Addressing the Need for Updated Critical Emergency Alert Systems

Floor Speech

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Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, on January 13, earlier this year, there was a text message that was sent out to over a million phones across the State of Hawaii that read: ``Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.''

Now, this turned out to be a false alarm, but this message terrified residents and visitors all across our State and revealed deep gaps within an alert system, preparedness measures, and communication channels at every level of government.

In the months since, my colleagues from Hawaii and I have introduced several pieces of legislation to address the problems that led to and contributed to this false alert going out so that we can try to prevent something like this from happening again, not only in Hawaii but anywhere in the country.

We have introduced the READI Act to expand delivery of critical emergency alerts to cellphones, TVs, and radios; recognize, with technology, the new ways that people are getting information; and see how we can get alerts through streaming services like Pandora, Spotify, Netflix, and others.

Ensuring that we take these steps now, ahead of any future disaster, is critical for every community across this country, and I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting and passing this timely and important legislation.

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