[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8015 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8015

    To ensure the Department of Homeland Security is appropriately 
 measuring the scope of certain border security matters, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 16, 2024

 Mr. Stanton (for himself and Mr. Ciscomani) introduced the following 
     bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To ensure the Department of Homeland Security is appropriately 
 measuring the scope of certain border security matters, and for other 
                               purposes.

    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 ``Data for a Secured Border Act''.

SEC. 2. MATTERS RELATING TO BORDER SECURITY.

    (a) Border Security Metrics.--
            (1) Annual reports.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
        coordination with the Executive Director of the Office of 
        Homeland Security Statistics, shall submit to the Committee on 
        Homeland Security, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the 
        Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives 
        and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
        Affairs, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on 
        Foreign Relations of the Senate an annual report that--
                    (A) assesses the usefulness of the border security 
                metrics described in section 1092 of the National 
                Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public 
                Law 114-328; 6 U.S.C. 223) that are utilized in 
                preparing the reports required under such section; and
                    (B) makes recommendations for any updates to such 
                border security metrics.
            (2) Timing.--Each report under this subsection shall be 
        submitted at the same time as each report required under such 
        section 1092.
    (b) Joint Capabilities.--Not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
cooperation and collaboration with the Under Secretary for Management 
of the Department of Homeland Security and the Deputy's Management 
Action Group (DMAG) of the Department, shall submit to the Committee on 
Homeland Security, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on the 
Judiciary, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a 
report that includes the following:
            (1) An assessment of the workforce, authorities, and 
        responsibilities of the Joint Requirements Council (JRC) of the 
        Department.
            (2) A determination regarding whether the JRC is meeting 
        its intent, including whether the JRC implements a joint 
        requirements process or any additional responsibility that the 
        Secretary has assigned to it, including relating to the 
        following:
                    (A) The validation of any evaluation, as 
                appropriate, by a component, support component, or 
                office, of the Department that--
                            (i) identifies any capability gaps, 
                        redundancies, or overlaps; and
                            (ii) provides recommendations for either 
                        materiel or nonmateriel solutions to address 
                        any such capability gap, redundancy, or 
                        overlap.
                    (B) The submission of such validation to department 
                leadership for consideration in investment decisions.
            (3) An identification of the position within the Department 
        responsible for implementing a joint requirements process that 
        validates an evaluation by a component of the Department that 
        identifies any capability gaps, redundancies, or overlaps 
        pursuant to paragraph (2)(A).
            (4) An identification of the officer or official of the 
        Department who oversees the JRC's activities and 
        responsibilities, including the JRC's reporting 
        responsibilities to the DMAG.
            (5) A description of how the JRC is assisting the 
        Department's efforts in performing border security-related 
        missions and assisting incorporation of technological advances 
        into border management based on available resources, such as 
        the flow of fentanyl across the border and the backlog of 
        migrant processing.
            (6) A review of the progress of the Department's engagement 
        with the JRC to carry out the following:
                    (A) Review the JRC's recommendations.
                    (B) Approve or direct related follow-on activities.
                    (C) Provide direction and guidance to the JRC.
            (7) A review of the JRC's recommendations, the approval and 
        direct related follow-on activities, and the direction and 
        guidance to the JRC from the Secretary or the Secretary's 
        designee.
            (8) A description of how Department senior leadership makes 
        use of JRC analyses and associated products.
            (9) An evaluation of the placement of the JRC within the 
        Management Directorate of the Department to ensure such 
        placement aligns fully with the JRC's mission and maintains the 
        JRC's independence.
            (10) An evaluation of the role of the JRC and broader 
        Department internal communications of needs and requirements, 
        and how the processes for communicating and documenting such 
        needs and requirements can be improved at the Department.
    (c) Other Administrative Needs.--The reports required under 
subsections (a) and (b) shall also be submitted to the following:
            (1) Homeland Security Investigations of U.S. Immigrations 
        and Customs Enforcement, with any illicit drug highlights.
            (2) The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), 
        with any illicit drug highlights.
            (3) The Drug Enforcement Administration, with any illicit 
        drug highlights.
            (4) The Federal Emergency Management Agency, with any 
        migrant crossing surges that would cross the threshold into 
        emergency situations.
            (5) The Department of Justice, including law enforcement 
        agencies of the Department, regarding such Department's and 
        agencies' related border metrics.
    (d) Definition.--The terms ``Joint Requirements Council'' and 
``JRC'' include any successor entity.
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