MYSTIC ALERTS ACT

On 2026-04-20, Representative Rick W. Allen (R-GA-12) delivered a floor speech titled "MYSTIC ALERTS ACT" in the House. The speech addressed the environment and also covered foreign policy, trade policy. It referenced legislation: HR7022.

MYSTIC ALERTS ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 69 (Monday, April 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 69 (Monday, April 20, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2970-H2971] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] MYSTIC ALERTS ACT Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7022) to provide for the transmission of emergency alerts by satellite, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7022 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Mystic Alerts Act''. SEC. 2. TRANSMISSION OF EMERGENCY ALERTS BY SATELLITE. (a) Service Provider Election.-- (1) Required filing.--Not later than 60 days after the effective date of the final rule required to be issued under subsection (b), each covered service provider shall file an election with the Federal Communications Commission with respect to whether the provider intends to transmit emergency alerts by satellite to the subscribers of the commercial mobile service of the provider who receive such service on devices capable of receiving such alerts, in addition to the transmission of emergency alerts under the Warning Alert, and Response Network Act. (2) Notification; agreement.--If a provider elects to transmit emergency alerts to subscribers by satellite under paragraph (1), the provider shall-- (A) notify the Commission of that election; and (B) agree to transmit such alerts in a manner consistent with the technical standards, protocols, procedures, and other technical requirements implemented by the Commission. (3) Election not to transmit.--If a provider elects not to transmit emergency alerts by satellite under paragraph (1), the provider shall provide notice to new and existing subscribers described in such paragraph of that election in the same manner that is required under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 602(b)(1) of the Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act. (4) Consumer choice to opt out.--If a provider elects to transmit emergency alerts to subscribers of such service by satellite under paragraph (1), the provider shall prevent the device of any such subscriber that opts out of receiving emergency alerts pursuant to section 602(b)(2)(E) of the Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act, or classes of such alerts, from receiving such alerts by satellite. (5) No fee for service.--If a provider elects to transmit emergency alerts to subscribers by satellite under paragraph (1), the provider may not impose a separate or additional charge for such transmission or capability. (b) Satellite Alert Regulations.-- (1) Notice of proposed rulemaking.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to establish any requirements necessary to facilitate the satellite alerting capability of covered service providers. (2) Requirements.--The requirements required by paragraph (1) shall-- (A) take into account the capability of-- (i) satellites to transmit emergency alerts; and (ii) mobile devices to receive and display such alerts; and (B) minimize the impact of emergency alerting on other voice and data communications, including 9-1-1 communications. (3) Final rule.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, issue a final rule establishing the requirements described under paragraph (1). (4) Effective date of rule.-- (A) Date.--The effective date of the final rule described under paragraph (3) shall be the later of-- (i) 36 months after publication of the final rule in the Federal Register; or (ii) 12 months after the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency implement any standards, protocols, or procedures necessary to support the transmission of emergency alerts from alert originators to covered service providers, the Secretary and the Administrator shall notify the Commission of such implementation. (B) Notification.--The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall notify the Commission of the implementation of any standards, protocols, or procedures described under subparagraph (A)(ii) for the purpose of determining the effective date of the final rule described under paragraph (3). (c) Limitation of Liability.-- (1) In general.--Any covered service provider (including its officers, directors, employees, vendors, and agents) that transmits emergency alerts by satellite and meets its obligations under this Act shall not be liable to any subscriber to, or user of, such person's service or equipment for-- (A) any act or omission related to or any harm resulting from the transmission of, or failure to transmit, an emergency alert by satellite; or (B) the release to a government agency or entity, public safety, fire service, law enforcement official, emergency medical service, or emergency facility of subscriber information used in connection with delivering such an alert. (2) Election not to transmit alerts by satellite.--The election by a covered service provider under subsection (a)(3) not to transmit emergency alerts by satellite shall not, by itself, provide a basis for liability against the provider (including its officers, directors, employees, vendors, and agents). (d) Covered Service Provider.--In this Act, ``covered service provider'' means a provider of commercial mobile service that-- (1) voluntarily elects to transmit emergency alerts under section 602(b) of the Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act (Public Law 109-347; 42 U.S.C. 1201); and (2) makes satellite voice and data communications service available to subscribers of the commercial mobile service of the provider. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen) and the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. McClellan) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia. General Leave Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on the bill. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Georgia? There was no objection. Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, H.R. 7022, the Mystic Alerts Act, led by Representative Pfluger. While we work to increase cell phone connectivity across the country, there are and may always be certain areas of this country that do not have access to that connectivity. That can be a problem in times of natural disasters or other emergencies. If you don't have a connection, you may not be able to receive a wireless emergency alert or other emergency notifications. Satellite technology is beginning to bridge that gap with our [[Page H2971]] cell phones, and it could bring a huge benefit for public safety. This legislation would kick-start the process for mobile service providers to utilize satellite connectivity to send alert messages in areas that may not have access to terrestrial cell network coverage. This legislation has strong bipartisan support. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7022, the Mystic Alerts Act. Emergency alerting capabilities have come a long way in recent decades as a direct byproduct of innovation and breakthroughs in wireless technology. Not long ago, 911 calls predominantly were made from landline phones, and emergency alerts were received primarily over broadcast television and radio channels. Both capabilities still exist and have an important role in emergency communications, but I expect for most Americans, they make their 911 calls and receive their emergency alerts on their cell phone, a smartphone. The creation of the Wireless Emergency Alert, or WEA, in 2012 marked a significant leap forward in our ability to disseminate warning and alert messages to the public. Prior to 2012, Americans needed to already be tuned into broadcast programming to receive an alert being distributed for any number of important situations. In the case of a hurricane or a winter storm that was forecasted in advance, for instance, the Emergency Alert System was critical for broadly distributing public safety updates and instructions to viewers. But we know that not all emergencies announce themselves days in advance. All across the country, natural disasters like tornadoes, wildfires, and flash floods show up with little or no advance warning. One tragedy after another has demonstrated that when a wildfire spreads or floodwaters rise rapidly without warning, being able to push emergency warning information out directly to cell phones in a danger zone is one of the most powerful tools we have to save lives. The WEA system allows alerting authorities at nearly every level of government the ability to reach Americans where they are. Cell phones are ubiquitous today, and if we avoid falling into the traps of unclear and overalerting, it will only continue to be more effective as wireless providers and alerting authorities take steps forward to improve geotargeting and location accuracy. H.R. 7022 directs the FCC to take steps that will open up the WEA system so that satellite communication providers can leverage direct- to-cell capabilities to deliver wireless emergency alerts to cell phones in terrestrial dead zones where mobile carriers don't have coverage. This is incredibly important for American

Referenced legislation: HR7022, HR7022