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H.R. 5785: Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act

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H.R. 5785: Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act

109th Congress · introduced 2006-07-13 · Emergency Management · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2006-07-13 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Shimkus, John [R-IL-19] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act

Plain summary

Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act - Establishes: (1) a voluntary National Alert System to provide a public communications system capable of alerting the public to emergency situations on a national, regional, or local basis; and (2) the National Alert Office within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to administer, operate, and manage the System. Sets forth System functions and capabilities, including: (1) enabling federal, state, tribal, or local government officials with credentials issued by the Office to alert the public to imminent threats that present a significant risk of injury or death; and (2) incorporating multiple communications technologies without interfering with existing alerts or communications systems employed by emergency response personnel. Requires the System to operate consistent with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) All-Hazards Radio System. Requires the Office to establish a process for issuing credentials to enable officials responsible for issuing safety warnings to access the System. Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to initiate proceedings to: (1) allow licensees providing commercial mobile service to elect to transmit System alerts to subscribers; and (2) require public broadcast television licensees to install necessary equipment to enable transmitters to receive and retransmit System alerts. Requires the Director of the Office to establish a National Alert System Working Group to develop recommendations for protocols, procedures, guidelines, and standards and to coordinate with the operators of nuclear power plants and other critical infrastructure facilities to integrate emergency alert systems.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Shimkus, John [R-IL-19] · 13 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong109-hr5785 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong109 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong109