Maloney Votes to Pass Active Shooter Alert Act

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney voted for legislation to quickly warn New York communities of nearby active shooter incidents. H.R. 6538, the Active Shooter Alert Act of 2022 will establish a program similar to the AMBER Alert system, allowing law enforcement to effectively and efficiently alert the public during a shooting.

"New Yorkers are horrified by the continued drumbeat of gun violence across the country," said Rep. Maloney. "Building on the enactment of the landmark Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, I proudly voted to help keep New Yorkers safe and informed during active shooter incidents. This commonsense, straightforward measure will equip New York communities with the resources, training, and strategies they need to save lives. As we work to enact this urgently needed legislation, House Democrats will continue fighting to overcome Republican obstruction and bring our nation's gun violence epidemic to an end."

The full bill text can be found here.

Background

The Active Shooter Alert Act will:

Support these life-saving efforts by establishing an Active Shooter Alert Coordinator at the U.S. Department of Justice to act as the national coordinator of an Active Shooter Alert Communications Network regarding an emergency involving an active shooter.
Mandates the Government Accountability Office to study and report on state and local responses to active shooters and situations requiring the issuance of a public alert or warning.
Offers state and local law enforcement officials voluntary access to training, technical support and advice for improving or implementing active shooter alert systems. These resources include guidance on the most effective alert content, delivery strategies and recommendations such as silencing alerts in the immediate vicinity of a shooter.

Source