Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1180, the Integrated Public Alert Warning System, or IPAWS, Modernization Act.

Modernizing our alert and warning capabilities is essential to keeping us safe. We must effectively communicate important information to the public during national emergencies, and our warning efforts must evolve with the growing and emerging threats of today.

During my time as chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, this was a top priority of mine. I have worked to update our alert and warning systems and utilize innovative new technologies.

Since the 112th Congress, I have introduced and advocated for the passage and enactment of this important piece of legislation, which is very similar to my bill, H.R. 1738.

During my work on the Integrated Public Alert Warning System Modernization Act, I heard from many stakeholders and experts who highlighted the need to ensure alert systems are available to the largest number of people, including individuals with disabilities and those living in rural areas.

In 2006, FEMA implemented the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, which improved public safety by quickly disseminating emergency messages and lifesaving information to the public. However, these systems have not been modernized in decades, which is why I have consistently reintroduced this bill. With congressional oversight, we can ensure our constituents have alert systems that work reliably, effectively, and efficiently.

S. 1180 provides authorization to update our communications infrastructure to allow important information and alerts for instantaneous message delivery over cell phones, text messaging, the Internet, and broadcasting.

Additionally, this bill improves our capabilities and communications network by creating a national public warning working group to bring State and local officials together. This will ensure systems developers, regulators, users, and relay participants meet on a regular basis. This important legislation allows us to uphold our responsibility in the protection of the people we serve.

I want to thank Senator Johnson for his work and advocacy on this issue.

I also want to thank my colleagues: Representative Susan Brooks; chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Chairman McCaul; and Subcommittee Chairman Donovan, for their support in cosponsoring my bill, H.R. 1738.

This is a great step in the right direction, and we must continue this progress of modernizing our capabilities with the passage of this bill. I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation. National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations, April 29, 2015. Hon. Michael McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The undersigned, who are the chief executive officers of the fifty State Broadcasters Associations in the United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, are pleased to offer our support and endorsement for H.R. 1738, the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2015.

If passed, this bill will ensure that more people receive life-saving information in more parts of America, more of the time, through current and future alert and warning technologies, while strengthening broadcasters' role as the backbone of America's public alerting system.

Many of us serve as chairs or members of our respective State Emergency Communications Committees, which are charged with managing the Emergency Alert System (EAS) in our states. We have all worked tirelessly to ensure that a robust, reliable alerting system is available when it is needed.

We have observed over the years that the system needs a higher level of coordination among the various federal, state and local public safety and emergency management agencies as ``message originators'' on the one hand, and the broadcast, cable and satellite ``message relayers'' on the other hand; and that the absence of any formal, ongoing training of state and local public safety and emergency management personnel on the proper use of EAS has hampered state and local officials' willingness and ability to use it efficiently in times of emergency, thus putting lives and property at risk.

This bill will address these problems and will make giant strides toward improvement of alert and warning capability in our states and across our nation. We look forward to the successful passage of this important measure. Very truly yours, The Undersigned CEOs of the Fifty State Broadcast Trade Associations.

Alabama Broadcasters Association, Sharon Tinsley; Alaska Broadcasters Association, Cathy Hiebert; Arizona Broadcasters Association, Art Brooks; Arkansas Broadcasters Association, Doug Krile; California Broadcasters Association, Stan Statham; Colorado Broadcasters Association, Justin Sasso; Connecticut Broadcasters Association, Michael C. Rice; Florida Association of Broadcasters, C. Patrick Roberts; Georgia Association of Broadcasters, Bob Houghton; Hawaii Association of Broadcasters, Jamie Hartnett; Idaho State Broadcasters Association, Connie Searles; Illinois Broadcasters Association, Dennis Lyle; Indiana Broadcasters Association, Joe Misiewicz; Iowa Broadcasters Association, Sue Toma; Kansas Association of Broadcasters, Kent Cornish; Kentucky Broadcasters Association, Gary White; Louisiana Association of Broadcasters, Polly Prince Johnson; Maine Association of Broadcasters, Suzanne Goucher; Maryland/D.C./ Delaware (MDCD) Broadcasters Association, Lisa Reynolds.

Massachusetts Broadcasters Association, Jordan Walton; Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Karole L. White; Minnesota Broadcasters Association, Jim duBois; Mississippi Association of Broadcasters, Karla Hooten; Missouri Broadcasters Association, Mark Gordon; Montana Broadcasters Association, Dewey Bruce; Nebraska Broadcasters Association, Jim Timm; Nevada Broadcasters Association, Mary Beth Sewald; New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters, Jordan Walton; New Jersey Broadcasters Association, Paul Rotella; New Mexico Broadcasters Association, Paula Maes; New York State Broadcasters Association, David Donovan; North Carolina Association of Broadcasters, Wade Hargrove, Esq.; North Dakota Broadcasters Association, Beth Helfrich; Ohio Association of Broadcasters, Chris Merritt; Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters, Vance Harrison; Oregon Association of Broadcasters, Bill Johnstone; Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters, Rich Wyckoff.

Radio Broadcasters Association of Puerto Rico, Jose A. Ribas Dominicci; Rhode Island Broadcasters Association, Lori Needham; South Carolina Broadcasters Association, Shani White; South Dakota Broadcasters Association, Steve Willard; Tennessee Association of Broadcasters, White Adamson; Texas Association of Broadcasters, Oscar Rodriguez; Utah Broadcasters Association, Michele Zabriskie; Vermont Association of Broadcasters, Jim Condon; Virginia Association of Broadcasters, Doug Easter; Washington State Association of Broadcasters, Mark Allen; West Virginia Broadcasters Association, Michele Crist; Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, Michelle Vetterkind; Wyoming Association of Broadcasters, Laura Grott.

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