HR 2892 United States House · 118th Congress

WARN Act

HR 2892, the WARN Act, directs the Comptroller General to study how local alert systems deliver weather emergency information during events like storms or power outages. The study will evaluate different alert methods - including social media - and develop best practices for clearer, faster public notifications. It requires a report to Congress within one year, but the bill itself creates no new laws or directly affects any group. This is a procedural study bill focused on improving future emergency communication systems.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2023

Committee Review

Dec 2024

House Passage

Dec 2024

Senate Passage

President

Introduced Apr 26, 2023 Last action Dec 10, 2024

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 4 edits · Dec 9, 2024

MODERATE

The engrossed version of HR 2892 broadens the scope of the GAO study from local alerting systems to include State and Federal systems, replaces a requirement to establish best practices with an assessment of existing guidance and training, adds a new provision requiring input from emergency managers and community groups, and extends the report deadline from one year to 18 months.

SCOPE

The study scope was expanded from 'local alerting systems' to 'local, State, and Federal emergency alerting systems,' meaning GAO will now evaluate all levels of government rather than just local ones.

REQUIREMENT

Subsection (b)(2) was changed from requiring GAO to 'establish a set of best practices for such alerts' to instead 'assess the extent that guidance and training exists for developing alert content, such as ensuring alerts are clear, relevant, and provide the public with actionable information.' This shifts the task from creating new standards to evaluating what already exists.

A new subsection (b)(3) was added requiring GAO to 'determine whether improvements could be made to public alerting based on input from a selected sample of emergency managers, local officials, and community groups.'

TIMELINE

The deadline for the GAO report to Congress was extended from 1 year after enactment to 18 months after enactment.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Dec 10, 2024

Committee

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

upper

Dec 9, 2024

Introduced

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

lower

Dec 9, 2024

Introduced

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6531-6532)

lower

Dec 9, 2024

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6531-6532)

lower

Dec 9, 2024

Introduced

Mr. Graves (LA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

lower

Dec 5, 2024

Lower · Passed

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 118-814.

lower

Sep 18, 2024

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Sep 18, 2024

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Discharged

lower

Apr 27, 2023

Committee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

lower

Apr 26, 2023

Committee

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

lower

Apr 26, 2023

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 23 co-sponsors