National Response Framework Improvement Act of 2020

This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (1) to provide summaries of any gaps or inefficiencies in the National Response Framework of the Department of Homeland Security based on lessons learned from the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic; and (2) after the end of the pandemic, as part of its after-action review process, to conduct an evaluation of the framework.

Such evaluation shall include (1) any updates to the framework determined necessary by FEMA, in coordination with the primary and support agencies of the emergency support functions, based on the gaps or inefficiencies identified; and (2) recommendations on actions relevant agencies can take to address gaps identified.

FEMA must brief the congressional homeland security committees on the summaries and conduct biennial evaluations and updates of the framework.

National Response Framework Improvement Act of 2020

This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to evaluate the National Response Framework of the Department of Homeland Security based on lessons learned from the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic and take specified steps regarding information sharing, training, and briefing Congress.

Specifically, FEMA, acting through the National Integration Center, shall conduct an initial evaluation of the National Response Framework to determine whether there are any gaps or inefficiencies in the framework based on the response to the pandemic.

FEMA shall also

• evaluate the processes for collecting and sharing information across the primary and support agencies of the emergency support functions during an incident for which the emergency support functions are activated under the framework, and provide recommendations for how to improve such processes;
• update the framework to account for new information collection and sharing processes that result from the evaluation and recommendations;
• assess the training programs for primary and support agencies of the emergency support functions under the framework and provide recommendations for how to improve such programs; and
• annually, and in coordination with the primary and support agencies, provide training on enhancements or updates made to the framework.