To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a study on how to improve training and support for local emergency response providers in areas with high concentrations of covered chemical facilities in how to respond to a terrorist attack on a chemical facility.

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 3310 To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a study on how to improve training and support for local emergency response providers in areas with high concentrations of covered chemical facilities in how to respond to a terrorist attack on a chemical facility. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 18, 2019 Ms. JACKSON LEE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a study on how to improve training and support for local emergency response providers in areas with high concentrations of covered chemical facilities in how to respond to a terrorist attack on a chemical facility. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:05 Jun 21, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3310.IH H3310 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 3310 IH SECTION 1. STUDY ON LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE CA- 1 PACITY TO RESPOND TO CHEMICAL SECU- 2 RITY INCIDENTS. 3 (a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Homeland 4 Security, acting through the Under Secretary for Science 5 and Technology, shall conduct a study on how to improve 6 training and support for local emergency response pro- 7 viders in areas with high concentrations of covered chem- 8 ical facilities in how to respond to a terrorist attack on 9 a chemical facility. 10 (b) FEATURES.—In carrying out the study required 11 under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider, as ap- 12 propriate— 13 (1) the degree to which jurisdictions with high 14 concentrations of covered chemical facilities have 15 fire, police, medical, and other response personnel 16 trained and equipped to respond to a terrorist attack 17 on a chemical facility and have— 18 (A) evacuation and shelter in place proto- 19 cols tailored to the unique needs of the jurisdic- 20 tion and the chemical properties of chemicals of 21 interest that would be involved in the attack 22 and that take into consideration vulnerable pop- 23 ulations, including schools, child care centers, 24 nursing facilities, and hospitals; 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:05 Jun 21, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3310.IH H3310 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 3310 IH (B) community notification and warning 1 systems; and 2 (C) surge capacities of hospitals and other 3 health care facilities in the area; 4 (2) what, if any, distinctions are there in pre- 5 paredness for a terrorist attack on a chemical facil- 6 ity in jurisdictions that rely on volunteers to carry 7 out fire, police, medical and other response and ju- 8 risdictions that do not rely, in whole or in part, on 9 volunteers; and 10 (3) all training, equipment, and support pro- 11 vided by the Department of Homeland Security to 12 local emergency response providers in areas with a 13 high concentration of covered chemical facilities and 14 chemical facilities of interest. 15 (c) SURVEY.—In carrying out the study required 16 under subsection (a), the Secretary may partner with a 17 non-Departmental entity for the survey of a representative 18 sample of emergency response providers in areas with a 19 high concentration of covered chemical facilities, chemical 20 facilities of interest, or other facilities with large quantities 21 of chemicals. 22 (d) REPORT.—No later than two years from the date 23 on which the Secretary commences the study required 24 under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to Con- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:05 Jun 21, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3310.IH H3310 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 3310 IH gress the study, accompanied by plans, as appropriate, 1 to— 2 (1) improve the Department’s counterterrorism 3 preparedness and response planning, training, and 4 equipment efforts to ensure that they are better tai- 5 lored and resourced to address the unique needs of 6 local emergency response providers in areas with a 7 high concentration of covered chemical facilities and 8 chemical facilities of interest; and 9 (2) improve coordination among Federal, State, 10 local, tribal, and territorial government officials in 11 emergency planning and response in areas with high 12 concentrations of covered chemical facilities, chem- 13 ical facilities of interest, or other facilities with large 14 quantities of hazardous chemicals. 15 (e) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The report required 16 under this section shall be made publicly available, but 17 may include a classified annex. 18 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:05 Jun 21, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H3310.IH H3310 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS