[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 20, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H225-H226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HOMELAND SECURITY ACT OF 2002 AMENDMENT
Ms. CLARKE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2611) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to
authorize the Securing the Cities Initiative of the Department of
Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2611
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF SECURING THE CITIES INITIATIVE.
(a) In General.--Title XIX of the Homeland Security Act of
2002 is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
``SEC. 1908. AUTHORIZATION OF SECURING THE CITIES INITIATIVE.
``(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
``(1) The Securing the Cities Initiative of the Department
uses next generation radiation detection technology to detect
the transport of nuclear and radiological material in urban
areas by terrorists or other unauthorized individuals.
``(2) The technology used by partners in the Securing the
Cities Initiative leverages radiation detection technology
used at ports of entry.
``(3) The Securing the Cities Initiative has fostered
unprecedented collaboration and coordination among its
Federal, State, and local partners.
``(4) The Securing the Cities Initiative is a critical
national capability to detect the dangerous introduction of
nuclear and radiological material.
``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Director of the Domestic Nuclear
Detection Office of the Department for the Securing the
Cities Initiative such sums as may be necessary for each
fiscal year, including--
``(1) for each city in which it has been implemented by
fiscal year 2009--
``(A) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
``(B) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
``(C) not less than $10,000,000 in sustainment assistance
for each fiscal year thereafter; and
``(2) for additional Securing the Cities initiatives to be
implemented in not fewer than 2 sites participating in the
Urban Area Security Initiative, such sums as may be necessary
each fiscal year to implement and sustain each additional
initiative.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents in section
1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by
inserting after the item relating to section 1907 the
following new item.
``Sec. 1908. Authorization of Securing the Cities Initiative.''
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New York (Ms. Clarke) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. King) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke).
General Leave
Ms. CLARKE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and insert extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New York?
There was no objection.
Ms. CLARKE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2611, and I
yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 2611, a bill authorizing the Securing of the
Cities Initiative, was introduced by Representative Peter King, the
ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, on May 21,
2009 and marked up and ordered reported by the committee on November
11, 2009.
The Securing the Cities (STC) Initiative is a unified effort among
Federal, State, and local law enforcement in New York, New Jersey, and
Connecticut to defend against the threat of a radiological or nuclear
device. DHS, the New York Police Department, the Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey and officials from three States and 91 localities
are involved in this partnership.
The concept behind the STC is to build rings around New York City to
provide a layered defense against the smuggling of a nuclear weapon.
The more law enforcement officials who have the ability to detect and
are on the lookout for nuclear and radiological material in and around
New York City, the better chance that law enforcement has to prevent a
successful nuclear attack.
The STC has procured thousands of basic handheld radiation detectors
which have been distributed to police officers throughout the region.
Advanced vehicles, including trucks and boats with radiation detectors
capable of distinguishing different radioactive materials, are also in
use in Manhattan and the surrounding area.
More than 1,400 local officers have received training in radiation
detection operations under STC. STC funding is given to the New York
Police Department, which acts as the grant distributor for the funds.
State and local entities around New York City are eligible to receive
STC funding.
Participants in STC conduct periodic aerial screening in addition to
the checkpoints that the NYPD sets up twice a day on Manhattan roadways
as a defensive, training, and deterrence measure.
Today, STC is limited to jurisdictions in and around New York City.
An amendment offered by Mr. Green of Texas and included in the
legislation before us today will broaden the scope of the STC program
to include at least two additional Urban Area Security Initiative
cities in the program. The bill authorizes appropriations of $40
million per city for the first year, with smaller sums available for
sustainment in the following years.
The STC is a great example of a successful Federal, State, and local
partnership. We are in the early stages, and much work remains to be
done. That said, the positive initial results justify the continuation
and gradual expansion of the program directed in this bill.
During the second session of the 110th Congress, the House passed a
measure similar to the one before us today. I urge my colleagues to
again support this important Homeland Security legislation.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KING of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
At the outset, let me thank Chairman Thompson of the Homeland
Security Committee and my good friend from New York, Congresswoman
Clarke, for her strong efforts on this legislation, which is truly
bipartisan. The addition of two additional cities makes it truly a
national program in scope.
Madam Speaker, when we look at London, when we look at Madrid, it
becomes clear that a very likely means of attack by terrorists in the
United States would be from suburban areas into urban areas. And
certainly in New York, which is the number one terrorist target in the
world, enormous steps have been made to protect us against that type of
attack, specifically a dirty bomb attack coming from outside the city
through the highways, the parkways, the tunnels, the bridges, actually
into Manhattan itself, which has already, as we know, devastatingly on
September 11, also in 1993, been attacked by Islamic terrorists. But
also a number of other plots against New York City have been thwarted.
New York City is definitely the main target in the country, but any
number of other cities are as well. That is why I believe the program,
which has been implemented in New York, can be a model for other cities
throughout the country.
Now, I was very concerned last year when the administration decided
to zero out all money for this funding in its budget. This was, I
believe, a serious mistake. Fortunately, Congress, by appropriating $40
million in this House and finally $20 million when it came back from
conference committee, did continue to fund this program, because we
need these radiological detectors on the highways, the toll plazas, the
bridges and the tunnels.
{time} 1345
I have had the privilege of attending a number of these drills and
training sessions when they are conducted. As Representative Clarke
said, we're not just talking about New York City. We're talking about a
large number of police departments and first responders--fight
departments, EMS services--from not just New York City but from Long
Island, from Connecticut, from New Jersey. We're talking about the
State police, and we're talking about Federal support as well, seeing
them
[[Page H226]]
all working together in a cohesive way to stop what would be the
absolutely devastating impact of a dirty bomb attack, the human toll
that that would take, the devastating economic impact it would have,
the fact that it would make parts of the city unlivable for extended
periods of time, and the fact that it would, in effect, cut off
transportation into New York City.
All of these are reasons that we have to go ahead and continue with
this Securing the Cities program. It's no guarantee, but it's another
layer of defense that we need to protect ourselves against a terrorist
attack.
As we know, the terrorists are constantly adapting, and we have to
try to stay one step ahead of them. We have to always be on our guard.
Actually, we have to be lucky all the time. They only have to be lucky
once. We have to rely on more than luck. We have to have preparation,
and we have to have a layered defense.
That's why I am so proud to support this legislation which will, in
effect, almost set in stone the importance of the Securing the Cities
program. We will expand it beyond New York City because, again, while
Congresswoman Clarke and I feel that those of us in the New York area
are the main targets, the fact is that a human life is a human life; an
American life is an American life. Whether it's New York City or any
other city in this country, any, certainly, major urban area, I believe
this program is adaptable and compatible to those areas.
So I thank Congresswoman Clarke for her effort. I thank the
bipartisan support that we have for this legislation, and I, certainly,
strongly urge its adoption.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. CLARKE. Madam Speaker, as you have heard, the measure under
consideration is important Homeland Security legislation that has
previously received and that again deserves the support of the Members
of the House of Representatives.
In closing, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``aye'' on passage of
the bill.
Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2611,
permanently authorizing the Securing the Cities initiative. I thank
Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member King and my New York colleagues and
cosponsors Representatives Israel and Clarke for their efforts to bring
this bill forward.
Securing the Cities was created to design and implement a layered
approach for the detection and interdiction of illicit radiological
materials in New York. While this program was initially a pilot and
significant progress has been made, unfortunately detection technology
and systems are not yet fully in place. Given the known threats that
New York faces, it is no surprise that NYPD considers this initiative
the most important federal security program. We must continue Securing
the Cities until all technology and systems are fully operable.
As a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security,
I have fought to fund this security imperative, and passing this bill
will help ensure that funding continues in future years.
I thank my colleagues for their hard work and dedication to ensure
our most threatened cities are adequately protected, and I urge a yes
vote on H.R. 2611.
Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I would like to express my
strong support of H.R. 2611, a bipartisan measure authorizing the
Department of Homeland Security's Securing the Cities initiative.
I would like to recognize my colleague, Chairman Bennie Thompson, for
his leadership on the House Homeland Security Committee and his
commitment to protecting the citizens and homeland of our great nation.
I would also like to acknowledge and thank Ranking Member Peter King
for introducing this important legislation which includes an amendment
I offered that would expand the scope of the Securing the Cities
program to include at least two additional high-risk urban areas,
making it a national program.
Launched in 2006, Securing the Cities is a unified effort among
Federal, state and local law enforcement officials in New York, New
Jersey, and Connecticut to defend against the threat of a radiological
or nuclear attack. Presently, Securing the Cities operates only in New
York City and its surrounding areas.
While it appears that New York City remains the prime target for
terrorist activity, it is important to ensure that other densely
populated areas and those housing critical infrastructure are equally
protected from dirty bombs. My amendment would benefit even more high-
risk urban areas by providing the necessary resources to detect and
intercept illicit radiological material before it is used in a weapon
by would-be terrorists.
Through a ring of detectors on highways, bridges, tunnels and on
mobile units around the city, Securing the Cities provides a layered
defense against the smuggling of a nuclear weapon. The idea behind
Securing the Cities is that the more law enforcement officials are on
the lookout for nuclear material outside New York City, the better
chance law enforcement has to prevent a successful nuclear attack.
Like New York City, Houston is among the highest threat cities in the
nation. Our region is extremely dense with critical infrastructure
assets, which includes our large energy and petrochemical sectors. By
replicating the success of Securing the Cities in more places like
Houston, we can bolster law enforcement capabilities to combat
potential terrorist activity and protect our communities.
I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2611.
Ms. CLARKE. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2611, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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