Bill > HR5154

This bill, known as the Resilient Emergency Alert Communications and Training Act (REACT Act), requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator to establish a program providing technical and financial assistance to state, local, and tribal authorities for testing emergency alert and warning systems. The program will support comprehensive efforts including community-based exercises, live testing, developing message templates, training on best practices for crafting and disseminating emergency alerts, and creating standardized metrics to assess system effectiveness. The bill mandates that within one year, FEMA must submit an operational plan to Congress detailing anticipated costs and assessment metrics, and within two years and annually thereafter, provide a report on the training, testing, and public education efforts. The program will include developing clear procedures for alert authorization, testing technology infrastructure, creating public education campaigns about emergency alert systems, and reviewing local policies. The bill authorizes $30 million annually from fiscal years 2025 through 2035 and explicitly states that local authorities are not mandated to use any specific emergency alert system. The program is designed to sunset after 10 years, with a focus on improving emergency communication capabilities across different jurisdictions and platforms.

Business and Industry, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5154/all-info