Bill Summary
This legislation, known as the "National Response Framework Improvement Act of 2020", aims to require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to evaluate the National Response Framework in light of lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Response Framework is a document that outlines the roles and responsibilities of different federal agencies in responding to disasters and emergencies. The bill requires the Administrator of FEMA to provide periodic summaries of any gaps or inefficiencies in the National Response Framework related to the pandemic to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Homeland Security. The Administrator is also required to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Framework after the pandemic has ended and make any necessary updates or recommendations for improvement. The bill also requires the Administrator to provide regular briefings to the appropriate congressional committees on the summaries and evaluations. The legislation also amends the Homeland Security Act to require biennial evaluations of the National Response Framework, including identifying potential gaps and inefficiencies, providing recommendations for improvement, and assessing training programs for agencies involved in emergency response. The bill also states that if the evaluation required by this legislation is completed within the first two years after its enactment, it will fulfill the biennial evaluation requirement for the first two years.
Possible Impacts
1. People may be affected by this legislation if they rely on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for assistance during national emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. By requiring FEMA to evaluate the National Response Framework, the legislation aims to improve the agency's response to future crises and potentially better protect the well-being of individuals and communities.
2. The legislation could also have an impact on the work and responsibilities of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives. These committees will be tasked with receiving briefings and updates on the National Response Framework, which may require them to allocate additional resources and time towards this oversight.
3. The legislation may also affect the training programs and resources available to emergency support function coordinators, primary agencies, and support agencies. The required evaluations and recommendations could potentially result in changes to these programs, which could impact the knowledge and preparedness of those responsible for responding to national emergencies.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4153 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 621
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4153
[Report No. 116-318]
To require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to evaluate the
National Response Framework based on lessons learned from the COVID-19
pandemic, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 2, 2020
Mr. Johnson introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
December 14, 2020
Reported by Mr. Johnson, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to evaluate the
National Response Framework based on lessons learned from the COVID-19
pandemic, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``National Response Framework
Improvement Act of 2020''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. EVALUATION OF NATIONAL RESPONSE FRAMEWORK.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (referred to in this Act as the ``Administrator''),
acting through the National Integration Center, shall conduct an
initial evaluation of the National Response Framework of the Department
of Homeland Security to determine whether there are any gaps or
inefficiencies in the Framework based on the response to the COVID-19
pandemic.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Requirements.--After conducting the evaluation
required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in accordance with section 509(b)(2) of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 319(b)(2)), update the
National Response Framework, in coordination with the heads of
the primary and support agencies of the emergency support
functions, based on the gaps or inefficiencies identified
through the evaluation;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) provide recommendations on actions relevant
agencies can take to address gaps identified through the
evaluation; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) conduct an additional evaluation as part of
the after-action review process of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 3. INTERAGENCY INFORMATION SHARING.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--The Administrator shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) evaluate the processes for collecting and
sharing information across the primary and support agencies of
the emergency support functions during an incident for which
the emergency support functions are activated under the
National Response Framework;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) provide recommendations to the heads of the
primary and support agencies of emergency support functions for
how to improve processes under paragraph (1); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) update the National Response Framework to
account for new information collection and sharing processes
that result from the evaluation and recommendations under
paragraphs (1) and (2).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Coordination.--In evaluating the processes required
under subsection (a)(1), the Administrator shall coordinate with the
head of each emergency support function coordinator and the heads of
primary and support agencies of the emergency support
functions.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Modifications.--The Administrator may make
modifications to the processes incorporated into the National Response
Framework under subsection (a)(3) during an incident in which the
emergency support functions are activated under the National Response
Framework if the Administrator determines such modifications are
necessary to ensure efficient communication and information
sharing.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 4. TRAINING.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Evaluation of Training Program.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) conduct an assessment of the training programs
for primary and support agencies of the emergency support
functions under the National Response Network that are in
effect on the date of enactment of this Act; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) provide recommendations to the heads of the
primary and support agencies of emergency support functions for
how to improve the training programs described in paragraph
(1).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Annual Training.--The Administrator shall, on an
annual basis and in coordination with the heads of primary and support
agencies of the emergency support functions under the National Response
Framework, provide training on enhancements or updates made to the
National Response Framework.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 5. REQUIRED BRIEFING.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall brief the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives on--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the evaluation conducted under section 2,
including the updates made to the National Response Framework
and the recommendations required under section 2(b);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the evaluation and recommendations developed
under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 3(a); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the training program required to be
established under section 4, including information relating to
how frequently training is offered and the attendance of the
training by employees of relevant agencies.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Notification.--The Administrator shall provide notice
to Congress on any technology system updates that develop after the
briefing required under subsection (a) that may impact information
sharing efforts across the emergency support functions.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Response Framework
Improvement Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. ROLLING SUMMARIES OF NATIONAL RESPONSE FRAMEWORK.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, and as frequently thereafter as the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (referred to
in this Act as the ``Administrator'') determines appropriate until the
date on which the first biennial evaluation required under subparagraph
(D) of section 509(b)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C.
319(b)(2)), as added by section 4 of this Act, is submitted, the
Administrator shall provide not less than 1 summary on any gaps or
inefficiencies in the National Response Framework of the Department of
Homeland Security based on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic to--
(1) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives.
(b) Requirements.--After the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, as part
of the after-action review process of the COVID-19 pandemic by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Administrator shall conduct an
evaluation of the National Response Framework, which shall include--
(1) any updates, as determined necessary by the
Administrator, to the National Response Framework, in
coordination with the heads of the primary and support agencies
of the emergency support functions, based on the gaps or
inefficiencies identified through the evaluation; and
(2) recommendations on actions relevant agencies can take
to address gaps identified through the evaluation.
SEC. 3. REQUIRED BRIEFINGS.
The Administrator shall brief the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland
Security of the House of Representatives on each summary required to be
provided under section 2(a) not later than 1 year after the date on
which the summary is provided.
SEC. 4. BIENNIAL EVALUATIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 509(b) of the Homeland Security Act of
2002 (6 U.S.C. 319(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) not less frequently than once every 2 years--
``(i) evaluating potential gaps and
inefficiencies in the National Response
Framework, including by evaluating the
processes for collecting and sharing
information across the emergency support
function coordinators, primary agencies, and
support agencies during an incident for which
the emergency support functions are activated
under the National Response Framework;
``(ii) providing recommendations to the
heads of the emergency support function
coordinators, primary agencies, and support
agencies for how to improve processes described
in clause (i);
``(iii) updating the National Response
Framework to account for new information
collection and sharing processes that result
from the evaluation and recommendations under
clauses (i) and (ii), including by modifying
any previously incorporated processes if the
Administrator determines such modifications are
necessary to ensure efficient communication and
information sharing;
``(iv) conducting an assessment of the
training programs for emergency support
function coordinators, primary agencies, and
support agencies; and
``(v) providing recommendations to the
heads of the emergency support function
coordinators, primary agencies, and support
agencies of emergency support functions for how
to improve the training programs described in
clause (iv).''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Congressional notification.--Not later than 30 days
after the date on which the Administrator, acting through the
National Integration Center, completes an evaluation required
under paragraph (2)(D), the Administrator shall provide written
notice to the appropriate congressional committees.''.
(b) After-action Evaluation.--For purposes of the biennial
evaluation required under subparagraph (D) of section 509(b)(2) of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 319(b)(2)), as added by
subsection (a) of this section, if the evaluation required under
section 2(b)(3) of this Act is completed during the 2-year period
following the date of enactment of this Act, the evaluation shall be
considered to fulfill the biennial evaluation requirement in
subparagraph (D) of such section 509(b)(2) for the first 2-year period
after the date of enactment of this Act.
Calendar No. 621
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4153
[Report No. 116-318]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to evaluate the
National Response Framework based on lessons learned from the COVID-19
pandemic, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
December 14, 2020
Reported with an amendment