Legis Daily

READI Act

USA116th CongressS-2693| Senate 
| Updated: 9/30/2020
Brian Schatz

Brian Schatz

Democratic Senator

Hawaii

Cosponsors (3)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)John Thune (Republican)Jon Tester (Democratic)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement Act of 2020 or READI Act This bill modifies how citizens receive emergency alerts through wireless and broadcast emergency alert systems. Specifically, the bill includes emergency alerts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a type of alert that mobile subscribers may not block from their devices (currently, only alerts from the President may not be blocked). The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must adopt regulations that encourage states to establish a State Emergency Communications Commission (SECC) and require each SECC to meet at least annually to review and update its Emergency Alert System Plan. The FCC must approve or disapprove the updated plan. The FCC shall also (1) establish a system to receive from FEMA or state, tribal, or local governments reports of false alerts under the Emergency Alert System (EAS) or the Wireless EAS to record such false alerts and examine their causes; (2) modify the EAS to provide for repeating messages while an alert remains pending; and (3) examine the feasibility of updating the EAS to enable or improve alerts provided through the internet, including through audio and video streaming services.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 115-3238
READI Act
Oct 24, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Oct 24, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Nov 13, 2019
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Jul 21, 2020
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker without amendment. With written report No. 116-240.
Jul 21, 2020
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 492.
Sep 24, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S5881-5882)
Sep 24, 2020
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S5881-5882)
Sep 24, 2020
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5881-5882)
Sep 29, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Sep 29, 2020
Received in the House.
Sep 30, 2020
Held at the desk.
Nov 18, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-6096
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 596.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 115-3238
    READI Act


  • October 24, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 24, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • November 13, 2019
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.


  • July 21, 2020
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker without amendment. With written report No. 116-240.


  • July 21, 2020
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 492.


  • September 24, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S5881-5882)


  • September 24, 2020
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S5881-5882)


  • September 24, 2020
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5881-5882)


  • September 29, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • September 29, 2020
    Received in the House.


  • September 30, 2020
    Held at the desk.


  • November 18, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-6096
    Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 596.

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 116-6096: READI Act
  • S 116-4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021
  • HR 116-4856: READI Act
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresBroadcasting, cable, digital technologiesCongressional oversightEmergency communications systemsFederal Communications Commission (FCC)Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Government information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsIntergovernmental relationsInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaPublic participation and lobbyingState and local government operationsTelephone and wireless communication

READI Act

USA116th CongressS-2693| Senate 
| Updated: 9/30/2020
Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement Act of 2020 or READI Act This bill modifies how citizens receive emergency alerts through wireless and broadcast emergency alert systems. Specifically, the bill includes emergency alerts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a type of alert that mobile subscribers may not block from their devices (currently, only alerts from the President may not be blocked). The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must adopt regulations that encourage states to establish a State Emergency Communications Commission (SECC) and require each SECC to meet at least annually to review and update its Emergency Alert System Plan. The FCC must approve or disapprove the updated plan. The FCC shall also (1) establish a system to receive from FEMA or state, tribal, or local governments reports of false alerts under the Emergency Alert System (EAS) or the Wireless EAS to record such false alerts and examine their causes; (2) modify the EAS to provide for repeating messages while an alert remains pending; and (3) examine the feasibility of updating the EAS to enable or improve alerts provided through the internet, including through audio and video streaming services.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 115-3238
READI Act
Oct 24, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Oct 24, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Nov 13, 2019
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Jul 21, 2020
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker without amendment. With written report No. 116-240.
Jul 21, 2020
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 492.
Sep 24, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S5881-5882)
Sep 24, 2020
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S5881-5882)
Sep 24, 2020
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5881-5882)
Sep 29, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Sep 29, 2020
Received in the House.
Sep 30, 2020
Held at the desk.
Nov 18, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-6096
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 596.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 115-3238
    READI Act


  • October 24, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 24, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • November 13, 2019
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.


  • July 21, 2020
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker without amendment. With written report No. 116-240.


  • July 21, 2020
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 492.


  • September 24, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S5881-5882)


  • September 24, 2020
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S5881-5882)


  • September 24, 2020
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5881-5882)


  • September 29, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • September 29, 2020
    Received in the House.


  • September 30, 2020
    Held at the desk.


  • November 18, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-6096
    Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 596.
Brian Schatz

Brian Schatz

Democratic Senator

Hawaii

Cosponsors (3)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)John Thune (Republican)Jon Tester (Democratic)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 116-6096: READI Act
  • S 116-4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021
  • HR 116-4856: READI Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresBroadcasting, cable, digital technologiesCongressional oversightEmergency communications systemsFederal Communications Commission (FCC)Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Government information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsIntergovernmental relationsInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaPublic participation and lobbyingState and local government operationsTelephone and wireless communication