Bilirakis Reintroduces Integrated Public Alert Legislation

the Homeland Security Committee and the Communications Subcommittee. The legislation would “amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to modernize and implement the national integrated public alert and warning system to disseminate homeland security information and other information,” the latest bill text said. The system would be “designed to improve the ability of affected populations in remote areas and areas with underdeveloped telecommunications infrastructure to receive alerts,” it said. The legislation also would create the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Advisory Committee, which would include the chairman of the FCC as a member. Bilirakis’ co-sponsors include Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mike McCaul, R-Texas, and Rep. Susan Brooks, R-Ind., who chaired the Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness Subcommittee last Congress. It has been referred to Homeland Security and the Transportation Committee. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., a member of the Transportation Committee, introduced legislation of the same name (HR-1472) on March 19, also referred to those two committees. Barletta’s co-sponsors include Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster, R-Pa., ranking member Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., and Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., another Transportation member.