[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 119 (Monday, July 28, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H6922-H6925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ADVANCEMENT ACT OF 
                                  2013

  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2952) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make 
certain improvements in the laws relating to the advancement of 
security technologies for critical infrastructure protection, and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2952

       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 ``Critical Infrastructure 
     Research and Development Advancement Act of 2013'' or the 
     ``CIRDA Act of 2013''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       Section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     101) is amended by redesignating paragraphs (15) through (18) 
     as paragraphs (16) through (19), respectively, and by 
     inserting after paragraph (14) the following:
       ``(15) The term `Sector Coordinating Council' means a 
     private sector coordinating council that is--
       ``(A) recognized by the Secretary as such a Council for 
     purposes of this Act; and
       ``(B) comprised of representatives of owners and operators 
     of critical infrastructure within a particular sector of 
     critical infrastructure.''.

     SEC. 3. CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION RESEARCH AND 
                   DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) Strategic Plan; Public-Private Consortiums.--
       (1) In general.--Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:

     ``SEC. 318. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR CRITICAL 
                   INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION.

       ``(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of enactment of the Critical Infrastructure Research and 
     Development Advancement Act of 2013, the Secretary, acting 
     through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, shall 
     transmit to Congress a strategic plan to guide the overall 
     direction of Federal physical security and cybersecurity 
     technology research and development efforts for protecting 
     critical infrastructure, including against all threats. Once 
     every 2 years after the initial strategic plan is transmitted 
     to Congress under this section, the Secretary shall transmit 
     to Congress an update of the plan.
       ``(b) Contents of Plan.--The strategic plan shall include 
     the following:
       ``(1) An identification of critical infrastructure security 
     risks and any associated security technology gaps, that are 
     developed following--
       ``(A) consultation with stakeholders, including the Sector 
     Coordinating Councils; and
       ``(B) performance by the Department of a risk/gap analysis 
     that considers information received in such consultations.
       ``(2) A set of critical infrastructure security technology 
     needs that--
       ``(A) is prioritized based on risk and gaps identified 
     under paragraph (1);
       ``(B) emphasizes research and development of those 
     technologies that need to be accelerated due to rapidly 
     evolving threats or rapidly advancing infrastructure 
     technology; and
       ``(C) includes research, development, and acquisition 
     roadmaps with clearly defined objectives, goals, and 
     measures.
       ``(3) An identification of laboratories, facilities, 
     modeling, and simulation capabilities that will be required 
     to support the research, development, demonstration, testing, 
     evaluation, and acquisition of the security technologies 
     described in paragraph (2).
       ``(4) An identification of current and planned programmatic 
     initiatives for fostering the rapid advancement and 
     deployment of security technologies for critical 
     infrastructure protection. The initiatives shall consider 
     opportunities for public-private partnerships, 
     intragovernment collaboration, university centers of 
     excellence, and national laboratory technology transfer.
       ``(5) A description of progress made with respect to each 
     critical infrastructure security risk, associated security 
     technology gap, and critical infrastructure technology need 
     identified in the preceding strategic plan transmitted under 
     this section.
       ``(c) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the 
     Under Secretary for Science and Technology shall coordinate 
     with the Under Secretary for the National Protection and 
     Programs Directorate.
       ``(d) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the 
     Under Secretary for Science and Technology shall consult 
     with--
       ``(1) the critical infrastructure Sector Coordinating 
     Councils;
       ``(2) to the extent practicable, subject matter experts on 
     critical infrastructure protection from universities, 
     colleges, including historically black colleges and 
     universities, Hispanic- serving institutions, and tribal 
     colleges and universities, national laboratories, and private 
     industry;
       ``(3) the heads of other relevant Federal departments and 
     agencies that conduct research and development for critical 
     infrastructure protection; and
       ``(4) State, local, and tribal governments as appropriate.

     ``SEC. 319. REPORT ON PUBLIC-PRIVATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
                   CONSORTIUMS.

       ``(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     enactment of the Critical Infrastructure Research and 
     Development Advancement Act of 2013, the Secretary, acting 
     through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, shall 
     transmit to Congress a report on the Department's utilization 
     of public-private research and development consortiums for 
     accelerating technology development for critical 
     infrastructure protection. Once every 2 years after the 
     initial report is transmitted to Congress under this section, 
     the Secretary shall transmit to Congress an update of the 
     report. The report shall focus on those aspects of critical 
     infrastructure protection that are predominately operated by 
     the private sector and that would most benefit from rapid 
     security technology advancement.
       ``(b) Contents of Report.--The report shall include--
       ``(1) a summary of the progress and accomplishments of on-
     going consortiums for critical infrastructure security 
     technologies;
       ``(2) in consultation with the Sector Coordinating Councils 
     and, to the extent practicable,

[[Page H6923]]

     in consultation with subject-matter experts on critical 
     infrastructure protection from universities, colleges, 
     including historically black colleges and universities, 
     Hispanic-serving institutions, and tribal colleges and 
     universities, national laboratories, and private industry, a 
     prioritized list of technology development focus areas that 
     would most benefit from a public-private research and 
     development consortium; and
       ``(3) based on the prioritized list developed under 
     paragraph (2), a proposal for implementing an expanded 
     research and development consortium program, including an 
     assessment of feasibility and an estimate of cost, schedule, 
     and milestones.''.
       (2) Limitation on progress report requirement.--Subsection 
     (b)(5) of section 318 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, 
     as amended by paragraph (1) of this subsection, shall not 
     apply with respect to the first strategic plan transmitted 
     under that section.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of such Act is amended by adding at the end of the items 
     relating to such title the following:

``Sec. 318. Research and development strategy for critical 
              infrastructure protection.
``Sec. 319. Report on public-private research and development 
              consortiums.''.
       (c) Critical Infrastructure Protection Technology 
     Clearinghouse.--Section 313 of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 193) is amended by redesignating subsection 
     (c) as subsection (d), and by inserting after subsection (b) 
     the following:
       ``(c) Critical Infrastructure Protection Technology 
     Clearinghouse.--
       ``(1) Designation.--Under the program required by this 
     section, the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary 
     for Science and Technology, and in coordination with the 
     Under Secretary for the National Protection and Programs 
     Directorate, shall designate a technology clearinghouse for 
     rapidly sharing proven technology solutions for protecting 
     critical infrastructure.
       ``(2) Sharing of technology solutions.--Technology 
     solutions shared through the clearinghouse shall draw from 
     Government-furnished, commercially furnished, and publically 
     available trusted sources.
       ``(3) Technology metrics.--All technologies shared through 
     the clearinghouse shall include a set of performance and 
     readiness metrics to assist end-users in deploying effective 
     and timely solutions relevant for their critical 
     infrastructures.
       ``(4) Review by privacy officer.--The Privacy Officer of 
     the Department appointed under section 222 shall annually 
     review the clearinghouse process to evaluate its consistency 
     with fair information practice principles issued by the 
     Privacy Officer.''.
       (d) Evaluation of Technology Clearinghouse by Government 
     Accountability Office.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
     United States shall conduct an independent evaluation of, and 
     submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on, the 
     effectiveness of the clearinghouses established and 
     designated, respectively, under section 313 of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002, as amended by this section.

     SEC. 4. NO ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act, and 
     this Act and such amendments shall be carried out using 
     amounts otherwise available for such purpose.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Meehan) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. 
Clarke) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2952, the Critical 
Infrastructure Research Development Advancement, or what we call the 
CIRDA, Act.
  This legislation was passed out of full committee with unanimous 
bipartisan support, and I would like to thank my good friend, the 
ranking member on the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and 
Security Technologies Committee, Ms. Clarke, for cosponsoring and 
supporting this legislation.
  One of the committee's most important duties is to protect our 
Nation's critical infrastructure. The CIRDA Act will change the way the 
Department of Homeland Security develops protections for critical 
infrastructure by creating and facilitating access to new and existing 
technologies.
  Currently, there are barriers within the Department that inhibit 
strategizing for and, ultimately, the purchasing of the best tools that 
our country has to offer. The CIRDA Act will direct DHS to facilitate 
the development of a research and development strategy for critical 
infrastructure security technologies as well as explore the feasibility 
of expanding use of public-private R&D consortiums.
  Our Nation must have access to new security technologies, and a 
public-private partnership can help spur innovation and economic 
competitiveness for entities that protect our Nation's defense systems, 
essential networks, Americans' financial information, chemical 
facilities, and the many other areas of our economy that are vital for 
the protection and confidence of Americans and our way of life.
  This is critically important, Mr. Speaker, because of the fact of the 
nature, when we are dealing with cyber, what we are dealing with is not 
just the ability of what we can do today to create a defense, but the 
recognition of those on the other side who are looking to try to 
exploit our defenses. It is a constant chess game that is taking place.
  Whatever we are able to do, immediately somebody is looking for a way 
to try to get around those protections and compromise them. As a 
result, we have to be able to have the best capacity, generated either 
in the private sector or in the government sector, and the ability to 
get those best protections to the places where they need to be the 
quickest and the most efficiently.
  Finally, the legislation will designate a ``Technology 
Clearinghouse,'' where proven security tools can be rapidly shared 
among government and private partners. Keeping pace with the rapidly 
evolving variables of the threat to our Nation and the technological 
achievements only enhances our ability to combat attacks to the U.S.' 
critical infrastructure.
  I urge support for the CIRDA Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

         Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, 
           Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
                                  Washington, DC, January 8, 2014.
     Hon. Michael McCaul,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McCaul: I am writing to you concerning the 
     jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Science, Space, 
     and Technology in H.R. 2952, the ``Critical Infrastructure 
     Research and Development Advancement Act of 2013.'' The bill 
     contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
       I recognize and appreciate the desire to bring this 
     legislation before the House of Representatives in an 
     expeditious manner, and accordingly, I will waive further 
     consideration of this bill in Committee, notwithstanding any 
     provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee 
     on Science, Space, and Technology. This waiver, of course, is 
     conditional on our mutual understanding that agreeing to 
     waive consideration of this bill should not be construed as 
     waiving, reducing, or affecting the jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
       This waiver is also given with the understanding that the 
     Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will be added as 
     a recipient of the report required to be provided by the 
     General Accounting Office in Section 3 of the bill.
       Additionally, the Committee on Science, Space, and 
     Technology expressly reserves its authority to seek conferees 
     on any provision within its jurisdiction during any House-
     Senate conference that may be convened on this, or any 
     similar legislation. I ask for your commitment to support any 
     request by the Committee for conferees on H.R. 2952 as well 
     as any similar or related legislation.
       I ask that a copy of this letter and your response be 
     included in the report on H.R. 2952 and also be placed in the 
     Congressional Record during consideration of this bill on the 
     House floor.
           Sincerely,

                                                  Lamar Smith,

                                   Chairman, Committee on Science,
                                            Space, and Technology.
       Enclosure.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Homeland Security,

                                  Washington, DC, January 8, 2014.
     Hon. Lamar Smith,
     Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Smith: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 2952, the ``Critical Infrastructure Research and 
     Development Act of 2013.'' I acknowledge that by forgoing a 
     sequential referral on this legislation, your Committee is 
     not diminishing or altering its jurisdiction.

[[Page H6924]]

       I also concur with you that forgoing action on this bill 
     does not in any way prejudice the Committee on Science, 
     Space, and Technology with respect to its jurisdictional 
     prerogatives on this bill or similar legislation in the 
     future, and I would support your effort to seek appointment 
     of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate 
     conference involving this legislation. In addition, the 
     Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will be added as 
     a recipient of the report provided by the General 
     Accountability Office, required by Section 3 of this 
     legislation, in the final version of text voted on by the 
     full House.
       Finally, I will include your letter and this response in 
     the report accompanying H.R. 2952 as well as the 
     Congressional Record during consideration of this bill on the 
     House floor. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this 
     legislation, and I look forward to working with the Committee 
     on Science, Space, and Technology as the bill moves through 
     the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                Michael T. McCaul,
                                                         Chairman.

  Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 
2952, the Critical Infrastructure Research and Development Advancement 
Act, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Meehan), the chairman of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure 
Protection, and Security Technologies Subcommittee, for introducing 
this very vital legislation. I appreciate him working with me and the 
rest of the committee to bring a thoughtful and bipartisan bill to the 
floor today.
  In May, the Department of Justice released the names of five members 
of the Chinese People's Liberation Army that are suspected of carrying 
out cyber attacks against American companies for over 8 years. These 
indictments underscore the significant cyber vulnerabilities that the 
Department of Homeland Security works to identify and to thwart.
  Some of the Department's most important efforts are targeted at 
protecting our critical infrastructure systems, such as communication 
systems and the electric grid. These systems have complex technological 
components that Americans expect will function without a glitch.
  To carry out this mission, DHS is constantly researching and 
developing new technologies and defenses to help protect our 
infrastructure. This R&D is extremely important to the safety of 
American infrastructure.
  At the same time, Congress must do proper oversight to ensure that it 
is done in an effective and efficient and focused way. That is why I 
cosponsored this act, which requires DHS to have a research and 
development strategy for critical infrastructure protection. This 
strategy is to be focused on identifying the most immediate threats and 
then developing a comprehensive set of initiatives to address them. It 
directs DHS to employ public-private partnerships, intragovernmental 
collaboration, University Centers for Excellence, and national 
laboratory technology transfers to make sure that DHS is working with 
state-of-the-art researchers and facilities. This strategy will help 
DHS keep ahead of the rapidly evolving cybersecurity attack that we 
hear about each and every day.
  I am confident that, with the focused measures set forth in this bill 
and increased attention to the importance of science and technology in 
our antiterrorism efforts, we can be better equipped to defend 
America's critical infrastructure.
  Mr. Speaker, cyberterrorists and cyber criminals are constantly 
innovating. We must do more to protect against these threats and foster 
great resilience of critical infrastructure networks to such threats. 
H.R. 2952 will make sure that we fight the new threats of this era with 
the most advanced technology solutions.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2952, the CIRDA 
Act, and I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meehan) for 
making it possible for us to have this on the floor today and to bring 
this new piece of legislation to fruition.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to express as well, as I close, once 
again, my appreciation for the tremendous collaborative working 
relationship with my colleague, Ms. Clarke, and her staff and the 
staffs from both committees who have worked extensively to put these 
bills in the position that they have.
  It is a joy to be part of something here in this Congress in a 
bipartisan fashion, in which people are working together to solve 
problems that challenge us all.
  In my closing, I will include in the Record a letter in support of 
H.R. 2952 that is written by the Security Industry Association. These 
are the folks that represent over 470 suppliers of electronic physical 
security and other kinds of solutions.

                                    Security Industry Association,
                                               September 12, 2013.
     Hon. Pat Meehan,
     Chairman, House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure 
         Protection, and Security Technologies, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Meehan: The Security Industry Association 
     (SIA) would like to express its strong support for H.R. 2952, 
     the ``Critical Infrastructure Research and Development Act of 
     2013'' (CIRDA). SIA represents more than 470 suppliers of 
     electronic physical security solutions and countless 
     technology leaders who design and install the security 
     systems that protect millions of Americans each day in our 
     nation's cities and towns, schools, factories, government 
     buildings, transportation systems, ports, and other 
     components of critical infrastructure. Owners and operators 
     of these facilities work closely with SIA members as trusted 
     advisors to ensure that cutting edge security technology 
     solutions are adopted to prevent crime and terrorist attack.
       SIA believes the CIRDA legislation will help the U.S. 
     Department of Homeland Security (DHS) set clear and 
     measureable R&D priorities that will accelerate the 
     development of cutting-edge security technologies to protect 
     critical infrastructure. More specifically, we strongly 
     support the provision of H.R. 2952 that will require the 
     development of a R&D strategy by the DHS Science and 
     Technology Directorate that draws upon the expertise of 
     Sector Coordinating Councils to identify security risks and 
     technology gaps. With this essential information, DHS will be 
     in a better position to communicate with the private sector 
     about the security technologies that are most needed to 
     prevent emerging threats to our homeland. SIA is pleased to 
     serve on the Emergency Services Sector Coordinating Council 
     and would be pleased to identify Subject Matter Experts from 
     our membership to contribute to the development of this 
     proposed R&D strategy and the Critical Infrastructure 
     Protection Technology Clearinghouse provided for in your 
     legislation.
       Thank you for your leadership in introducing this important 
     piece of legislation. SIA appreciates the priority this 
     legislation places upon public-private partnerships and we 
     look forward to working with you to ensure swift passage of 
     CIRDA this year.
           Sincerely,
                                               Donald R. Erickson,
                                          Chief Executive Officer.

  Mr. MEEHAN. The essence of what this is is the recognition by those 
who are in the industry that the Department of Homeland Security needs 
to be able to set clear and measurable R&D priorities that will 
accelerate the development of cutting-edge security technologies to 
protect the critical infrastructure.
  When we are out there so frequently, what we hear from people is the 
concern: I have been attacked. What do I do to protect myself? And they 
turn to the Department of Homeland Security for advice.
  As I said at an earlier point, the reality is that, while the 
responsibility rests with the Department and in the government to be 
able to facilitate the protection of the homeland and our assets, the 
reality is that 90 percent of these assets are placed within the 
private sector, and it is, in fact, there where much of, as much of, in 
fact, maybe some of the most pioneering research and development is 
accomplished.
  One of the other realities we face, and I think the gentlelady 
pointed to it so well, this concept of innovation, when we often think 
of innovation in a positive way. It usually is a positive thing. It 
means somebody is always thinking of a new and better way to accomplish 
a task.
  But criminals do that, too, and so do those who want to do us harm; 
and no matter how good our protections are, there is the reality that 
somebody else, the moment that it goes online, is looking for a way to 
get around it. That means that we have to have the capacity to have the 
ability to work quickly and effectively; then, once those who are in a 
position to know what is best, to be able to communicate down the line. 
So not just the big company that is situated someplace in New York 
City, but the small manufacturer in the middle of Kansas who is

[[Page H6925]]

still worried about their R&D, can have access to the same kinds of 
protections.
  This bill allows that kind of collaboration to take place, working 
through the clearinghouse in the Department of Homeland Security. That 
is why I think it is so important that we take this step forward. I 
urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2952, the 
Critical Infrastructure Research and Development Advancement Act of 
2013, sponsored by Chairman Meehan.
  This legislation is vital in our nation's efforts to protect our 
critical infrastructure from attacks. The Department of Homeland 
Security has identified 16 sectors of the U.S. economy so vital, that 
disruption or destruction would result in catastrophic life-threatening 
or life-altering challenges. The CIRDA Act will assist the Department 
by encouraging the development and procurement of new technologies 
aimed at infrastructure protection.
  I thank Chairman Meehan for his efforts in crafting thoughtful 
legislation that will enhance DHS' research and development tools, 
streamline its public-private coordination efforts, while ensuring that 
technological and product solutions are shared between the Department 
and its private sector partners.
  This bill is a bipartisan effort that was passed out of both 
subcommittee and full committee by voice vote, and I thank the 
subcommittee Chairman and Ranking Member for their work.
  I urge support for H.R. 2952.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
H.R. 2952, the ``Critical Infrastructure Research and Development 
Advancement Act.''
  H.R. 2952 requires the Department to have a well-developed Research 
and Development strategy to work in targeted ways to advance 
cybersecurity, particularly within the critical infrastructure sector.
  Keeping pace with cybercriminals, hackers, and others who seek to 
exploit vulnerabilities in critical IT networks is a major challenge 
for the Federal government and its partners in the private sector.
  Americans take for granted that when they flip a switch, their lights 
will come on, when they pick up a phone, there will be a ringtone and 
when they pick up their Smartphone, they will have a signal.
  The reliability and functioning of these systems is dependent on 
computer systems, often Internet-based systems.
  Recently, we have seen the damage that can be done when systems are 
breached. The database breach at Target, a major retailer, involved 70 
million stolen records, which affected over a hundred million people.
  The true cost of these kinds of breaches is almost unknowable because 
of the complexity of the crimes, and the sometimes-untraceable use of 
the stolen information.
  What we do know is that hackers are breaching the networks of large 
corporate companies, gaining access to proprietary industry 
information, as well as consumer data.
  The Department of Homeland Security is the lead Federal agency 
responsible for researching and developing more advanced and effective 
cybersecurity technologies to defend Americans from such attacks.
  The legislation before us today creates a technology clearinghouse to 
help promote partnerships with laboratories and universities throughout 
the Nation for research on how to enhance not only the cyber but the 
physical of critical infrastructure.
  I am pleased that it directs DHS to seek out new ways to better 
collaboration with its Centers of Excellence on this research.
  I am confident that the teams at Jackson State University and 
Tougaloo College in Mississippi, which are part of the Centers of 
Excellence network, can make valuable contributions to this effort.
  On a bipartisan basis, this Committee has developed a record for 
championing homeland security research and development while, at the 
same time, demanding accountability of DHS to ensure solid decision-
making drives the expenditure of limited R&D dollars.
  I urge my fellow colleagues to support H.R. 2952, the ``Critical 
Infrastructure Research and Development Advancement Act of 2013''.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2952, a bill 
that will create a research and development strategy for critical 
infrastructure security technologies to protect critical American 
infrastructure from physical and cyber-attacks.
  As a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee, I believe that 
the technology and protection of our critical infrastructure falls 
short in addressing the cyber-attacks we face on a daily basis.
  We are in dire need of new security technologies to keep pace with 
rapidly evolving threats and the rapid advancement of the 
infrastructure itself.
  This bill requires the Homeland Security Department to facilitate the 
development of a research and development (R&D) strategy for critical 
infrastructure security technologies.
  The measure requires the Homeland Security Department, within 180 
days of enactment and every two years thereafter, to submit to Congress 
a strategic plan for research and development efforts addressing the 
protection of critical infrastructure.
  The plan must identify critical infrastructure security risks and any 
associated security technology gaps
  The department also must submit a report to Congress, within 180 days 
of enactment and every two years thereafter, on departmental use of 
public-private consortiums to develop technology to protect such 
infrastructure.
  The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the bill would 
cost less than $500,000 annually in 2014 and 2015, assuming the 
availability of appropriated funds.
  The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the 
budgets of state, local or tribal governments.
  Mr. Speaker, the cost of this bill is a small price to pay for the 
increased security and safety it will provide once it has been 
successfully implemented.
  In closing, I would like to state that I have always advocated for 
strengthening our Department of Homeland Security and giving the 
department the proper tools to protect our country.
  It is important that we continue to help support the agencies that 
protect us.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meehan) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2952, 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.

                          ____________________