[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 154 (Wednesday, October 21, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                    SECURING THE CITIES ACT OF 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 20, 2015

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Homeland 
Security Committee, and Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee's 
Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and 
Investigations, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3493, the ``Securing 
the Cities Act of 2015,'' which will require the Director for Domestic 
Nuclear Detection to create a Securing the Cities program.
  The codification of the Securing the Cities Program under H.R. 3493, 
will:
  1. Assist state, local, tribal, and territorial governments in 
creating and implementing, or perfecting existing structures for 
coordinated and integrated detection and interdiction of nuclear or 
other radiological materials that are out of regulatory control;
  2. Support the creation of a region-wide operating capability to 
identify and report on nuclear and other radioactive materials out of 
operational control;
  3. Provide resources to improve detection, analysis, communication, 
and organization to better integrate state, local, tribal, and 
territorial property into federal operations;
  4. Facilitate the establishment of protocol and processes to 
effectively respond to threats posed by nuclear or radiological 
materials being acquired or used by terrorists; and
  5. Designate participating jurisdictions from among high-risk urban 
areas and other cities and regions, as appropriate, and notify Congress 
at least three days before designating or changing such jurisdictions.
  H.R. 3493 would also require the Comptroller General to investigate 
and assess the effectiveness of the ``Securing the Cities Program.''
  The potential for a terrorist attack using nuclear or radiological 
material is low, but should it occur the consequences would be 
catastrophic, and for this reason we cannot be lax in our efforts to 
deter, detect and defeat attempts by terrorists to perpetrate such a 
heinous act of terrorism.
  I represent the 18th Congressional District of Texas, which is 
located in the Houston area, which is the 4th largest city in the 
United States and home to over 2 million residents.
  Earlier this year the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced 
that the city of Houston would receive $30 million dollars over 5 years 
under the Securing the Cities Program.
  The funding, came from DHS's Domestic Nuclear Office and, will be 
used to work with partners in the Houston area to build a robust, 
regional nuclear detection capability for law enforcement and first 
responder organizations.
  This is an important federal effort to increase the ability of major 
urban cities to detect and protect against radiological and nuclear 
threats.
  The Securing Cities Program began in 2006 as a pilot project for the 
New York City region.
  The cities and regions that are participating include Washington DC/
National Capital Region, New York City, Los Angeles/Long Beach area, 
and now Houston Texas.
  The DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office provides equipment and 
assistance to regional partners in conducting training and exercises to 
further their nuclear detection capabilities and coordinate with 
federal operations.
  Unfortunately, the age of terrorism makes this a more dangerous and 
uncertain time than the decades following World War II when nation/
state nuclear arsenals were being created.
  I am pleased that Houston is at the forefront of nuclear safety in 
our country, and it is time to make the Securing the Cities Program 
vital for all of our major cities to catch up.
  Nuclear threats are more perilous than what our nation faced during 
the Cold War because these threats come from non-state actors who often 
do not have the same level of concern for the wellbeing of their people 
who may face the consequences of a nuclear attack against the United 
States.
  I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this important resolution.

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