[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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