STORM Act
- Bill Number
- S. 1701
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-08: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-07T23:23:46Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The STORM Act (S. 1701) aims to enhance the nation's health care response during declared emergencies by authorizing the use of private technology platforms that connect credentialed independent health care workers. It promotes public-private partnerships to quickly deploy out-of-state health professionals, addressing workforce shortages in crises like disasters or pandemics.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- Emergency: A crisis declared under section 501 of the Stafford Act (a federal law for disaster relief).
- Health care workforce platform: A private tech service that partners with licensed independent health care workers, enables rapid deployment during emergencies, and operates independently otherwise.
- Independent contractor health care worker: A licensed health professional (e.g., doctor or nurse) who works contractually, not as an employee, is verified by a platform, and responds to emergencies.
- Public-Private Partnerships:
- The President can certify eligible platforms and enter voluntary agreements (lasting at least one year) to use them for deploying workers during emergencies.
- State Licensure Waivers:
- The President can coordinate with states to temporarily waive in-state licensing rules for out-of-state workers connected through certified platforms, if they hold a valid license in at least one state and are responding to the emergency.
- Establishes model procedures for waivers, including background checks, qualification verification, and reliance on platform vetting to speed up deployment.
- Requires coordination with state authorities to respect local rules.
- Reporting Requirements:
- The President must submit annual reports to Congress starting one year after enactment, detailing waiver usage, number of deployed workers, deployment durations, and any challenges.
- Liability Protections:
- Provides immunity from lawsuits for injuries or damages to workers and platforms acting under the law, except in cases of intentional harm, extreme carelessness, or bad faith.
- Treats these private entities as federal "employees" for claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act (a law allowing lawsuits against the government for negligence), but only for federally directed emergency responses.
- The President must issue regulations to implement these protections.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill adds a new section (504) to Title V of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the main U.S. law for federal disaster assistance). Previously, the law focused on federal coordination for general emergencies but lacked specific provisions for private health care platforms or streamlined out-of-state licensing waivers. This introduces formal mechanisms for certifying and using private tech to boost health workforce capacity, expanding federal tools without mandating state changes.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Enhances federal (e.g., presidential and FEMA) ability to coordinate rapid health responses, reducing administrative burdens during crises. States and local governments gain optional tools for waivers, potentially speeding aid but requiring new coordination.
- Citizens: Improves access to health care in disaster zones by enabling faster deployment of qualified professionals, potentially saving lives and reducing strain on local systems during events like hurricanes or outbreaks.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could indirectly support U.S. global health responses if emergencies involve international aid.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Government: President and agencies like FEMA, responsible for certifications, agreements, and reporting.
- State and Local Governments: Must coordinate on waivers; benefit from expedited worker deployment but may need to adapt licensing processes.
- Private Sector: Health care workforce platforms (e.g., tech companies like gig apps for medical staff) and independent contractors (freelance doctors, nurses), who gain access to emergency roles with legal protections.
- Health Care Professionals and Facilities: Out-of-state workers can participate more easily; hospitals and clinics in affected areas receive surge support.
- Citizens in Emergencies: Residents of disaster areas, who rely on quicker health services.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens emergency powers under the Stafford Act by integrating private tech, but liability rules could increase federal exposure to claims (via the Tort Claims Act). Waiver facilitation respects state authority (no federal override), aligning with federalism principles.
- Constitutional: Supports the federal role in interstate commerce and disaster response (under the Commerce Clause), without infringing on states' rights to regulate professions, as participation is voluntary.
- Political: Promotes efficiency in crisis management, potentially appealing across parties for bolstering resilience post-events like COVID-19. Could spark debate on privatization of public health roles or equity in worker deployment.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-08: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 2025-05-08: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Strategic Teams for Organized Response Mobilization Act — issued 2025-05-08 — PDF (7 pages)