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Public Law114th CongressEmergency Management
H.R. 623Became Law

DHS Social Media Improvement Act of 2015

This bill became law

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What it doesSummary public law (Nov 5, 2015)

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on September 21, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

DHS Social Media Improvement Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a social media working group (the Group) to identify, and provide guidance and best practices to the emergency preparedness and response community on, the use of social media technologies before, during, and after a natural disaster or an act of terrorism or other man-made disaster.

Requires the Group to submit an annual report that includes:

  • a review and analysis of social media technologies used to support preparedness and response activities;
  • a review of best practices and lessons learned;
  • recommendations to improve DHS's use of social media technologies for emergency management purposes, recommendations to improve public awareness of the type of information disseminated through such technologies, and recommendations on how to access such information during a disaster;
  • a review of available training for government officials on the use of social media technologies in response to a disaster; and
  • a review of coordination efforts with the private sector to discuss and resolve legal, operational, technical, privacy, and security concerns.

Terminates the Group five years after the enactment of this Act unless the chairperson renews it for a successive five-year period by submitting a certification that the continued existence of the Group is necessary. Provides for successive five-year renewal periods.

What just happenedNov 5, 2015

Became Public Law No: 114-80.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Brooks, Susan W. [R-IN-5](R-IN)Sponsor
4 cosponsors2 D2 R
Read on Congress.gov
4cosponsors3committees34actions1related bills11subjects
  1. Nov 5, 2015President

    Became Public Law No: 114-80.

  2. Nov 5, 2015BecameLaw36000

    Became Public Law No: 114-80.

  3. Nov 5, 2015President

    Signed by President.

  4. Nov 5, 2015BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  5. Nov 2, 2015Floor

    Presented to President.

  6. Nov 2, 2015President28000

    Presented to President.

  7. Oct 28, 2015ResolvingDifferencesH41931

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

  8. Oct 28, 2015ResolvingDifferencesH41610

    On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote. (text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H7314-7315)

  9. Oct 28, 2015NotUsed19500

    Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.(text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H7314-7315)

  10. Oct 28, 2015FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 623.

  11. Oct 28, 2015ResolvingDifferencesH40140

    Mr. Costello (PA) moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H7314-7316)

  12. Oct 8, 2015Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  13. Oct 7, 2015Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7223-7224; text as passed Senate: CR S7223-7224)

  14. Oct 7, 2015Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7223-7224; text as passed Senate: CR S7223-7224)

  15. Sep 21, 2015Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 234.

  16. Sep 21, 2015Committee

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-145.

    Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  17. Sep 21, 2015Committee14000

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-145.

    Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  18. May 6, 2015Committee

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  19. Feb 3, 2015IntroReferral

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

    Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  20. Feb 2, 2015FloorH38310

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

  21. Feb 2, 2015FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 328 - 51 (Roll no. 53). (text: CR H680-681)

  22. Feb 2, 2015Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 328 - 51 (Roll no. 53).(text: CR H680-681)

  23. Feb 2, 2015FloorH30000

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H685)

  24. Feb 2, 2015FloorH37220

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

  25. Feb 2, 2015FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 623.

  26. Feb 2, 2015FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H680-683)

  27. Feb 2, 2015FloorH30300

    Mrs. Brooks (IN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

  28. Feb 2, 2015Committee

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

    Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee
  29. Feb 2, 2015Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications.

    Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee
  30. Jan 30, 2015IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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.

    Homeland Security Committee
  31. Jan 30, 2015IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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.

    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  32. Jan 30, 2015IntroReferralH11100-A

    Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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.

  33. Jan 30, 2015IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  34. Jan 30, 2015IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Public LawNov 5, 201549

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on September 21, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

DHS Social Media Improvement Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a social media working group (the Group) to identify, and provide guidance and best practices to the emergency preparedness and response community on, the use of social media technologies before, during, and after a natural disaster or an act of terrorism or other man-made disaster.

Requires the Group to submit an annual report that includes:

  • a review and analysis of social media technologies used to support preparedness and response activities;
  • a review of best practices and lessons learned;
  • recommendations to improve DHS's use of social media technologies for emergency management purposes, recommendations to improve public awareness of the type of information disseminated through such technologies, and recommendations on how to access such information during a disaster;
  • a review of available training for government officials on the use of social media technologies in response to a disaster; and
  • a review of coordination efforts with the private sector to discuss and resolve legal, operational, technical, privacy, and security concerns.

Terminates the Group five years after the enactment of this Act unless the chairperson renews it for a successive five-year period by submitting a certification that the continued existence of the Group is necessary. Provides for successive five-year renewal periods.

Passed Senate amendedOct 7, 201535

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on September 21, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

DHS Social Media Improvement Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a social media working group (the Group) to identify, and provide guidance and best practices to the emergency preparedness and response community on, the use of social media technologies before, during, and after a natural disaster or an act of terrorism or other man-made disaster.

Requires the Group to submit an annual report that includes:

  • a review and analysis of social media technologies used to support preparedness and response activities;
  • a review of best practices and lessons learned;
  • recommendations to improve DHS's use of social media technologies for emergency management purposes, recommendations to improve public awareness of the type of information disseminated through such technologies, and recommendations on how to access such information during a disaster;
  • a review of available training for government officials on the use of social media technologies in response to a disaster; and
  • a review of coordination efforts with the private sector to discuss and resolve legal, operational, technical, privacy, and security concerns.

Terminates the Group five years after the enactment of this Act unless the chairperson renews it for a successive five-year period by submitting a certification that the continued existence of the Group is necessary. Provides for successive five-year renewal periods.

Reported to Senate with amendment(s)Sep 21, 20151

DHS Social Media Improvement Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a social media working group (the Group) to identify, and provide guidance and best practices to the emergency preparedness and response community on, the use of social media technologies before, during, and after a natural disaster or an act of terrorism or other man-made disaster.

Requires the Group to submit an annual report that includes:

  • a review and analysis of social media technologies used to support preparedness and response activities;
  • a review of best practices and lessons learned;
  • recommendations to improve DHS's use of social media technologies for emergency management purposes, recommendations to improve public awareness of the type of information disseminated through such technologies, and recommendations on how to access such information during a disaster;
  • a review of available training for government officials on the use of social media technologies in response to a disaster; and
  • a review of coordination efforts with the private sector to discuss and resolve legal, operational, technical, privacy, and security concerns.

Terminates the Group five years after the enactment of this Act unless the chairperson renews it for a successive five-year period by submitting a certification that the continued existence of the Group is necessary. Provides for successive five-year renewal periods.

Passed House without amendmentFeb 2, 201581

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

Social Media Working Group Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a social media working group (the Group) to provide guidance and best practices to the emergency preparedness and response community on the use of social media technologies before, during, and after a terrorist attack or other emergency.

Requires the Group to submit an annual report that includes: (1) a review of current and emerging social media technologies being used to support preparedness and response activities related to terrorist attacks and other emergencies; (2) a review of best practices and lessons learned on the use of social media during the response to terrorist attacks and other emergencies that occurred during the period covered by the report; (3) recommendations to improve DHS's use of social media for emergency management purposes, to improve public awareness of the type of information disseminated through social media and how to access such information during a terrorist attack or other emergency, and to improve information sharing among DHS and its components and among state and local governments; (4) a review of available training for government officials on the use of social media in response to a terrorist attack or other emergency; and (5) a summary of coordination efforts with the private sector to discuss and resolve legal, operational, technical, privacy, and security concerns.

Introduced in HouseJan 30, 2015

Social Media Working Group Act of 2015

Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a social media working group (the Group) to provide guidance and best practices to the emergency preparedness and response community on the use of social media technologies before, during, and after a terrorist attack or other emergency.

Requires the Group to submit an annual report that includes: (1) a review of current and emerging social media technologies being used to support preparedness and response activities related to terrorist attacks and other emergencies; (2) a review of best practices and lessons learned on the use of social media during the response to terrorist attacks and other emergencies that occurred during the period covered by the report; (3) recommendations to improve DHS's use of social media for emergency management purposes, to improve public awareness of the type of information disseminated through social media and how to access such information during a terrorist attack or other emergency, and to improve information sharing among DHS and its components and among state and local governments; (4) a review of available training for government officials on the use of social media in response to a terrorist attack or other emergency; and (5) a summary of coordination efforts with the private sector to discuss and resolve legal, operational, technical, privacy, and security concerns.

DHS Social Media Improvement Act of 2015 — Informed