Ask AI
Public Law114th CongressEmergency Management
S. 546Became Law

RESPONSE Act of 2016

This bill became law

Filed
Comm.
Floor
Both
Law

What it doesSummary public law (Dec 16, 2016)

RESPONSE Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish the Railroad Emergency Services Preparedness, Operational Needs, and Safety Evaluation (RESPONSE) Subcommittee of the National Advisory Council.

The RESPONSE Subcommittee shall develop recommendations for improving emergency responder training and resource allocation for hazardous materials (hazmat) incidents involving railroads after evaluating the following topics:

  • the quality and application of training for state and local emergency responders related to rail hazmat incidents, including training for emergency responders serving small communities near railroads;
  • the availability and effectiveness of federal, state, local, and nongovernmental funding levels related to training emergency responders for rail hazmat incidents, including emergency responders serving small communities near railroads; and
  • the strategy for integrating commodity flow studies, mapping, and rail and hazmat databases for state and local emergency responders and increasing the rate of access to the individual responder in existing or emerging communications technology.

The RESPONSE Subcommittee shall terminate within 90 days after the council submits a report approving the RESPONSE Subcommittee recommendations.

What just happenedDec 16, 2016

Became Public Law No: 114-321.

Who’s behind it

Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND](D-ND)Sponsor
7 cosponsors5 D1 R1 I
Read on Congress.gov
7cosponsors2committees34actions1amendments1related bills10subjects
  1. Dec 16, 2016President

    Became Public Law No: 114-321.

  2. Dec 16, 2016BecameLaw36000

    Became Public Law No: 114-321.

  3. Dec 16, 2016President

    Signed by President.

  4. Dec 16, 2016BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  5. Dec 14, 2016Floor

    Presented to President.

  6. Dec 14, 2016President28000

    Presented to President.

  7. Dec 12, 2016Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  8. Dec 10, 2016ResolvingDifferences

    Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 546 by Unanimous Consent.

  9. Dec 10, 2016NotUsed20500

    Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 546 by Unanimous Consent.

  10. Dec 10, 2016Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7104)

  11. Nov 30, 2016Floor

    Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.

  12. Nov 29, 2016FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  13. Nov 29, 2016FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text of measure as passed: CR H6319-6320)

  14. Nov 29, 2016Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text of measure as passed: CR H6319-6320)

  15. Nov 29, 2016FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 546.

  16. Nov 29, 2016FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6319-6321)

  17. Nov 29, 2016FloorH30300

    Mr. Denham moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  18. Nov 14, 2016CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 632.

  19. Nov 14, 2016CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 114-808.

    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  20. Nov 14, 2016Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 114-808.

    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  21. Sep 14, 2016Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  22. Sep 14, 2016Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  23. May 10, 2016IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  24. May 10, 2016FloorH14000

    Received in the House.

  25. May 10, 2016Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  26. May 9, 2016Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  27. May 9, 2016Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  28. May 9, 2016Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2649)

  29. Jul 21, 2015Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 155.

  30. Jul 21, 2015Committee

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson without amendment. With written report No. 114-85.

    Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  31. Jul 21, 2015Committee14000

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson without amendment. With written report No. 114-85.

    Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  32. Mar 4, 2015Committee

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

    Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  33. Feb 24, 2015IntroReferral

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

    Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  34. Feb 24, 2015IntroReferral10000

    Introduced in Senate

Public LawDec 16, 201649

RESPONSE Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish the Railroad Emergency Services Preparedness, Operational Needs, and Safety Evaluation (RESPONSE) Subcommittee of the National Advisory Council.

The RESPONSE Subcommittee shall develop recommendations for improving emergency responder training and resource allocation for hazardous materials (hazmat) incidents involving railroads after evaluating the following topics:

  • the quality and application of training for state and local emergency responders related to rail hazmat incidents, including training for emergency responders serving small communities near railroads;
  • the availability and effectiveness of federal, state, local, and nongovernmental funding levels related to training emergency responders for rail hazmat incidents, including emergency responders serving small communities near railroads; and
  • the strategy for integrating commodity flow studies, mapping, and rail and hazmat databases for state and local emergency responders and increasing the rate of access to the individual responder in existing or emerging communications technology.

The RESPONSE Subcommittee shall terminate within 90 days after the council submits a report approving the RESPONSE Subcommittee recommendations.

Passed Senate amendedMay 9, 201635

RESPONSE Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish the Railroad Emergency Services Preparedness, Operational Needs, and Safety Evaluation (RESPONSE) Subcommittee of the National Advisory Council.

The RESPONSE Subcommittee shall develop recommendations, as appropriate, for improving emergency first responder training and resource allocation for hazardous materials (hazmat) incidents involving railroads after evaluating the following topics:

  • the quality and application of training for local emergency first responders related to rail hazmat incidents, with a particular focus on local emergency responders and small communities near railroads;
  • the effectiveness of funding levels related to training local emergency first responders for rail hazmat incidents, with a particular focus on local emergency first responders and small communities near railroads; and
  • the strategy for integrating commodity flow studies, mapping, rail and hazmat databases and other relevant data for local emergency first responders and increasing the rate of access to the individual responder in existing or emerging communications technology.

The RESPONSE Subcommittee shall terminate within four years after this bill's enactment, unless given a one-year extension.

Reported to Senate without amendmentJul 21, 201580

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

RESPONSE Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish the Railroad Emergency Services Preparedness, Operational Needs, and Safety Evaluation (RESPONSE) Subcommittee of the National Advisory Council.

The RESPONSE Subcommittee shall evaluate the following topics and develop recommendations, as appropriate, for improving emergency responder training and resource allocation for hazardous materials incidents involving railroads:

  • the quality and application of training for local emergency first responders related to rail hazardous materials (hazmat) incidents, with a particular focus on local emergency responders and small communities near railroads;
  • the effectiveness of funding levels related to training local emergency responders for rail hazmat incidents, with a particular focus on local emergency responders and small communities;
  • a strategy for integration of commodity flow studies, mapping, and access platforms for local emergency responders and how to increase the rate of access to the individual responder in existing or emerging communications technology;
  • the need for emergency response plans for rail, similar to existing law related to maritime and stationary facility emergency hazmat response plans;
  • the need for a rail hazmat incident database;
  • increasing access to relevant, useful, and timely information for the local emergency responder for training purposes and in the event of a rail hazmat incident; and
  • determining the most appropriate agencies and offices for the implementation of the recommendations.

The RESPONSE Subcommittee shall terminate within four years after this Act's enactment, unless given one-year extensions.

Introduced in SenateFeb 24, 2015

RESPONSE Act of 2015

Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish the Railroad Emergency Services Preparedness, Operational Needs, and Safety Evaluation Subcommittee of the National Advisory Council.

Directs the Subcommittee to evaluate the following topics and develop recommendations, as appropriate, for improving emergency responder training and resource allocation for hazardous materials incidents involving railroads:

  • the quality and application of training for local emergency first responders related to rail hazardous materials incidents, with a particular focus on local emergency responders and small communities near railroads;
  • the effectiveness of funding levels related to training local emergency responders for rail hazardous materials incidents, with a particular focus on local emergency responders and small communities;
  • a strategy for integration of commodity flow studies, mapping, and access platforms for local emergency responders and how to increase the rate of access to the individual responder in existing or emerging communications technology;
  • the need for emergency response plans for rail, similar to existing law related to maritime and stationary facility emergency response plans for hazardous materials;
  • the need for a rail hazardous materials incident database;
  • increasing access to relevant, useful, and timely information for the local emergency responder for training purposes and in the event of a rail hazardous materials incident; and
  • determining the most appropriate agencies and offices for the implementation of the recommendations.

Terminates the Subcommittee not later than four years after this Act's enactment, subject to one year extensions.

RESPONSE Act of 2016 — Informed