[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 101 (Tuesday, June 23, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H4576-H4578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CBRN INTELLIGENCE AND INFORMATION SHARING ACT OF 2015
Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2200) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to
establish chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear intelligence
and information sharing functions of the Office of Intelligence and
Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security and to require
dissemination of information analyzed by the Department to entities
with responsibilities relating to 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. 2200
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 ``CBRN Intelligence and
Information Sharing Act of 2015''.
SEC. 2. CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, AND NUCLEAR
INTELLIGENCE AND INFORMATION SHARING.
(a) In General.--Subtitle A of title II of the Homeland
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 210G. CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, AND NUCLEAR
INTELLIGENCE AND INFORMATION SHARING.
``(a) In General.--The Office of Intelligence and Analysis
of the Department of Homeland Security shall--
``(1) support homeland security-focused intelligence
analysis of terrorist actors, their claims, and their plans
to conduct attacks involving chemical, biological,
radiological, and nuclear materials against the Nation;
``(2) support homeland security-focused intelligence
analysis of global infectious disease, public health, food,
agricultural, and veterinary issues;
``(3) support homeland security-focused risk analysis and
risk assessments of the homeland security hazards described
in paragraphs (1) and (2), including the transportation of
chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological materials, by
providing relevant quantitative and nonquantitative threat
information;
``(4) leverage existing and emerging homeland security
intelligence capabilities and structures to enhance
prevention, protection, response, and recovery efforts with
respect to a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear
attack;
``(5) share information and provide tailored analytical
support on these threats to State, local, and tribal
authorities as well as other national biosecurity and
biodefense stakeholders and other Federal agencies, as
appropriate; and
``(6) perform other responsibilities, as assigned by the
Secretary.
``(b) Coordination.--Where appropriate, the Office of
Intelligence and Analysis shall coordinate with other
relevant Department components, including the National
Biosurveillance Integration Center, others in the
Intelligence Community, including the National Counter
Proliferation Center, and other Federal, State, local, and
tribal authorities, including officials from high-threat
areas, State and major urban area fusion centers, and local
public health departments, as appropriate, and enable such
entities to provide recommendations on optimal information
sharing mechanisms, including expeditious sharing of
classified information, and on how they can provide
information to the Department.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `appropriate congressional committees' means
the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives and any committee of the House of
Representatives or the Senate having legislative jurisdiction
under the rules of the House of Representatives or Senate,
respectively, over the matter concerned.
``(2) The term `Intelligence Community' has the meaning
given that term in section 3(4) of the National Security Act
of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a(4)).
``(3) The term `national biosecurity and biodefense
stakeholders' means officials from the Federal, State, local,
and tribal authorities and individuals from the private
sector who are involved in efforts to prevent, protect
against, respond to, and recover from a biological attack or
other phenomena that may have serious health consequences for
the United States, including infectious disease outbreaks.''.
(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 subtitle the following:
``Sec. 210G. Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear
intelligence and information sharing.''.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall report to the
appropriate congressional committees on--
(A) the intelligence and information sharing activities
under subsection (a) and of all relevant entities within the
Department of Homeland Security to counter the threat from
attacks using chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear
materials; and
(B) the Department's activities in accordance with relevant
intelligence strategies.
(2) Assessment of implementation.--The report shall
include--
(A) a description of methods established to assess progress
of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis in implementing
the amendment made by subsection (a); and
(B) such assessment.
(3) Termination.--This subsection shall have no force or
effect after the end of the 5-year period beginning on the
date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 3. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ANALYZED BY THE
DEPARTMENT TO STATE, LOCAL, TRIBAL, AND PRIVATE
ENTITIES WITH RESPONSIBILITIES RELATING TO
HOMELAND SECURITY.
Section 201(d)(8) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6
U.S.C. 121(d)(8)) is amended by striking ``and to agencies of
State'' and all that follows and inserting ``to State, local,
tribal, and private entities with such responsibilities, and,
as appropriate, to the public, in order to assist in
preventing, deterring, or responding to acts of terrorism
against the United States.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Arizona (Ms. McSally) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Arizona.
General Leave
Ms. McSALLY. 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.
[[Page H4577]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, as the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security's
Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, I
rise today in support of H.R. 2200, the CBRN Intelligence and
Information Sharing Act of 2015.
We know that terrorists have long strived to employ chemical,
biological, radiological, and nuclear--or CBRN--materials in their
attacks. ISIS and other terror organizations have attempted to use
chemical weapons, and experts suggest that terrorist interest in
utilizing chemical agents has increased. In fact, reports indicate that
ISIS may be currently using chemical weapons in Syria and Iraq.
Since the procedures and equipment required to develop biological
weapons are the same as those used for legitimate research purposes and
are readily available, it is imperative that intelligence information
related to bio threats is appropriately analyzed and shared with those
who would be on the front lines of response in the event of a
biological attack.
Furthermore, events such as the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013
illustrated the need for better information sharing between Federal and
local officials.
H.R. 2200 will enhance intelligence analysis and information sharing
to fill this need and will work to ensure that State and local
officials get the actionable intelligence information necessary to stop
or mitigate a CBRN attack.
This legislation considers information garnered from the Subcommittee
on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications hearings on the
threat of chemical and biological terrorism. During two hearings
earlier this year, we heard from numerous stakeholders that information
sharing with appropriate State and local officials and emergency
response providers about these threats is critical.
Specifically, this budget neutral bill requires the Office of
Intelligence and Analysis at DHS to support homeland security focused
intelligence analysis of CBRN threats, including emerging infectious
diseases, working in coordination with the Department's National
Biosurveillance Integration Center and the intelligence community.
As information and intelligence is only useful if it is shared with
those who can take action, such as State, local, tribal, and private
entities, H.R. 2200 directs the Office of Intelligence and Analysis to
not only share information with these partners, but also engage with
them and get their feedback on mechanisms for two-way sharing of
information.
Finally, H.R. 2200 directs the Secretary of DHS to report annually
for 5 years on the Department's intelligence and information sharing
activities to counter the threat from weapons of mass destruction and
DHS's activities in accordance with relevant intelligence strategies.
The House passed nearly identical bills during the 112th and 113th
Congresses with bipartisan support.
I urge Members to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
I rise in strong support of H.R. 2200, the CBRN Intelligence and
Information Sharing Act.
Mr. Speaker, in the years following the September 11 attacks,
Congress worked to address many of the preparedness gaps identified by
the 9/11 Commission, including the threat posed by weapons of mass
destruction. Pursuant to the 9/11 Commission's recommendations,
Congress established the Weapons of Mass Destruction, or WMD
Commission.
In 2008, the WMD Commission issued a series of recommendations to
counter the proliferation of WMDs and build a more robust national
capability to respond to such attacks.
{time} 1715
Subsequently, the WMD Commission and its legacy organization, the WMD
Center, issued a series of report cards evaluating the Federal
Government's progress in implementing the WMD Commission's
recommendations. Unfortunately, each report card found that the Federal
Government was not acting quickly enough.
In the years since the WMD Center issued its final bio-response
report card in 2011, WMD threats have continued to evolve. What we know
now is that the threats posed by WMDs are more dynamic and that our
enemies are growing more agile. H.R. 2200 focuses on an important
aspect of our Nation's ability to prevent, to prepare for, and to
respond to a WMD attack--information sharing.
At the full committee and subcommittee levels, the Committee on
Homeland Security has devoted significant time and resources to
assessing Federal activities to address the threat of WMDs. I have
heard one message consistently from the witnesses who have come before
us: we need to improve coordination and information sharing with State
and local governments and emergency responders. Situational awareness
is essential to ensuring a robust response to a CBRN incident and to
saving lives; and I appreciate Emergency Preparedness, Response, and
Communications Subcommittee Chairwoman McSally's efforts to improve
CBRN threat-related intelligence and information sharing.
If we learned anything from the 9/11 attacks, it is that information
sharing saves lives. From putting desperate pieces of information
together, to stopping an attack, to ensuring that first responders are
equipped to respond safely and effectively, information sharing plays
an essential role in complete situational awareness. H.R. 2200 will
improve the way we use information related to evolving threats posed by
chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological agents. I urge my
colleagues to support H.R. 2200.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I, once again, urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan
legislation that will enhance the sharing of CBRN-related threat
information.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2200, the CBRN
Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2015.
I would like to begin by thanking my colleague, Martha McSally, for
her work on this important bill.
This bipartisan piece of legislation would direct the Department of
Homeland Security to analyze terrorist intentions with respect to
chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear material, and share this
information with state, local and federal entities.
The bill includes my amendment, which was accepted in Committee, to
require DHS to assess the specific risks presented by transporting
these materials, addressing a key concern in Western New York.
The Department of Energy plans to begin shipping highly-enriched
uranium liquid from Canada to South Carolina next year. This material,
which is far more radioactive than spent nuclear fuel, would be shipped
in casks that have never been certified to carry highly-enriched
uranium liquid.
The Department proposes to transport this waste across the Northern
Border at the Peace Bridge, the second busiest crossing for cargo and
the busiest crossing for passengers on the Northern Border.
The Peace Bridge crosses the Niagara River which connects two Great
Lakes, the contamination of which could endanger the world's largest
fresh water supply.
The nuclear casks would then proceed from the Peace Bridge through
downtown Buffalo, a high-density urban area.
The Department of Energy approved this route nearly twenty years ago,
and it reflects the pre-nine-eleven mindset on the threat and
consequences of terrorism.
The legislation before us today would allow the Department of Energy
to reconsider the wisdom of transporting dangerously radioactive
material through high-risk areas like Buffalo.
Again, I want to thank my colleague, Martha McSally, for her work and
leadership on this issue and urge passage of this bill.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Homeland
Security Committee, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2200, the ``CBRN
Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2015.''
I support this bipartisan legislation which amends the Homeland
Security Act of 2002 to direct the Office of Intelligence and Analysis
of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) support homeland
security-focused intelligence analysis of terrorist actors, their
claims, and their plans to conduct attacks involving chemical,
biological, radiological, and
[[Page H4578]]
nuclear materials against the nation and of global infectious disease,
public health, food, agricultural, and veterinary issues; (2) support
homeland security-focused risk analysis and risk assessments of such
homeland security hazards by providing relevant quantitative and no
quantitative threat information; (3) leverage homeland security
intelligence capabilities and structures to enhance prevention,
protection, response, and recovery efforts with respect to a chemical,
biological, radiological, or nuclear attack; and (4) share information
and provide tailored analytical support on these threats to state,
local, and tribal authorities as well as other national biosecurity and
biodefense stakeholders.
I am pleased that H.R. 2200 incorporates an amendment by
Congresswoman McSally that directs the department to establish
chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) intelligence and
information sharing functions of the Office of Intelligence and
Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security and to require
dissemination of information analyzed by the Department to entities
with responsibilities relating to homeland security.
The Nation's chemical facilities represent a terrorist target that
must be protected.
It is my hope that this bill will improve upon current legislation
authorizing the Department of Homeland Security to regulate security
practices at the Nation's chemical facilities.
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that we must equip ourselves to be able to
detect attacks of a CBRN nature.
H.R. 2200 ensures a standardized communication platform for need to
know industries dealing with such sensitive information.
There is no room for error when it comes to our nation's security.
I urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting to pass, H.R. 2200,
the ``CBRN Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2015.''
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Arizona (Ms. McSally) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2200, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas
and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________