U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-23, and Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kan., have introduced the bipartisan Weather Alert Response and Notification Act (WARN Act) for the 119th Congress.

Teh legislation, which was developed following the problems that arose during Winter Storm Elliott, requests the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the effectiveness of local alert systems during severe weather events. This legislation was previously introduced by Langworthy in the 118th Congress where it garnered bipartisan support and passed unanimously through the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and on the House floor.

The study would evaluate the efficacy of current alert systems and investigate new platforms for weather alerts that account for advances in technology. It would also evaluate the effectiveness of disseminating unique, life-saving alerts during severe weather, including travel bans and area-specific power outages.

“In times of emergency, one of the best things we can do to save lives and mitigate damage is to ensure there is an accurate and reliable public notification system,” Langworthy said. “As we saw with Winter Storm Elliott and countless extreme weather events across the nation, effective warning systems are a matter of life and death. This legislation is the first step to replacing inconsistent, fragmented, and arbitrary systems into a streamlined process for an accurate and consistent nationwide emergency alert system. We came extremely close to having this bill become law in the last year, and I’m confident we will be able to get it across the finish line in this new Congress.”

There are 17 other original co-sponsors, including Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA), Del. James Moylan (R-GU), Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA), Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO), Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA), Rep. Kevin Mullen (D-CA), Del. Kimberlyn King – Hinds (R-MP), Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS).