[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.
____________________