November 20, 2025
Mr. Kennedy of New York (for himself, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Barragán, and Mrs. McClain Delaney) introduced the following bill; which was 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
To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to administer the Next Generation Warning System grant program and disburse obligated funds under such program, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Administration of Next Generation Warning System grant program
(a) In general
The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall take such actions as may be necessary to—
(1)
assume responsibility for administering the Next Generation Warning System grant program;
(2)
not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, disburse all funds made available for fiscal year 2022 to carry out such program under the heading Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery—Federal Emergency Management Agency—Federal Assistance
of title III of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117–103) that are obligated as of the date of enactment of this Act; and
(3)
begin the process of awarding grants under the Next Generation Warning System grant program with funds made available to carry out such program—
(A)
for fiscal year 2023 under the heading Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery—Federal Emergency Management Agency—Federal Assistance
of title III of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117–328); and
(B)
for fiscal year 2024 under the heading Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery—Federal Emergency Management Agency—Federal Assistance
of title III of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118–47).
(b) Communications research and development
(1) In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with other relevant Federal agencies and departments, State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments, and relevant owners and operators of critical infrastructure, as appropriate, shall, to the extent practicable, carry out research and development to support and improve the—
(A)
accessibility of emergency warning systems;
(B)
resiliency and security of emergency warning systems; and
(C)
other matters as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(2) Research and development report
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the research and development activities carried out pursuant to paragraph (1).
(c) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Next Generation Warning System grant program defined
The term Next Generation Warning System grant program
means the grant program authorized pursuant to title III of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117–103) under the heading Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery—Federal Emergency Management Agency—Federal Assistance
.
(2) Secretary
The term Secretary
means the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology.