[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.

                          ____________________