[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 77 (Monday, May 16, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H2411-H2413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY STRATEGY FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS ACT
Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4780) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to
develop a comprehensive strategy for Department of Homeland Security
operations abroad, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4780
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 ``Department of Homeland
Security Strategy for International Programs Act''.
SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR
VETTING AND SCREENING PERSONS SEEKING TO ENTER
THE UNITED STATES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security
shall 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
comprehensive three-year strategy for international programs
of the Department of Homeland Security in which personnel and
resources of the Department are deployed abroad for vetting
and screening of persons seeking to enter the United States.
(b) Contents.--The strategy required under subsection (a)
shall include, at a minimum, the following:
[[Page H2412]]
(1) Specific Department of Homeland Security risk-based
goals for international programs of the Department in which
personnel and resources of the Department are deployed abroad
for vetting and screening of persons seeking to enter the
United States.
(2) A risk-based method for determining whether to
establish new international programs in new locations, given
resource constraints, or expand existing international
programs of the Department, in which personnel and resources
of the Department are deployed abroad for vetting and
screening of persons seeking to enter the United States.
(3) Alignment with the highest Department-wide and
Government-wide strategic priorities of resource allocations
on international programs of the Department in which
personnel and resources of the Department are deployed abroad
for vetting and screening of persons seeking to enter the
United States.
(4) A common reporting framework for the submission of
reliable, comparable cost data by components of the
Department on overseas expenditures attributable to
international programs of the Department in which personnel
and resources of the Department are deployed abroad for
vetting and screening of persons seeking to enter the United
States.
(c) Considerations.--In developing the strategy required
under subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security
shall consider, at a minimum, the following:
(1) Information on existing operations of international
programs of the Department of Homeland Security in which
personnel and resources of the Department are deployed abroad
for vetting and screening of persons seeking to enter the
United States that includes corresponding information for
each location in which each such program operates.
(2) The number of Department personnel deployed to each
location at which an international program referred to in
subparagraph (A) is in operation during the current and
preceding fiscal year.
(3) Analysis of the impact of each international program
referred to in paragraph (1) on domestic activities of
components of the Department of Homeland Security.
(4) Analysis of barriers to the expansion of an
international program referred to in paragraph (1).
(d) Form.--The strategy required under subsection (a) shall
be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a
classified annex if the Secretary of Homeland Security
determines that such is appropriate.
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 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 today in support of H.R. 4780, the Department of
Homeland Security Strategy for International Programs Act, offered by
the ranking member of the committee, the gentleman from Mississippi
(Mr. Thompson).
This bill would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit
a report to Congress on the Department of Homeland Security's
international programs, including the vetting and screening of persons
seeking to enter the United States.
{time} 1745
The legislation builds off of recommendations made by the Committee
on Homeland Security's bipartisan Task Force on Combating Terrorist and
Foreign Fighter Travel that identified security gaps which allow
jihadists to get to and from Iraq and Syria undetected. Specifically,
the task force recommended that U.S. authorities continue to push the
border outward by deploying homeland security initiatives overseas.
The DHS has established several international programs that are
designed to thoroughly vet and screen such individuals before their
travel to the United States. Through its many international programs,
the DHS personnel overseas effectively extends our Nation's borders to
increase the security of the United States. Expanding initiatives like
the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Preclearance program or
Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Visa Security Program could help
detect and interdict threats before they are bound for the homeland.
For example, the Preclearance program allows overseas-based CBP
officers to screen all passengers and luggage before a flight takes off
for the United States.
The CBP currently has 15 preclearance locations in six countries,
including Ireland, Aruba, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, and the United
Arab Emirates. However, the foreign fighter threat and travel patterns
continue to concern immigration and national security officials. As a
result, DHS has announced plans to expand preclearance operations.
Other programs, like ICE's Visa Security Program deploy specially
trained agents to diplomatic posts worldwide to conduct additional visa
security screening and quickly identify potential terrorists or
criminal threats before they reach the United States. Agents provide an
additional level of review for persons of special interest or concern,
review visa applications, liaise with host country immigration and
border security officials, and conduct investigations with a nexus to
U.S. travel and security. The program has agents posted at consulates
and embassies in more than 25 countries, with additional plans to
expand to additional high-risk locations.
As the Department of Homeland Security continues to build its
international footprint for these and other border security programs,
the DHS must ensure that the expansion of international programs is
considered with risk, cost, and benefit in mind. This bill would
require the DHS to report on the specific risk-based goals for these
international programs to ensure that they align with Department-wide
and government-wide strategic priorities.
This additional transparency, including the costs related to
international programs, will improve Congress' oversight of these
activities. Additionally, the Department will be required to consider
how the deployment of personnel abroad may impact its domestic
capabilities as well as to identify barriers for the expansion of
international programs.
While international programs provide tangible national security and
travel facilitation benefits, the growing DHS presence overseas should
be built upon the foundation of a long-term strategy that guides the
Department in the deployment of officers and agents in a risk-based
manner.
I am confident that the comprehensive strategy that is required by
this bill will help ensure that the Department is managing these
programs effectively and that Congress has the appropriate insight that
is necessary to protect the American taxpayers' investment in our
security.
I, therefore, urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill.
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 support of H.R. 4780, the Department of Homeland Security
Strategy for International Programs Act.
I introduced H.R. 4780 to require the Secretary of Homeland Security
to develop a comprehensive strategy for the Department's international
programs where personnel and resources are deployed abroad for vetting
and screening persons who are seeking to enter the U.S.
In recent years, the Department has expanded its international
footprint through programs such as the Immigration Advisory Program,
the Joint Security Program, and the Visa Security Program. In fact,
presently, the Customs and Border Protection has, approximately, 800
employees who are posted in 43 countries, and the Immigration and
Customs Enforcement has almost 400 employees in 45 countries. DHS
personnel who are at overseas locations perform vital vetting and
passenger prescreening activities to ensure individuals who are
traveling to the U.S. do not pose a threat to our Nation's security.
Looking ahead, the DHS has announced plans to expand the Preclearance
program to 10 new locations in the coming years, and ICE continues to
expand its Visa Security Program to additional visa-issuing posts
abroad.
I strongly support these efforts to push out our borders through the
expansion of these important homeland
[[Page H2413]]
security programs. That said, to do it right, DHS needs a comprehensive
strategy to bolster its presence and partnerships around the world. My
bill requires just that. Specifically, it requires the DHS to have a 3-
year strategy that includes risk-based goals, which is a process to
ensure resource allocations align with overall Departmental strategic
priorities, and a common reporting framework for personnel who are
deployed abroad.
My bill requires the DHS to not only take into account where it
currently deploys resources for these overseas screening and vetting
programs and the number of DHS personnel at each location, but also any
impacts of these overseas activities on domestic operations, including
with respect to staffing at U.S. ports of entry.
After 9/11, the attempted Christmas Day attack in 2009, as well as
other more recent cases, it is imperative for the DHS and its Federal
partners to bolster the screening and vetting of travelers before they
arrive at our borders. My bill will help ensure that the DHS has a
sound strategy for its efforts to do so.
Mr. Speaker, we face evolving terrorist threats, which include
individuals who are attempting to use legitimate forms of travel to the
U.S. to inflict harm. The DHS personnel who are posted abroad perform
critical preemptive operations to make sure that travelers who are
coming to our country are thoroughly screened and vetted. H.R. 4780
will help ensure that these important international DHS programs are
utilized in a strategic and effective manner to further enhance the
security of the U.S.
Before I yield back, I would note that H.R. 4780 is a part of a
larger legislative package that I am introducing today. Among other
things, my package would authorize significant expansions of critical
CBP and ICE overseas screening and vetting programs and significant new
CBP staffing resources to support overseas program expansion and
address domestic staffing shortages at U.S. international airports.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4780.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, once again, I urge my colleagues to
support H.R. 4780.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4780, the
``Department of Homeland Security Strategy for International Programs
Act.''
This legislation directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to
submit a comprehensive three-year strategy for international programs
in which DHS personnel and resources are deployed abroad for vetting
and screening persons seeking to enter the United States.
Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Homeland Security I support
this bill because the issue of proper vetting and screening processes'
upon the entry into the country is paramount.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4780 directs the Security Committee of the
Department of Homeland Security to use the following strategies to
implement this legislation:
1. A risk-based method for determining whether to establish new
international programs in new locations, given resource constraints, or
expand existing international programs;
2. Alignment with the highest DHS-wide and government-wide strategic
priorities of resource allocations on such programs; and
3. A common reporting framework for the submission of reliable,
comparable cost data by DHS components on overseas expenditures
attributable to such programs.
In developing this strategy the Department for health and human
services shall secure:
1. Information on existing operations of DHS programs that includes
corresponding information for each location in which each such program
operates,
2. Analysis of the impact of each such international program on
domestic activities of DHS components,
3. The number of DHS personnel deployed to each location at which
such an international program is in operation during the current and
preceding fiscal year, and
4. Analysis of barriers to the expansion of such an international
program.
There should be a proper vetting and screening process for
individuals entering the country from locations abroad.
Border security is an evolving process, and our legislative process
must evolve with it.
Avoiding recurrences of attacks on the homeland such as the 911
attack is a major reason entry into the country should be heavily
monitored.
I urge all members to join me in voting to pass H.R. 4780.
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. 4780, 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.
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