.
       (iii) Individuals who have the requisite technical 
     knowledge and expertise to serve on the Subcommittee, 
     including representatives of--

       (I) communications service providers;
       (II) vendors, developers, and manufacturers of systems, 
     facilities, equipment, and capabilities for the provision of 
     communications services;
       (III) third-party service bureaus;
       (IV) the broadcasting industry, including public 
     broadcasting;
       (V) the commercial mobile radio service industry;
       (VI) the cable industry;
       (VII) the satellite industry;
       (VIII) national organizations representing individuals with 
     disabilities, the blind, deaf,

[[Page 11265]]

     and hearing-loss communities, individuals with access and 
     functional needs, and the elderly;
       (IX) consumer or privacy advocates; and
       (X) organizations representing individuals with limited-
     English proficiency.

       (iv) Qualified representatives of such other stakeholders 
     and interested and affected parties as the Administrator 
     considers appropriate.
       (3) Chairperson.--The Deputy Administrator for Protection 
     and National Preparedness of the Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency shall serve as the Chairperson of the Subcommittee.
       (4) Meetings.--
       (A) Initial meeting.--The initial meeting of the 
     Subcommittee shall take place not later than 120 days after 
     the date of enactment of this Act.
       (B) Other meetings.--After the initial meeting, the 
     Subcommittee shall meet, at least annually, at the call of 
     the Chairperson.
       (5) Consultation with nonmembers.--The Subcommittee and the 
     program offices for the integrated public alert and warning 
     system for the United States shall consult with individuals 
     and entities that are not represented on the Subcommittee to 
     consider new and developing technologies that may be 
     beneficial to the public alert and warning system, 
     including--
       (A) the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency;
       (B) entities engaged in federally funded research; and
       (C) academic institutions engaged in relevant work and 
     research.
       (6) Recommendations.--The Subcommittee shall--
       (A) develop recommendations for an integrated public alert 
     and warning system; and
       (B) in developing the recommendations under subparagraph 
     (A), consider--
       (i) recommendations for common alerting and warning 
     protocols, standards, terminology, and operating procedures 
     for the public alert and warning system; and
       (ii) recommendations to provide for a public alert and 
     warning system that--

       (I) has the capability to adapt the distribution and 
     content of communications on the basis of geographic 
     location, risks, or personal user preferences, as 
     appropriate;
       (II) has the capability to alert and warn individuals with 
     disabilities and individuals with limited-English 
     proficiency;
       (III) to the extent appropriate, incorporates multiple 
     communications technologies;
       (IV) is designed to adapt to, and incorporate, future 
     technologies for communicating directly with the public;
       (V) is designed to provide alerts to the largest portion of 
     the affected population feasible, including nonresident 
     visitors and tourists, and improve the ability of remote 
     areas to receive alerts;
       (VI) promotes local and regional public and private 
     partnerships to enhance community preparedness and response; 
     and
       (VII) provides redundant alert mechanisms, if practicable, 
     to reach the greatest number of people regardless of whether 
     they have access to, or use, any specific medium of 
     communication or any particular device.

       (7) Report.--
       (A) Subcommittee submission.--Not later than 1 year after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the Subcommittee shall 
     submit to the National Advisory Council a report containing 
     any recommendations required to be developed under paragraph 
     (6) for approval by the National Advisory Council.
       (B) Submission by national advisory council.--If the 
     National Advisory Council approves the recommendations 
     contained in the report submitted under subparagraph (A), the 
     National Advisory Council shall submit the report to--
       (i) the head of each agency represented on the 
     Subcommittee;
       (ii) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate; and
       (iii) the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee 
     on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (8) Termination.--The Subcommittee shall terminate not 
     later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this Act and the amendments 
     made by this Act such sums as may be necessary for each of 
     fiscal years 2016, 2017, and 2018.
       (d) Limitations on Statutory Construction.--
       (1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term 
     ``participating commercial mobile service provider'' has the 
     meaning given that term under section 10.10(f) of title 47, 
     Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of 
     enactment of this Act.
       (2) Limitations.--Nothing in this Act, including an 
     amendment made by this Act, shall be construed--
       (A) to affect any authority--
       (i) of the Department of Commerce;
       (ii) of the Federal Communications Commission; or
       (iii) provided under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
     and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.);
       (B) to provide the Secretary of Homeland Security with 
     authority to require any action by the Department of 
     Commerce, the Federal Communications Commission, or any 
     nongovernmental entity;
       (C) to apply to, or to provide the Administrator of the 
     Federal Emergency Management Agency with authority over, any 
     participating commercial mobile service provider; [or]
       (D) to alter in any way the wireless emergency alerts 
     service established under the Warning, Alert, and Response 
     Network Act (47 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.) or any related orders 
     issued by the Federal Communications Commission after October 
     13, [2006.] 2006; or
       (E) to provide the Federal Emergency Management Agency with 
     authority to require a State or local jurisdiction to use the 
     integrated public alert and warning system of the United 
     States.

  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported 
amendments be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and 
passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon 
the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendments were agreed to.
  The bill (S. 1180), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 1180

       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 ``Integrated Public Alert and 
     Warning System Modernization Act of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT AND WARNING SYSTEM 
                   MODERNIZATION.

       (a) In General.--Title V of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:

     ``SEC. 526. INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT AND WARNING SYSTEM 
                   MODERNIZATION.

       ``(a) In General.--To provide timely and effective warnings 
     regarding natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other 
     man-made disasters or threats to public safety, the 
     Administrator shall--
       ``(1) modernize the integrated public alert and warning 
     system of the United States (in this section referred to as 
     the `public alert and warning system') to help ensure that 
     under all conditions the President and, except to the extent 
     the public alert and warning system is in use by the 
     President, Federal agencies and State, tribal, and local 
     governments can alert and warn the civilian population in 
     areas endangered by natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and 
     other man-made disasters or threats to public safety; and
       ``(2) implement the public alert and warning system to 
     disseminate timely and effective warnings regarding natural 
     disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters or 
     threats to public safety.
       ``(b) Implementation Requirements.--In carrying out 
     subsection (a), the Administrator shall--
       ``(1) establish or adopt, as appropriate, common alerting 
     and warning protocols, standards, terminology, and operating 
     procedures for the public alert and warning system;
       ``(2) include in the public alert and warning system the 
     capability to adapt the distribution and content of 
     communications on the basis of geographic location, risks, 
     and multiple communication systems and technologies, as 
     appropriate and to the extent technically feasible;
       ``(3) include in the public alert and warning system the 
     capability to alert, warn, and provide equivalent information 
     to individuals with disabilities, individuals with access and 
     functional needs, and individuals with limited-English 
     proficiency, to the extent technically feasible;
       ``(4) ensure that training, tests, and exercises are 
     conducted for the public alert and warning system, including 
     by--
       ``(A) incorporating the public alert and warning system 
     into other training and exercise programs of the Department, 
     as appropriate;
       ``(B) establishing and integrating into the National 
     Incident Management System a comprehensive and periodic 
     training program to instruct and educate Federal, State, 
     tribal, and local government officials in the use of the 
     Common Alerting Protocol enabled Emergency Alert System; and
       ``(C) conducting, not less than once every 3 years, 
     periodic nationwide tests of the public alert and warning 
     system;
       ``(5) to the extent practicable, ensure that the public 
     alert and warning system is resilient and secure and can 
     withstand acts of terrorism and other external attacks;
       ``(6) conduct public education efforts so that State, 
     tribal, and local governments, private entities, and the 
     people of the United States reasonably understand the 
     functions of the public alert and warning system and

[[Page 11266]]

     how to access, use, and respond to information from the 
     public alert and warning system through a general market 
     awareness campaign;
       ``(7) consult, coordinate, and cooperate with the 
     appropriate private sector entities and Federal, State, 
     tribal, and local governmental authorities, including the 
     Regional Administrators and emergency response providers;
       ``(8) consult and coordinate with the Federal 
     Communications Commission, taking into account rules and 
     regulations promulgated by the Federal Communications 
     Commission; and
       ``(9) coordinate with and consider the recommendations of 
     the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Subcommittee 
     established under section 2(b) of the Integrated Public Alert 
     and Warning System Modernization Act of 2015.
       ``(c) System Requirements.--The public alert and warning 
     system shall--
       ``(1) to the extent determined appropriate by the 
     Administrator, incorporate multiple communications 
     technologies;
       ``(2) be designed to adapt to, and incorporate, future 
     technologies for communicating directly with the public;
       ``(3) to the extent technically feasible, be designed--
       ``(A) to provide alerts to the largest portion of the 
     affected population feasible, including nonresident visitors 
     and tourists, individuals with disabilities, individuals with 
     access and functional needs, and individuals with limited-
     English proficiency; and
       ``(B) to improve the ability of remote areas to receive 
     alerts;
       ``(4) promote local and regional public and private 
     partnerships to enhance community preparedness and response;
       ``(5) provide redundant alert mechanisms where practicable 
     so as to reach the greatest number of people; and
       ``(6) to the extent feasible, include a mechanism to ensure 
     the protection of individual privacy.
       ``(d) Use of System.--Except to the extent necessary for 
     testing the public alert and warning system, the public alert 
     and warning system shall not be used to transmit a message 
     that does not relate to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, 
     or other man-made disaster or threat to public safety.
       ``(e) Performance Reports.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System 
     Modernization Act of 2015, and annually thereafter through 
     2018, the Administrator shall make available on the public 
     website of the Agency a performance report, which shall--
       ``(A) establish performance goals for the implementation of 
     the public alert and warning system by the Agency;
       ``(B) describe the performance of the public alert and 
     warning system, including--
       ``(i) the type of technology used for alerts and warnings 
     issued under the system;
       ``(ii) the measures taken to alert, warn, and provide 
     equivalent information to individuals with disabilities, 
     individuals with access and function needs, and individuals 
     with limited-English proficiency; and
       ``(iii) the training, tests, and exercises performed and 
     the outcomes obtained by the Agency;
       ``(C) identify significant challenges to the effective 
     operation of the public alert and warning system and any 
     plans to address these challenges;
       ``(D) identify other necessary improvements to the system; 
     and
       ``(E) provide an analysis comparing the performance of the 
     public alert and warning system with the performance goals 
     established under subparagraph (A).
       ``(2) Congress.--The Administrator shall submit to the 
     Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and 
     the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
     and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives each report required under paragraph (1).''.
       (b) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System 
     Subcommittee.--
       (1) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency (in this subsection referred to 
     as the ``Administrator'') shall establish a subcommittee to 
     the National Advisory Council established under section 508 
     of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 318) to be 
     known as the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System 
     Subcommittee (in this subsection referred to as the 
     ``Subcommittee'').
       (2) Membership.--Notwithstanding section 508(c) of the 
     Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 318(c)), the 
     Subcommittee shall be composed of the following members (or 
     their designees):
       (A) The Deputy Administrator for Protection and National 
     Preparedness of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
       (B) The Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
       (C) The Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Commerce.
       (D) The Assistant Secretary for Communications and 
     Information of the Department of Commerce.
       (E) The Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the 
     Department of Homeland Security.
       (F) The Under Secretary for the National Protection and 
     Programs Directorate.
       (G) The Director of Disability Integration and Coordination 
     of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
       (H) The Chairperson of the National Council on Disability.
       (I) Qualified individuals appointed by the Administrator as 
     soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act 
     from among the following:
       (i) Representatives of State and local governments, 
     representatives of emergency management agencies, and 
     representatives of emergency response providers.
       (ii) Representatives from federally recognized Indian 
     tribes and national Indian organizations.
       (iii) Individuals who have the requisite technical 
     knowledge and expertise to serve on the Subcommittee, 
     including representatives of--

       (I) communications service providers;
       (II) vendors, developers, and manufacturers of systems, 
     facilities, equipment, and capabilities for the provision of 
     communications services;
       (III) third-party service bureaus;
       (IV) the broadcasting industry, including public 
     broadcasting;
       (V) the commercial mobile radio service industry;
       (VI) the cable industry;
       (VII) the satellite industry;
       (VIII) national organizations representing individuals with 
     disabilities, the blind, deaf, and hearing-loss communities, 
     individuals with access and functional needs, and the 
     elderly;
       (IX) consumer or privacy advocates; and
       (X) organizations representing individuals with limited-
     English proficiency.

       (iv) Qualified representatives of such other stakeholders 
     and interested and affected parties as the Administrator 
     considers appropriate.
       (3) Chairperson.--The Deputy Administrator for Protection 
     and National Preparedness of the Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency shall serve as the Chairperson of the Subcommittee.
       (4) Meetings.--
       (A) Initial meeting.--The initial meeting of the 
     Subcommittee shall take place not later than 120 days after 
     the date of enactment of this Act.
       (B) Other meetings.--After the initial meeting, the 
     Subcommittee shall meet, at least annually, at the call of 
     the Chairperson.
       (5) Consultation with nonmembers.--The Subcommittee and the 
     program offices for the integrated public alert and warning 
     system for the United States shall consult with individuals 
     and entities that are not represented on the Subcommittee to 
     consider new and developing technologies that may be 
     beneficial to the public alert and warning system, 
     including--
       (A) the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency;
       (B) entities engaged in federally funded research; and
       (C) academic institutions engaged in relevant work and 
     research.
       (6) Recommendations.--The Subcommittee shall--
       (A) develop recommendations for an integrated public alert 
     and warning system; and
       (B) in developing the recommendations under subparagraph 
     (A), consider--
       (i) recommendations for common alerting and warning 
     protocols, standards, terminology, and operating procedures 
     for the public alert and warning system; and
       (ii) recommendations to provide for a public alert and 
     warning system that--

       (I) has the capability to adapt the distribution and 
     content of communications on the basis of geographic 
     location, risks, or personal user preferences, as 
     appropriate;
       (II) has the capability to alert and warn individuals with 
     disabilities and individuals with limited-English 
     proficiency;
       (III) to the extent appropriate, incorporates multiple 
     communications technologies;
       (IV) is designed to adapt to, and incorporate, future 
     technologies for communicating directly with the public;
       (V) is designed to provide alerts to the largest portion of 
     the affected population feasible, including nonresident 
     visitors and tourists, and improve the ability of remote 
     areas to receive alerts;
       (VI) promotes local and regional public and private 
     partnerships to enhance community preparedness and response; 
     and
       (VII) provides redundant alert mechanisms, if practicable, 
     to reach the greatest number of people regardless of whether 
     they have access to, or use, any specific medium of 
     communication or any particular device.

       (7) Report.--
       (A) Subcommittee submission.--Not later than 1 year after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the Subcommittee shall 
     submit to the National Advisory Council a report containing 
     any recommendations required to be developed under paragraph 
     (6) for approval by the National Advisory Council.
       (B) Submission by national advisory council.--If the 
     National Advisory Council

[[Page 11267]]

     approves the recommendations contained in the report 
     submitted under subparagraph (A), the National Advisory 
     Council shall submit the report to--
       (i) the head of each agency represented on the 
     Subcommittee;
       (ii) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate; and
       (iii) the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee 
     on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (8) Termination.--The Subcommittee shall terminate not 
     later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this Act and the amendments 
     made by this Act such sums as may be necessary for each of 
     fiscal years 2016, 2017, and 2018.
       (d) Limitations on Statutory Construction.--
       (1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term 
     ``participating commercial mobile service provider'' has the 
     meaning given that term under section 10.10(f) of title 47, 
     Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of 
     enactment of this Act.
       (2) Limitations.--Nothing in this Act, including an 
     amendment made by this Act, shall be construed--
       (A) to affect any authority--
       (i) of the Department of Commerce;
       (ii) of the Federal Communications Commission; or
       (iii) provided under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
     and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.);
       (B) to provide the Secretary of Homeland Security with 
     authority to require any action by the Department of 
     Commerce, the Federal Communications Commission, or any 
     nongovernmental entity;
       (C) to apply to, or to provide the Administrator of the 
     Federal Emergency Management Agency with authority over, any 
     participating commercial mobile service provider;
       (D) to alter in any way the wireless emergency alerts 
     service established under the Warning, Alert, and Response 
     Network Act (47 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.) or any related orders 
     issued by the Federal Communications Commission after October 
     13, 2006; or
       (E) to provide the Federal Emergency Management Agency with 
     authority to require a State or local jurisdiction to use the 
     integrated public alert and warning system of the United 
     States.

                          ____________________