[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 101 (Tuesday, June 23, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H4574-H4576]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HOMELAND SECURITY UNIVERSITY-BASED CENTERS REVIEW ACT

  Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2390) to require a review of university-based centers for 
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. 2390

       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 ``Homeland Security 
     University-based Centers Review Act''.

     SEC. 2. REVIEW OF UNIVERSITY-BASED CENTERS.

       (a) GAO Study of University-Based Centers.--Not later than 
     120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
     Comptroller General of the United States shall initiate a 
     study to assess the university-based centers for homeland 
     security program authorized by section 308(b)(2) of the 
     Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)), and 
     provide recommendations to the Committee on Homeland Security 
     and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate for 
     appropriate improvements.
       (b) Subject Matters.--The study under subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) A review of the Department of Homeland Security's 
     efforts to identify key areas of study needed to support the 
     homeland security mission, and criteria that the Department 
     utilized to determine those key areas for which the 
     Department should maintain, establish, or eliminate 
     university-based centers.
       (2) A review of the method by which university-based 
     centers, federally funded research and development centers, 
     and Department of Energy national laboratories receive 
     tasking from the Department of Homeland Security, including a 
     review of how university-based research is identified, 
     prioritized, and funded.
       (3) A review of selection criteria for designating 
     university-based centers and a weighting of such criteria.
       (4) An examination of best practices from other agencies' 
     efforts to organize and use university-based research to 
     support their missions.
       (5) A review of the Department of Homeland Security's 
     criteria and metrics to measure demonstrable progress 
     achieved by university-based centers in fulfilling Department 
     taskings, and mechanisms for delivering and disseminating the 
     research results of designated university-based centers 
     within the Department and to other Federal, State, and local 
     agencies.
       (6) An examination of the means by which academic 
     institutions that are not designated or associated with the 
     designated university-based centers can optimally contribute 
     to the research mission of the Directorate of Science and 
     Technology of the Department of Homeland Security.
       (7) An assessment of the interrelationship between the 
     different university-based centers and the degree to which 
     outreach and collaboration among a diverse array of academic 
     institutions is encouraged by the Department of Homeland 
     Security, particularly with historically Black colleges and 
     universities and minority serving institutions.
       (8) A review of any other essential elements of the 
     programs determined in the conduct of the study.
       (c) Information Relating to University-Based Centers.--
     Subparagraph (D) of section 308(b)(2) of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)) is amended to read 
     as follows:
       ``(D) Annual report to congress.--Not later than one year 
     after the date of the enactment of this subparagraph and 
     annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
     report on the implementation of this section. Each such 
     report shall--
       ``(i) indicate which center or centers have been designated 
     pursuant to this section;
       ``(ii) describe how such designation or designations 
     enhance homeland security;
       ``(iii) provide information on any decisions to revoke or 
     modify such designation or designations;
       ``(iv) describe research that has been tasked and completed 
     by each center that has been designated during the preceding 
     year;
       ``(v) describe funding provided by the Secretary for each 
     center under clause (iv) for that year; and
       ``(vi) describe plans for utilization of each center or 
     centers in the forthcoming year.''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon in support of H.R. 2390, the 
Homeland Security University-based Centers Review Act of 2015, authored 
by the ranking member, the gentleman from Mississippi.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill will require the Government Accountability 
Office to initiate a study to assess the university-based centers for 
homeland security and provide recommendations to Congress on 
improvements.
  The Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence play a 
vital role in providing long-term research and support of technology 
development in areas of emerging threats.
  Additionally, these centers play key roles in supporting the 
Department of Homeland Security and its mission in protecting our 
homeland. I look forward to seeing the results of this study and how we 
can better improve the effectiveness of these university centers.
  I reserve the balance of my time.


[[Page H4575]]


         House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, 
           and Technology,
                                    Washington, DC, June 17, 2015.
     Hon. Michael T. McCaul,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning H.R. 2390, the 
     ``Homeland Security University-based Centers Review Act,'' 
     which your Committee reported on May 20, 2015.
       H.R. 2390 contains provisions within the Committee on 
     Science, Space, and Technology's Rule X jurisdiction. As a 
     result of your having consulted with the Committee and in 
     order to expedite this bill for floor consideration, the 
     Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will forego 
     action on the bill. This is being done on the basis of our 
     mutual understanding that doing so will in no way diminish or 
     alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space, 
     and Technology with respect to the appointment of conferees, 
     or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject 
     matters contained in the bill or similar legislation.
       I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming 
     this understanding, and would request that you include a copy 
     of this letter and your response in the Committee Report and 
     in the Congressional Record during the floor consideration of 
     this bill. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Lamar Smith,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Homeland Security,

                                    Washington, DC, June 17, 2015.
     Hon. Lamar Smith,
     Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Smith: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 2390, the ``Homeland Security University-based Centers 
     Review Act.'' I appreciate your support in bringing this 
     legislation before the House of Representatives, and 
     accordingly, understand that the Committee on Science, Space, 
     and Technology will forego further action on the bill.
       The Committee on Homeland Security concurs with the mutual 
     understanding that by foregoing further action on this bill 
     at this time, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
     does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter 
     contained in this bill or similar legislation in the future. 
     In addition, should a conference on this bill be necessary, I 
     would support your request to have the Committee on Science, 
     Space, and Technology represented on the conference 
     committee.
       I will insert copies of this exchange in the Congressional 
     Record during consideration of this bill on the House floor. 
     I thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                Michael T. McCaul,
                         Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security.

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2390, the Homeland 
Security University-based Centers Review Act.
  I introduced H.R. 2390, the Homeland Security University-based 
Centers Review Act, with my colleague Mr. Richmond, to provide Congress 
with the full picture of the Department's management of the Centers of 
Excellence program.
  This program dates back to the Department's earliest days. It was 
authorized in the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to be ``a coordinated, 
university-based system to enhance the Nation's homeland security.'' 
Since that time, however, we have not had a comprehensive review of the 
Department's management of this vital research and development program.
  H.R. 2390 marks the most significant effort to assess the Centers of 
Excellence program to date. The measure directs the Government 
Accountability Office to issue a comprehensive report that, among other 
things, evaluates how the Department aligns decisions about 
establishing, maintaining, or eliminating a center with its research 
needs; how DHS identifies, prioritizes, and funds projects; and how DHS 
measures progress on its research goals.
  The bill also directs GAO to examine how DHS promotes collaboration 
among the centers, as well as with institutions outside of the network, 
including Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other 
minority-serving institutions.
  I have the privilege of representing Jackson State University, which 
is part of the Department's Coastal Resilience Center of Excellence 
program. I am proud that in its capacity, Jackson State has contributed 
research and modeling that informed realtime operational decisions at 
the Coast Guard and FEMA in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and other 
disasters.
  I know that throughout this country, there are other institutions 
that could benefit from and bring unique knowledge and expertise to 
DHS' ten standing Centers of Excellence.
  Mr. Speaker, the Homeland Security Committee has been involved in 
vigorous oversight of the Centers of Excellence, particularly 
encouraging the Department to adopt policies that help diversify 
university and student participation in the homeland security 
enterprise.
  In my opinion, the DHS Science and Technology Directorate's robust 
outreach effort to universities and institutions of recent years is 
that direct result of our oversight, but we need to understand whether 
S&T's outreach, along with its effort to better manage the Centers of 
Excellence, are really working.
  H.R. 2390 is an important first step in effectively assessing the 
value of the Centers of Excellence and evaluating whether or not the 
research and development potential of our Nation's universities are 
being effectively leveraged.
  Mr. Speaker, again, I am grateful for the cooperation of the 
subcommittee chairman, Mr. Ratcliffe, and the full committee chairman, 
Mr. McCaul, for their help to improve the Department's Centers of 
Excellence; and I urge passage of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson for 
their leadership on this bill.
  I, once again, urge my colleagues to support this bill. It is a 
strong bipartisan piece of legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Homeland 
Security Committee, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2390 ``Homeland 
Security University-based Centers Review Act.''
  I support this bipartisan legislation which requires an annual report 
be sent to Congress to assess the university-based centers for homeland 
security program and provide recommendations for appropriate 
improvements.
  Mr. Speaker, the research that our designated institutions conduct is 
imperative to the current progress and future success of protecting our 
nation's greatest asset, the American people.
   I join my colleagues in working to safeguard our investment by 
requiting annual reports that give detailed reviews of how our funding 
is being spent and more effective ways we can use the information 
yielded from these studies in a real world applicable way.
  This bill requires a review of the Department of Homeland Security's 
(DHS) efforts to identify key areas of study needed to support the 
homeland security mission, and criteria that the Department utilized to 
determine those key areas for which the Department should maintain, 
establish, or eliminate university-based centers.
  DHS's mission is to ensure a homeland that is safe, secure, and 
resilient against terrorism and other hazards.
  H.R. 2390 supports that mission by overseeing the funding of a 
university-based research program that invests in the homeland 
security, science and technology of the DHS.
  It is imperative that we have oversight of how the funds are being 
used to meet DHS's university program criteria and this bill requires a 
review of how university-based research is identified, prioritized, and 
funded.
  The Centers of Excellence (COE) network is an extended consortium of 
hundreds of universities conducting groundbreaking research to address 
homeland security challenges.
  Sponsored by the Office of University Programs, the COEs work closely 
with the homeland security community to develop customer-driven, 
innovative tools and technologies to solve real-world challenges.
  The Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases (IIAD) and Texas A&M 
Engineering Experiment Station, have used this program to develop a 
mobile Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) application to 
support veterinary practitioners submitting animal health certificate 
records from the field.
  This real-time information sharing is an alternative to email or web-
based systems, and helps improve communication between veterinarians 
and state animal health offices by supporting certificate submission 
from the field.
  The Homeland Security University-based Centers Review Act requires a 
review of the Department of Homeland Security's criteria and metrics to 
measure demonstrable progress achieved by university-based centers in 
fulfilling Department taskings, and mechanisms for delivering and 
disseminating the research results of designated university-based 
centers within the Department and to other Federal, State, and local 
agencies.
  Mr. Speaker, because these funds are used to enrich our future 
generations of leaders and

[[Page H4576]]

it is important that the different university-based centers reach out 
and collaborate among a diverse array of academic institutions, 
particularly with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) 
and minority serving institutions.
  I applaud Rankin Member Thompson for including specific language that 
reaches out to diverse universities, specifically often overshadowed 
historically Black colleges and universities.
  HBCU such as Texas Southern University, in my Congressional district, 
is preparing technically savvy Homeland Security professionals for 
Maritime Transportation Security.
  All educational institutions who meet criteria should be eligible to 
participate in the Department of Homeland Security's University 
Program.
  This bill supports the program's mission needs of building a stable 
community of homeland security researchers and educators at U.S. 
colleges and universities.
  Fostering a homeland security culture within the academic community 
through research and educational programs is a great partnership 
between government and our education institutions.
  Strengthening U.S. scientific leadership in homeland security 
research and education giving our students a competitive ranking on a 
global level.
  Generating and disseminating knowledge and technical advances to 
advance the homeland security mission helps to recruit future partners 
and participants.
  Integrating homeland security activities across agencies engaged in 
relevant academic research will help partners work in concert to 
develop critical technologies and analyses to secure the nation's 
security interest.
  The Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Centers 
of Excellence develop multidisciplinary, customer-driven, homeland 
security science and technology solutions and help train the next 
generation of homeland security experts.
  The Homeland Security University-based Centers Review Act regulates 
the institutions designated with this distinguished honor of training 
the next generation of leaders in the scientific and technological 
fields.
  Raising the visibility and status of the government sponsored 
programs creates an environment where each institution has to take 
responsibility for the use of their funds and prove those uses 
furthered the mission needs of DHS.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this bipartisan bill and strongly 
urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2390.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ratcliffe) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2390, 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.

                          ____________________