[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5483 Introduced in House (IH)]
107th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5483
To enhance homeland security by encouraging the development of regional
comprehensive emergency preparedness and coordination plans.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 26, 2002
Mr. Kingston (for himself, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mr. Tom Davis of
Virginia, and Mr. Lewis of Kentucky) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To enhance homeland security by encouraging the development of regional
comprehensive emergency preparedness and coordination plans.
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 ``Regional Comprehensive Emergency
Preparedness, Coordination, and Recovery Act of 2002''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Responders to the terrorist attacks at the World Trade
Center, the Pentagon, and the tragedy in Pennsylvania on
September 11, 2001, from numerous jurisdictions assisted the
fire and rescue workers responsible for responding within their
jurisdictions.
(2) Even in the largest municipality, first responders need
the support of local elected officials and neighboring
jurisdictions, as well as support from numerous regional,
State, Federal, and private sector entities.
(3) The sheer number of agencies taking part in any
emergency response demands coordination, mutual support, and
effective communication. Regional planning and coordination of
response efforts are essential to ensure the least loss of life
and damage to property.
(4) Regional councils of governments, regional planning
commissions, and development districts have the accountability
and experience necessary to coordinate comprehensive regional
plans that encompass the needs of the Federal, State, and local
governments, the private sector, and all other parties with a
stake in providing for the security of their communities.
Regional councils of government can ensure the development of a
coordinated emergency preparedness and recovery plan involving
Federal, State, and local governments and the private sector.
(5) Coordinated, area-wide training, equipment acquisition,
and recovery planning is essential for effective regional
preparedness and mitigation.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to encourage and
facilitate the development and implementation of regional emergency
preparedness and coordination plans among Federal, State, and local
governments and the private sector within the region and to facilitate
preparedness and mitigation efforts.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) The term ``region'' means a designated
multijurisdictional planning area or a sub-State district with
boundaries established by State law or through mutual agreement
of local governments.
(2) The term ``regional council'' means a multipurpose
association of governments in a planning region, including
councils of governments, regional planning commissions, and
area development districts.
(3) The term ``local government'' means any city, county,
or township within the United States.
(4) The term ``State'' means any of the 50 States, the
District of Columbia, or any territory of the United States.
(5) The term ``stakeholder'' means Federal, State, local,
private, and nonprofit entities, including, but not limited
to--
(A) local elected officials;
(B) local State emergency management agencies;
(C) local fire and rescue personnel;
(D) health professionals;
(E) local school representatives;
(F) college and university representatives;
(G) the business community;
(H) port and airport officials;
(I) utilities;
(J) State departments of transportation; and
(K) other individuals and entities identified by
the stakeholders.
(6) The term ``regional plan'' means a regional emergency
preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery plan.
SEC. 4. REQUIREMENT TO COORDINATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, COORDINATION, AND RECOVERY PLANS.
(a) In General.--The regional councils as defined in section 3(2)
shall--
(1) convene all local governments, Federal, State, and
private sector interests within a region to coordinate the
development of emergency preparedness, response, mitigation,
and recovery plans for the entire region; and
(2) convene all stakeholders within the region.
(b) Elements of the Regional Plan.--The emergency response plan
required to be developed under subsection (a) shall include, at a
minimum--
(1) an assessment of potential targets for destruction;
(2) an assessment of available equipment and manpower to
respond to a disaster;
(3) an assessment of equipment needs;
(4) establishment of a regional communication system among
stakeholders;
(5) establishment of a secure information repository that
includes information needed, as necessary, to coordinate
stakeholder responsibilities within the region; and
(6) information on the following:
(A) Response resources.--
(i) Locations, contacts, capabilities, and
capacities of emergency medical facilities.
(ii) Locations, contacts, and equipment
listings for fire, police, and emergency
medical technician services.
(iii) Locations of, and 24-hour contacts
for, appropriate medical facilities and
personnel and other potential first responders.
(iv) Locations and contacts for area
stakeholders involved in the operation and
maintenance of essential services within the
region.
(v) Locations and contacts for area key
military personnel and facilities.
(B) Support facilities.--
(i) Locations, capabilities, and capacities
of existing shelters.
(ii) Locations of, and available facilities
at, schools, colleges, universities, churches,
and other public buildings.
(iii) Locations of major water and food
supplies.
(C) Infrastructure.--
(i) Locations of water treatment and
storage facilities and distribution mains.
(ii) Locations of utilities lines,
pipelines, and generating facilities.
(iii) Locations of sewer mains and
treatment plants.
(iv) Locations of voice, data, video,
microwave, and satellite uplink communication
facilities.
(v) Locations of radio and television
studios and transmission sites.
(vi) Locations and capacities of shortwave
radio facilities and volunteers.
(vii) Locations of major bridges and dams.
(viii) Locations of major educational
facilities.
(D) Transportation facilities.--
(i) Locations and capacities of major
transportation facilities, lines, and
terminals, including ports and airports.
(ii) Locations and capacities of local and
regional transportation routes.
(E) At-risk populations.--
(i) Locations of large population
concentrations and the times of those
concentrations.
(ii) Schedules of major public events and
capacities of venues.
(iii) Population statistics, including
block level population data.
(iv) School enrollment numbers.
(v) Locations of elderly, infirm, and
disabled persons who need special assistance.
(F) Potential targets.--
(i) Locations of major concentrations of
hazardous and biohazard chemicals.
(ii) Locations of fuel depots and
dispensing facilities which meet certain
Environmental Protection Agency thresholds.
(iii) Locations of major concentrations of
munitions and explosives.
(iv) Locations of other potential targets,
such as nuclear power plants, in the region.
(G) Debris disposal.--
(i) Identification of locations for debris
disposal.
(ii) Identification of potential health
hazards to personnel involved in debris
disposal.
(c) Planning Activities.--Planning activities pursuant to this
section shall include analyzing and documenting the possibility of a
disaster and the potential consequences or impacts upon life, property,
and the environment and planning for utilization of Geographic
Information Systems, to assess hazards and evaluate the consequences of
potential emergencies or disasters.
(d) Approval of Regional Plan.--The plan shall be approved by the
designated regional planning agency's governing body and Governor or
Governors not later than the date that is 12 months after the
designated agency has received an initial planning grant under this
Act.
(e) Update of Regional Plan.--The regional plan shall be reviewed
annually and updated as needed, based on revised threat assessments,
trainings, and drills.
(f) Security of Mapping and Infrastructure Information Contained
Within Regional Plan.--(1) For security purposes, the information
contained in the regional plan required under subsection (b)(5) shall
be available only to those public and private officials and agencies
that have responsibility under such plan.
(2) Computer and software technology shall be required for securing
the key resources and critical infrastructure that may be outlined
within the regional plan.
(3) It shall be necessary to seek the appropriate measures to
protect the key resources and critical infrastructure within each
region in coordination with other agencies and representatives from
within the region including Federal, State, and local government
personnel, agencies and authorities, the private sector, and other
entities.
(4) It shall be necessary to continue to review and analyze and
make recommendations for improvements in the policies and procedures
governing the security of this information and sharing it with law
enforcement, intelligence, emergency management, and other entities
related to homeland security within the Federal Government and between
such representatives within the region, including Federal, State, and
local government personnel agencies, authorities, and the private
sector.
SEC. 5. FUNDING.
(a) In General.--From the amounts appropriated to Federal or State
agencies for emergency preparedness and homeland security, an amount of
not less than three percent shall be allocated to the Department of
Homeland Security, or other agency designated by Congress, for the
preparation, review, and update of regional plans required by this Act.
Such funds shall be allocated to designated regional councils for the
purposes set forth in this Act.
(b) Formula.--Allocations to regions shall be according to a
formula that takes into account the population of a region, base
amounts necessary to prepare a regional plan, vulnerability to
catastrophic events, and the presence of facilities of State or
national significance.
(c) Consistency.--Funding from Federal agencies for local,
regional, or State projects for emergency preparedness, response,
recovery, or mitigation shall require consistency with regional plans.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line