[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 27, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H1909-H1914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROMOTING ANTITERRORISM COOPERATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE ACT

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, we have a bill, but in our 
traditional, bipartisan way, I yield to the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. King).
  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 884) to provide for the establishment of the 
Science and Technology Homeland Security International Cooperative 
Programs Office, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 884

       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 ``Promoting Antiterrorism 
     Cooperation through Technology and Science Act'' or the 
     ``PACTS Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) The development and implementation of technology is 
     critical to combating terrorism and other high consequence 
     events and implementing a comprehensive homeland security 
     strategy.
       (2) The United States and its allies in the global war on 
     terrorism share a common interest in facilitating research, 
     development, testing, and evaluation of equipment, 
     capabilities, technologies, and services that will aid in 
     detecting, preventing, responding to, recovering from, and 
     mitigating against acts of terrorism.
       (3) Certain United States allies in the global war on 
     terrorism, including Israel, the United Kingdom, Canada, 
     Australia, and Singapore have extensive experience with, and 
     technological expertise in, homeland security.
       (4) The United States and certain of its allies in the 
     global war on terrorism have a history of successful 
     collaboration in developing mutually beneficial equipment, 
     capabilities, technologies, and services in the areas of 
     defense, agriculture, and telecommunications.
       (5) The United States and its allies in the global war on 
     terrorism will mutually benefit from the sharing of 
     technological expertise to combat domestic and international 
     terrorism.
       (6) The establishment of an office to facilitate and 
     support cooperative endeavors between and among government 
     agencies, for-profit business entities, academic 
     institutions, and nonprofit entities of the United States and 
     its allies will safeguard lives and property worldwide 
     against acts of terrorism and other high consequence events.

     SEC. 3. PROMOTING ANTITERRORISM THROUGH INTERNATIONAL 
                   COOPERATION ACT.

       (a) In General.--The Homeland Security Act of 2002 is 
     amended by inserting after section 313 (6 U.S.C. 193) the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 314. PROMOTING ANTITERRORISM THROUGH INTERNATIONAL 
                   COOPERATION PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director 
     selected under subsection (b)(2).
       ``(2) International cooperative activity.--The term 
     `international cooperative activity' includes--
       ``(A) coordinated research projects, joint research 
     projects, or joint ventures;
       ``(B) joint studies or technical demonstrations;
       ``(C) coordinated field exercises, scientific seminars, 
     conferences, symposia, and workshops;
       ``(D) training of scientists and engineers;
       ``(E) visits and exchanges of scientists, engineers, or 
     other appropriate personnel;
       ``(F) exchanges or sharing of scientific and technological 
     information; and
       ``(G) joint use of laboratory facilities and equipment.
       ``(b) Science and Technology Homeland Security 
     International Cooperative Programs Office.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--The Under Secretary shall establish 
     the Science and Technology Homeland Security International 
     Cooperative Programs Office.
       ``(2) Director.--The Office shall be headed by a Director, 
     who--
       ``(A) shall be selected by and shall report to the Under 
     Secretary; and
       ``(B) may be an officer of the Department serving in 
     another position.
       ``(3) Responsibilities.--
       ``(A) Development of mechanisms.--The Director shall be 
     responsible for developing, in consultation with the 
     Department of State, understandings or agreements that allow 
     and support international cooperative activity in support of 
     homeland security research, development, and comparative 
     testing.
       ``(B) Priorities.--The Director shall be responsible for 
     developing, in coordination with the Directorate of Science 
     and Technology, the other components of the Department of 
     Homeland Security, and other Federal agencies, strategic 
     priorities for international cooperative activity in support 
     of homeland security research, development, and comparative 
     testing.
       ``(C) Activities.--The Director shall facilitate the 
     planning, development, and implementation of international 
     cooperative activity to address the strategic priorities 
     developed under subparagraph (B) through mechanisms the Under 
     Secretary considers appropriate, including grants, 
     cooperative agreements, or contracts to or with foreign 
     public or private entities, governmental organizations, 
     businesses, federally funded research and development 
     centers, and universities.
       ``(D) Identification of partners.--The Director shall 
     facilitate the matching of United States entities engaged in 
     homeland security research with non-United States entities 
     engaged in homeland security research so that they may 
     partner in homeland security research activities.
       ``(4) Coordination.--The Director shall ensure that the 
     activities under this subsection are coordinated with those 
     of other relevant research agencies, and may run projects 
     jointly with other agencies.
       ``(5) Conferences and workshops.--The Director may hold 
     international homeland security technology workshops and 
     conferences to improve contact among the international 
     community of technology developers and to help establish 
     direction for future technology goals.
       ``(c) International Cooperative Activities.--
       ``(1) Authorization.--The Under Secretary is authorized to 
     carry out international cooperative activities to support the 
     responsibilities specified under section 302.
       ``(2) Mechanisms and equitability.--In carrying out this 
     section, the Under Secretary may award grants to and enter 
     into

[[Page H1910]]

     cooperative agreements or contracts with United States 
     governmental organizations, businesses (including small 
     businesses and small and disadvantaged businesses), federally 
     funded research and development centers, institutions of 
     higher education, and foreign public or private entities. The 
     Under Secretary shall ensure that funding and resources 
     expended in international cooperative activities will be 
     equitably matched by the foreign partner organization through 
     direct funding or funding of complementary activities, or 
     through provision of staff, facilities, materials, or 
     equipment.
       ``(3) Loans of equipment.--The Under Secretary may make or 
     accept loans of equipment for research and development and 
     comparative testing purposes.
       ``(4) Cooperation.--The Under Secretary is authorized to 
     conduct international cooperative activities jointly with 
     other agencies.
       ``(5) Foreign partners.--Partners may include Israel, the 
     United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and other 
     allies in the global war on terrorism, as appropriate.
       ``(6) Exotic diseases.--As part of the international 
     cooperative activities authorized in this section, the Under 
     Secretary, in coordination with the Chief Medical Officer, 
     may facilitate the development of information sharing and 
     other types of cooperative mechanisms with foreign countries, 
     including nations in Africa, to strengthen American 
     preparedness against threats to the Nation's agricultural and 
     public health sectors from exotic diseases.
       ``(d) Budget Allocation.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated to the Secretary, to be derived from amounts 
     otherwise authorized for the Directorate of Science and 
     Technology, $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 
     through 2011 for activities under this section.
       ``(e) Foreign Reimbursements.--Whenever the Science and 
     Technology Homeland Security International Cooperative 
     Programs Office participates in an international cooperative 
     activity with a foreign country on a cost-sharing basis, any 
     reimbursements or contributions received from that foreign 
     country to meet its share of the project may be credited to 
     appropriate current appropriations accounts of the 
     Directorate of Science and Technology.
       ``(f) Report to Congress on International Cooperative 
     Activities.--
       ``(1) Initial report.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of enactment of this section, the Under Secretary, 
     acting through the Director, shall transmit to the Congress a 
     report containing--
       ``(A) a brief description of each partnership formed under 
     subsection (b)(4), including the participants, goals, and 
     amount and sources of funding; and
       ``(B) a list of international cooperative activities 
     underway, including the participants, goals, expected 
     duration, and amount and sources of funding, including 
     resources provided to support the activities in lieu of 
     direct funding.
       ``(2) Updates.--At the end of the fiscal year that occurs 5 
     years after the transmittal of the report under subsection 
     (a), and every 5 years thereafter, the Under Secretary, 
     acting through the Director, shall transmit to the Congress 
     an update of the report required under subsection (a).''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the 
     Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by adding after the 
     item relating to section 313 the following new item:

``Sec. 314. Promoting antiterrorism through international cooperation 
              program.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. King) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on this legislation, and insert extraneous material on 
the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, at the outset, let me thank the gentleman from 
Mississippi, Chairman Thompson, for his cooperation, not just in the 
previous Congress on putting this legislation together, but also today 
in his generosity in allowing me to go forward on it. To me, this is 
typical and symbolic of the bipartisanship which he has brought to the 
committee both as ranking member and now as chairman. I thank him for 
that. And more than his personal kindness and generosity, let me also 
say that it is so vitally important that on issues such as this that 
there be bipartisan cooperation working across the aisle because all of 
our lives changed on September 11. All of us realized we had to change 
the way we did business, whether it was creating the Department of 
Homeland Security, whether it was creating the law enforcement agencies 
at all levels of government to cooperate, whether it meant adopting 
specific legislation on chemical plants or port security, or any of the 
other areas included within the umbrella of Homeland Security.
  But it also requires us to establish firmer relationships with our 
allies, finding areas of common ground among us and our allies, and 
that is what H.R. 884 will do. H.R. 884 is the Promoting Antiterrorism 
Cooperation through Technology and Science Act, PACTS.
  It is an effort by us to have our Department of Homeland Security and 
our government work with our allies and friends around the world to 
find common ways to confront terrorism, to use technology to confront 
terrorism, and it does that initially by establishing the International 
Cooperation Programs Office within the Science and Technology 
Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security.
  It also authorizes $25 million a year in fiscal years 2008, 2009, 
2010, and 2011. So $25 million for each of the next four fiscal years. 
It specifies by name Great Britain, Singapore, Israel, Canada, and 
Australia as countries that we should especially work more closely with 
to exchange technology and research, and to work together on a common 
effort at the government level, at the university level, private 
foundations, to put aside any technical differences that may separate 
us, to try to work through any legal impediments there may be to the 
type of cooperation that we believe is absolutely essential.
  This legislation did pass our committee in the last Congress and 
passed the House. Unfortunately, it was blocked in the Senate. We 
certainly hope that under the leadership of Chairman Thompson it will 
again pass the House this year, and hopefully the Senate will do the 
right thing this year and we can get this legislation to the 
President's desk.
  The war on terrorism will involve many of us for many years. The more 
allies and partners and friends we can have working with us, the more 
we can share our expertise and technology that make us stronger and 
make the enemy weaker.
  I urge the adoption of H.R. 884 and thank the gentleman from 
Mississippi for his cooperation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 884, Promoting 
Antiterrorism Cooperation through Technology and Science Act, a bill 
considered in one form or another since the 108th Congress.
  There is an old saying we tell school children: if at first you don't 
succeed, try, try again.
  Although these words of encouragement may have originally applied to 
the grade school study of algebra or Latin, they are equally 
motivational to those of us serving in the 110th Congress.
  I first raised the idea of this bill in January of 2005, soon after I 
became the ranking member. I know my Democratic colleagues had pushed 
for it in the 108th Congress at well.
  Well, after years of trying, this Congress will succeed in sending 
this legislation to the President's desk. I know the other body will be 
taking up a similar provision attached to their bill seeking to fulfill 
the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. I am very pleased that they 
will soon join the House in passing this legislation.
  Why is this bill so important? The answer lies in the nature of the 
terrorist threat. Terrorism is an international threat to the 
democratic way of life. Though we have experienced terrible tragedies 
of our own, terrorist attacks occur all over the world.
  Terrorists have attacked buses in London; hotels in Israel; trains in 
Mumbai; embassies in Indonesia; resorts in Bali; and schools in Russia. 
As the global threat of terrorism is evident, so too is the solution to 
limiting those attacks. By promoting international cooperation, we will 
defeat the efforts of our enemies. Cooperation in developing 
antiterrorism technologies should be a top priority. The different 
challenges faced by our friends around the world have resulted in new 
approaches that the United

[[Page H1911]]

States should leverage to protect our citizens.
  International cooperation is nothing new for our country. In fact, 
the United States has a history of productive scientific and technical 
collaborations with Israel, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and 
others.
  The Department of Homeland Security has participated in some of these 
partnerships with foreign governments and other entities.
  This legislation will encourage and strengthen those efforts and 
direct the Department to look for new partners beyond those we already 
have. This includes working with folks in the small business community 
who can bring exciting technologies to the table.
  I am especially heartened that the bill will strengthen the means for 
protecting our Nation from exotic diseases. Active collaborations with 
scientists in Africa, where many of these diseases originate, should be 
promoted. This bill encourages that collaboration.
  Too often, the United States presents a posture of unilateralism to 
the world. I hope that through programs like the ones authorized in 
this legislation, we encourage a more cooperative approach to fighting 
terrorism.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 884. I urge my colleagues to do 
the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may 
consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite).
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking 
member of the Homeland Security Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 884, the 
Promoting Antiterrorism Cooperation through Technology and Science Act, 
a long name for a great bill and an idea whose time clearly has come.
  The world knows that we changed on the morning of September 11, 2001. 
We found ourselves raw, exposed, attacked on our own soil, and mourning 
friends and loved ones killed that tragic morning. We learned the true 
nature of Islamic militants and the extent of their indiscriminate 
hatred of Americans.
  But we did not sit by silently, waiting for another attack. We acted, 
molding our government into a new security-focused body, willing and 
able to help protect our citizens. And, Mr. Speaker, we partnered with 
other countries in the global war on terror working to weed out 
terrorist cells across the globe and stop them before they have a 
chance to harm anyone else.
  This bill today builds on our partnership with international allies, 
directing the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate 
international research programs and strategic planning coalitions.
  H.R. 884 enhances these cooperative tools to improve our interactions 
with great allies like Israel, Canada, Australia, Japan, the United 
Kingdom, and Singapore.
  Mr. Speaker, we cannot fight the war on terror alone. We need our 
international partners to stand with us to stop the murderous terrorist 
groups wherever they spring up.
  Today's bill supports and enhances these partnerships, and I am very 
proud to support it. I urge my colleagues to do the same. I want to 
commend the chairman of the committee and the ranking member of the 
committee for their great work on this bill.

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).
  Mr. PASCRELL. I thank the chairman and ranking member. I really 
commend the work that you have done, both Mr. Thompson and Mr. King, in 
this area of reaching across the aisle and not just speaking about it, 
but doing something about it.
  This is a very important piece of legislation, H.R. 884. It has been 
a product of bipartisan effort and collegial dedication by a lot of 
people on both sides of the aisle, the staffs of both sides of the 
aisle, and I am heartened at the process by which the bill has moved 
forward.
  The commitment of Mr. Thompson and Mr. King to this vitally important 
legislation has been unwavering, and the collaboration offered 
epitomizes the very best of what the homeland security can and should 
be. I was honored to serve on that committee for 4 years, and this is a 
tremendous achievement to see this proposal move forward.
  This legislation will help to ensure that the Department of Homeland 
Security works with our allies in the war on terror to develop and 
share the best homeland security technologies possible, and we will all 
be better off because of it.
  In fact, it was not that long ago that several of us went to Europe, 
to various capitals of Europe, to see what they were doing in terms of 
homeland security. That proved to be a very productive trip, and we 
learned from the Brits and from the Spanish and from the Italians, and 
they learned from us. This is a true collaboration here.
  Specifically, H.R. 884 will establish what we call the Science and 
Technology Homeland Security International Cooperative Programs Office. 
Its objective will be to facilitate international cooperative 
activities throughout the Directorate of Science and Technology within 
the Department of Homeland Security.
  These international cooperative activities will be supported through 
grants and cooperative agreements, contracts with the U.S. governmental 
organizations, businesses, federally-funded research and developmental 
centers, institutions of higher education, and foreign public and 
private entities.
  This bill seeks to strengthen ongoing partnerships, as well as 
encourage new ones. As has been mentioned by both the chairman and the 
ranking member, the global war on terrorism is one we have joined with 
with Israel and the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Singapore and 
many other countries.
  To be sure, the United States could greatly benefit from joint 
international homeland security development programs between the U.S. 
and our allies in this war on terror.
  The fact is this: Many of our allies have substantial experience 
dealing with terror, and by necessity, they have become op-eds for 
counterterrorism research.
  The bill would authorize $25 million for international cooperative 
activities for each of the fiscal years of 2008 to 2011. Now, that is 
not a lot of money when we consider the vast array of benefits that 
such cooperative agreements can produce.
  Forming these partnerships, Mr. Speaker, and working together in a 
way that will ultimately help secure America is the main objective of 
the bill, and it should always be the main objective of this whole 
body. Passage of this legislation today shows that the House takes this 
austere responsibility seriously.
  A final point, Mr. Speaker, if I may, the point of global strategy 
was at the center of the 9/11 Commission Report, Chapter 12. The 
Commission made recommendations about global strategy. The kind of 
partnership and cooperation at the heart of our port security, for 
instance, is determined by how well the other country where goods and 
services are coming from will cooperate with us. We can't check every 
ship that comes into our ports, but we certainly could get the 
cooperation of other countries with state-of-the-art science and 
technology to do that.
  Once again, I commend, and I do not speak empty or hollow of the work 
that both Mr. Thompson and Mr. King did.
  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, first let me tell the gentleman 
from New Jersey that we miss him on the committee. We miss his charm 
and his insights and his lively personality and his dedication.
  With that, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. David Davis), a member of the committee.
  Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 
884. I would like to thank the chairman and the ranking member for 
bringing this important piece of legislation.
  The development and implementation of technology to combat terrorism 
is critical. The United States and our allies in the war on terror 
share a common interest in furthering research and development of 
homeland security-related technology.
  As such, this legislation directs the Department of Homeland 
Security's research and development arm, the

[[Page H1912]]

Science and Technology Division, to coordinate international 
cooperative programs with our allies in the war on terror to advance 
this important homeland security research.
  This legislation implements a 9/11 Commission recommendation that the 
United States should engage other Nations in developing a comprehensive 
coalition strategy against Islamic extremists.
  H.R. 884 establishes the Science and Technology Homeland Security 
International Cooperative Programs Office within the Science and 
Technology Division to promote cooperation between entities of the 
United States and its allies to engage in cooperative endeavors focused 
on the research, development and commercialization of high-priority 
technologies directed at countering acts of terrorism and other high 
consequence events to address the homeland security needs of Federal, 
State and local governments.
  This bill enables the Science and Technology Division within DHS to 
coordinate with our allies. By encouraging joint research studies, the 
sharing of scientific and technological information, the training and 
exchange of scientists and engineers, as well as the joint use of 
laboratory equipment and facilities, H.R. 884 further directs DHS to 
collaborate with their strongest allies that include Israel, the United 
Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Singapore in the development of 
homeland security technologies.
  This legislation is modeled after a partnership created by Congress 
in 1977 between the United States and Israel. That was called the 
Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation, also known 
as the BIRD Foundation. In 29 years, the BIRD Foundation has invested 
$225 million in 690 cooperative research and development projects 
mutually beneficial to the United States and to Israel.
  H.R. 884 will facilitate collaboration with countries which have 
extensive experience in combating terrorism and will enable us to 
benefit and tailor their technology solutions to address our needs.
  Israel is a country that has developed successful models to mitigate 
security threats. Most notably, Israel has pioneered efforts and 
behavioral pattern recognition, also known as BPR. The United States 
has begun adopting BPR at airports and is now training police and 
security officers to detect people who are behaving in a suspicious 
manner.
  It is for these reasons that I support H.R. 884, and I encourage my 
colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. 
I would like to basically thank the gentleman from New York for working 
with me on the bill, and I encourage all Members to vote ``aye'' for 
its passage.
  I also submit the following exchange of letters for the Record.

                                          Committee on Science and


                                                   Technology,

                                Washington, DC, February 26, 2007.
     Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman, I am writing to you concerning the 
     jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Science and 
     Technology in H.R. 884, the Promoting Antiterrorism 
     Cooperation through Technology and Science Act. The Committee 
     on Science and Technology has jurisdictional interest in this 
     bill based on the Committee's jurisdiction over the 
     Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology 
     Directorate (``DHS S&T'') and other DHS research and 
     development. [See Rule X(o)(14) which grants the Committee on 
     Science and Technology jurisdiction over ``Scientific 
     research, development, and demonstration, and projects 
     therefor.'']
       This bill would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to 
     establish a ``Science and Technology Homeland Security 
     International Cooperative Programs Office.'' All of the 
     international cooperative activities authorized by the bill 
     relate to homeland security research (e.g., ``coordinated 
     research projects, joint research projects, or joint 
     ventures;'' ``joint studies or technical demonstrations;'' 
     ``coordinated field exercises, scientific seminars, 
     conferences, symposia, and workshops;'' ``training of 
     scientists and engineers;'' ``visits and exchanges of 
     scientists, engineers, or other appropriate personnel;'' 
     ``exchanges or sharing of scientific and technological 
     information;'' and ``joint use of laboratory facilities and 
     equipment''). In addition, the funding for such activities is 
     to be derived from amounts otherwise authorized to DHS S&T.
       The Committee on Science and Technology acknowledges the 
     importance of H.R. 884 and the need for the legislation to 
     move expeditiously. Therefore, while we have a valid claim to 
     jurisdiction over this bill, I agree not to request a 
     sequential referral. This, of course, is conditional on our 
     mutual understanding that nothing in this legislation or my 
     decision to forgo a sequential referral waives, reduces, or 
     otherwise affects the jurisdiction of the Committee on 
     Science and Technology, and that a copy of this letter and of 
     your response will be included in the Congressional Record 
     when the bill is considered on the House Floor.
       The Committee on Science and Technology also expects that 
     you will support our request to be conferees during any 
     House-Senate conference on this legislation.
       Thank you for your attention to this matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Bart Gordon,
                                                         Chairman.
                                  ____
                                  


                               Committee on Homeland Security,

                                Washington, DC, February 26, 2007.
     Hon. Bart Gordon,
     Chairman, Committee on Science and Technology, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your recent letter 
     expressing the Science and Technology Committee's 
     jurisdictional interest in H.R. 884, the ``Promoting 
     Antiterrorism Cooperation through Technology and Science 
     Act.'' The Committee on Homeland Security acknowledges your 
     claim to jurisdiction over provisions contained in this bill, 
     as amended, and appreciates your agreement not to request a 
     sequential referral. The Committee on Homeland Security 
     understands that nothing in the legislation or your decision 
     to forgo a sequential referral waives, reduces or otherwise 
     affects the jurisdiction of the Science and Technology 
     Committee, and that a copy of this letter and of our response 
     will be included in the Congressional Record when the bill is 
     considered on the House Floor. The Committee on Homeland 
     Security will also support your request to be conferees 
     during any House-Senate conference on this legislation.
       Thank you for your cooperation as we work toward the 
     enactment of H.R. 884.
           Sincerely,
                                               Bennie G. Thompson,
                                                         Chairman.
                                  ____
                                  


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                Washington, DC, February 27, 2007.
     Bennie G. Thompson,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thompson: I am writing to you concerning the 
     bill H.R. 884, the ``Promoting Antiterrorism Cooperation 
     through Technology and Science Act.'' There are certain 
     provisions in the legislation which fall within the Rule X 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, including 
     provisions relating to programs that may provide appropriated 
     funds to foreign governments and entities.
       In the interest of permitting your Committee to proceed 
     expeditiously to floor consideration of this important bill, 
     I am willing to waive this Committee's right to sequential 
     referral on this legislation. I do so with the understanding 
     that by waiving consideration of the bill the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs does not waive, reduce or otherwise affect 
     any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters 
     contained in the bill which fall within its Rule X 
     jurisdiction. I request that you support our efforts to have 
     Members of this Committee named to any conference committee 
     which is formed to consider any such provisions either in 
     this bill or in any other legislation that includes this 
     legislation.
       Please place this letter into the Congressional Record 
     during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank 
     you for the cooperative spirit in which you have addressed 
     this matter and I look forward to working with you as H.R. 
     884 proceeds through the legislative process.
           Cordially,
                                                       Tom Lantos,
                                                         Chairman.
                                  ____
                                  


                               Committee on Homeland Security,

                                Washington, DC, February 27, 2007.
     Tom Lantos,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your recent letter 
     expressing the Committee on Foreign Affairs' jurisdictional 
     interest in H.R. 844, the ``Promoting Antiterrorism 
     Cooperation through Technology and Science Act.''
       The Committee on Homeland Security appreciates your 
     willingness to work cooperatively on this important 
     legislation. The Committee on Homeland Security recognizes 
     your jurisdictional interest over provisions contained in 
     this bill, as amended, and appreciates your agreement not to 
     request a sequential referral. The Committee on Homeland 
     Security acknowledges that your decision to forgo a 
     sequential referral on this legislation does not waive, 
     reduce or otherwise affect the jurisdiction of the Committee 
     on Foreign Affairs. Accordingly, the Committee on Homeland 
     Security will support your efforts to participate as 
     conferees in any House-Senate conference on this legislation 
     or in any other legislation that includes this legislation.
       A copy of this letter, together with the letter you sent on 
     this matter will be included in the Congressional Record when 
     the bill is considered on the House floor.

[[Page H1913]]

       Thank you for your continued cooperation and I look forward 
     to working with you as H.R. 884 proceeds through the 
     legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                               Bennie G. Thompson,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, let me again thank Chairman 
Thompson for his efforts and his cooperation and for his generosity as 
far as moving this bill forward, and I, again, thank him for that. I 
think it speaks volumes as to the quality of leadership that he has 
brought to the committee.
  I would also be remiss if I did not thank staff on our side, Dr. 
Diane Berry, Colleen O'Keefe and Adam Paulson for their work in 
bringing this together, and again, bring it to fruition today.
  Also, Mr. Speaker, what we are doing today is really a very important 
continuation of what our governments and other governments have been 
trying to do. Just several weeks ago, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Israel's minister of 
public security, again pledging cooperation. This is codifying that and 
making clear we want to do more; we want to keep going forward on that.
  Again, I thank the chairman for his support and his cooperation, and 
I urge the adoption of H.R. 884.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 884, 
which establishes the Science and Technology Homeland Security 
International Cooperative Programs Office. H.R. 884 is an improved 
version of a similar bill, H.R. 4942, passed by the House during the 
109th Congress. The purpose of these minor, non-substantive changes is 
to align the House bill more closely with its Senate counterpart, S. 
1554, which will be considered when the Senate takes up H.R. 1, which 
implements the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.
  The purpose of H.R. 884 and S. 1554 is to establish an office charged 
with promoting cooperation between entities of the United States and 
its allies in the global war on terrorism in the areas of research, 
development, and commercialization of high-priority technologies 
intended to detect, prevent, respond to, recover from, and mitigate 
against acts of terrorism and other high consequence events. The bill 
also addresses the homeland security needs of Federal, State, and local 
governments.
  The House bill authorizes $25 million per year for international 
cooperative activities for the fiscal years 2008 through 2011 and 
establishes an International Cooperative Programs Office within the 
Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland 
Security, DHS, headed by a Director. The Director is responsible for:
  Promoting cooperative research between the U.S. and its allies on 
homeland security technologies;
  Developing strategic priorities for international cooperative 
activity and addressing them through agreements with foreign entities;
  Facilitating the matching of U.S. entities--including small 
businesses--engaged in homeland security research with appropriate 
foreign research partners;
  Ensuring that activities of the office are coordinated with other 
relevant research agencies; and
  Planning and executing conferences and workshops to improve contact 
among technology developers and to help establish direction for future 
technology goals.
  H.R. 884 also establishes a Science and Technology Homeland Security 
International Cooperative Programs Office to facilitate international 
cooperative activities throughout the Directorate of Science and 
Technology.
  The United States currently participates in similar bilateral 
programs such as the Bi-National Industrial Research and Development--
BIRD Foundation--in which the United States and Israel cooperate on 
defense-related R&D. The office would conduct similar activities, but 
they would be run by the Department of Homeland Security rather than a 
private foundation.
  The Director of the Office reports directly to the Under Secretary 
for Science and Technology and is responsible for developing 
understandings and agreements that allow and support international 
cooperative activity in support of homeland security research, 
development, and comparative testing. The legislation also makes the 
Director responsible for developing strategic priorities for 
international cooperative activity in support of homeland security 
research, development, and comparative testing.
   Mr. Speaker, facilitating international cooperative activity to 
address strategic priorities through appropriate mechanisms such as 
grants, cooperative agreements or contracts with foreign public or 
private entities is another important objective that this legislation 
prudently vests in the Director. The Director shall also be mandated to 
identify and match domestic entities engaged in homeland security 
research with foreign entities so that they may partner in homeland 
security research activities.
  Finally, the Director is obligated to work toward bringing about the 
coordination of the Department's international cooperative activities 
with the activities of other relevant research agencies and to holding 
international homeland security technology workshops and conferences. 
These international cooperative activities are to be supported through 
grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts with Federal governmental 
organizations, businesses--including small businesses, federally funded 
research and development centers, institutions of higher education, and 
foreign and private entities.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill would encourage equal partnership by requiring 
that the foreign partner equitably match U.S. funding expended through 
direct funding or funding of complementary activities, or through 
provision of staff, facilities, material, or equipment. It strengthens 
ongoing partnerships and encourages new ones.
  In addition, partnerships are encouraged with the nations of Africa 
to facilitate the development of information sharing and other types of 
collaboration to strengthen American preparedness against threats to 
our Nation's agricultural sector and public health from exotic 
diseases.
   Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 884 and urge my colleagues to 
do so as well.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 884, and I 
commend the gentlemen from New York and Mississippi for moving this 
legislation forward.
  In the war on terrorists, we are often racing against our enemies as 
they develop new threats and we develop new countermeasures. This has 
been true throughout the history of warfare and it remains true today, 
whether we are talking about improvised explosive devices, shoe bombs, 
or attacks using chlorine gas.
  In this competition to combat new threats, cooperation on science and 
technology with our allies is a key force multiplier, and I commend the 
gentlemen for moving forward with this legislation.
  But we have to make sure that these cooperative programs are properly 
coordinated and consistent with existing programs and law. I believe 
that before the Department of Homeland Security initiates a new 
program, the Secretary of State should be in full agreement with the 
proposed cooperation to ensure that there is no duplication of efforts 
with State Department anti-terrorism efforts. In addition, this new 
framework should recognize that:
  In accordance with section 622(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
1961, the Secretary of State is responsible ``for continuous 
supervision and general direction'' of U.S. foreign assistance;
  In accordance with section 504 of the Foreign Relations Authorization 
Act, fiscal year 1979, the Secretary of State shall have primary 
responsibility for coordination and oversight with respect to all major 
science or science and technology agreements and activities between the 
United States and foreign countries; and
  In accordance with the Case-Zablocki Act, no international agreement 
may be signed or otherwise concluded without prior consultation by the 
Secretary of State.
  While I do not believe that H.R. 844 is inconsistent with 
coordination with the Secretary of State or with these authorities and 
requirements, I look forward to working with the gentleman from 
Mississippi and gentleman from New York as H.R. 844 moves forward on 
legislative language to provide for a specific role for the Secretary 
of State in this process and to reflect these existing authorities. And 
I appreciate the gentlemen's willingness to work with me on these 
issues.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 884 to 
establish a Science and Technology Homeland Security International 
Cooperative Programs Office. In an ongoing effort to promote effective 
methods of addressing antiterrorism, this legislation would establish a 
Science Technology Homeland Security International Cooperative Programs 
Office to facilitate international cooperative activities throughout 
the Directorate of Science and Technology.
  Terrorism is no longer confined to one country. It is now a threat to 
international security. The means, missions and motives of terrorism 
have changed, forcing the counter-terrorism community to react 
accordingly. Our strategies and implementations, in order to be more 
effective, need to be global. The most disturbing developments have 
been a growing partnership in organized crime between countries. As a 
result, and since the 9/11 attacks, the international community has 
focused on the issue of terrorism with renewed intensity. Gathering,

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coordinating and sharing of information among the international 
community is a critical effort to prevent and combat terrorism. H.R. 
884 creates this opportunity by facilitating international cooperative 
activity that encourages international partnerships in the fight 
against terrorism.
  Mr. Speaker, it is important that we join our allies on and off the 
battlefield. Terrorism is a global phenomenon that requires a 
coordinated global response. H.R. 884 provides a global response to 
terrorism. This legislation was passed in the House during the 109th 
Congress and I urge my colleagues to support it again.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of H.R. 884, the PACTS Act, I 
am pleased we are moving quickly and considering this legislation, 
which implements a key 9/11 Commission recommendation that ``the United 
States should engage other nations in developing a comprehensive 
coalition strategy against Islamist terrorism.''
  The bill enables the Department of Homeland Security to join forces 
with our closest international allies to develop homeland security 
technologies and share scientific information to help prevent terrorist 
attacks.
  As co-chairman of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission Caucus, I know how 
important it is to implement the core recommendations of the 9/11 
Commission and to hold the administration and relevant Federal agencies 
accountable to implement them.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the support of this legislation.
  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. King) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 884.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas 
and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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