[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 146 (Tuesday, September 27, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5952-H5954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1515
GAINS IN GLOBAL NUCLEAR DETECTION ARCHITECTURE ACT
Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5391) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance
certain duties of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, and for other
purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5391
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 ``Gains in Global Nuclear
Detection Architecture Act''.
SEC. 2. DUTIES OF THE DOMESTIC NUCLEAR DETECTION OFFICE.
Section 1902 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C.
592) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new
subsection:
``(b) Implementation.--In carrying out paragraph (6) of
subsection (a), the Director of the Domestic Nuclear
Detection Office shall--
``(1) develop and maintain documentation, such as a
technology roadmap and strategy, that--
``(A) provides information on how the Office's research
investments align with--
``(i) gaps in the enhanced global nuclear detection
architecture, as developed pursuant to paragraph (4) of such
subsection; and
``(ii) research challenges identified by the Director; and
``(B) defines in detail how the Office will address such
research challenges;
``(2) document the rational for prioritizing and selecting
research topics; and
``(3) develop a systematic approach, which may include
annual metrics and periodic qualitative evaluations, for
evaluating how the outcomes of the Office's individual
research projects collectively contribute to addressing the
Office's research challenges.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Ratcliffe) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Richmond)
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
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include any extraneous materials 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 am pleased to be considering H.R. 5391, the Gains in
Global Nuclear Detection Architecture Act of 2016.
H.R. 5391 directs the Department of Homeland Security's Domestic
Nuclear Detection Office, or DNDO, to develop and maintain
documentation that provides information on how the Office's research
investments align with gaps in the Global Nuclear Detection
Architecture as well as the research challenges identified by the DNDO
Director.
This bill further directs DNDO to document the rationale for
selecting research topics and to develop a systematic approach for
evaluating how the outcomes of the Office's individual research
projects collectively contribute to addressing these research
challenges.
Mr. Speaker, as the attacks in Paris, Brussels, and Turkey have
shown, ISIS is accelerating its attacks on innocent people throughout
the world. Individuals in this country have been inspired by ISIS to
commit heinous acts and crimes on our soil, murdering 49 innocent souls
in Orlando, Florida, and 14 more in San Bernardino, California.
Just this summer, 6 men were convicted in Tbilisi, Georgia, of trying
to sell uranium-238; and in January, three members of a criminal group
were detained for trying to sell cesium-137--both of which could be
used to make a dirty bomb.
Mr. Speaker, we must absolutely ensure that terrorists never get
their hands on radioactive materials, and this bill will enhance DNDO's
ability to provide radiation detection devices specifically aimed at
preventing terrorists from being able to obtain enough radioactive
material to construct a dirty bomb.
This bill will ensure that the research topics DNDO chooses to invest
in to enhance our ability to detect smuggled nuclear materials are
aligned with the gaps that have been identified in the Global Nuclear
Detection Architecture, a multi-agency framework for
[[Page H5953]]
detecting, analyzing, and reporting on nuclear and other radioactive
materials that are out of regulatory control. Requiring DNDO to
document the rationale for choosing research topics will ensure that
the most important gaps in the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture
are addressed.
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to support this measure today. I would like
to thank my colleague, Mr. Richmond, and his team for the terrific work
they have done to bring this legislation to the floor today. I believe
that this bill will better enable this country to detect the smuggling
of nuclear materials and will support the very critical mission of
preventing ISIS and other terrorists from carrying out a nuclear or
radiological attack on American soil. I urge my colleagues to support
the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5391, the Gains in Global
Nuclear Detection Architecture Act. My bipartisan bill was approved
unanimously by the Committee on Homeland Security on June 8. I
appreciate the support of my ranking member, Mr. Thompson, and my
colleagues across the aisle, Mr. Ratcliffe and Chairman McCaul, in my
efforts to advance this legislation.
In nuclear smuggling detection, we rely on the critical triad of
intelligence, law enforcement, and technology. The Department of
Homeland Security deploys detection technologies in maritime and border
operations based on intelligence indicators and places them in the
hands of well-trained DHS personnel.
At DHS, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, or DNDO, is
responsible for the coordination of Federal efforts to detect and
protect against attempts to import, possess, store, develop, or
transport radioactive materials that may be used as weapons against our
Nation.
DNDO, with its interagency partners, coordinates the U.S. Global
Nuclear Detection Architecture, or GNDA, which is a framework for
detecting, analyzing, and reporting on the smuggling of nuclear and
radioactive materials.
In April 2015, the Government Accountability Office issued a report
that looked at how DNDO manages its roughly $350 million research and
development program. The GAO concluded that DNDO needed to do a better
job of documenting the rationale for selecting the 189 research and
development projects that it funds and how these projects align with
the research challenges and identified gaps, especially gaps or
vulnerabilities identified in the GNDA.
Subsequently, I introduced the Gains in Global Nuclear Detection
Architecture Act to, among other things, help certify that the
planning, selection, and future funding of nuclear detection research
and development projects are targeted towards identified gaps in the
GNDA. Such documentation is essential to confirm that DNDO is making
the right research investments to keep the Nation secure.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Louisiana has 17\1/2\
minutes remaining.
Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the gentleman
for his legislation. It is very, very astute and a very important
initiative, the Gains in Global Nuclear Detection Architecture Act.
Again, I thank the chairman of the subcommittee as well for his
leadership. He is a fellow Texan. We meet each other on several
committees, but we have the opportunity to work together on these
important issues.
Let me just briefly say how important this is. This is a fill-in-the-
gap initiative. And the gap can be dangerous. It can be devastating.
What it ensures is that we develop and maintain documentation that
provides information on how the Office's research investment aligns
with gaps in the enhanced Global Nuclear Detection Architecture and
with research challenges identified by the Director, and that defines
in detail how the Office will address such research challenges.
I have real life, if you will, examples, in the community that I come
from. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the maritime
border has 95,000 miles of shoreline and 361 seaports. One of those
happens to be the Port of Houston.
Ocean transportation accounts for 95 percent of cargo tonnage that
moves in and out of the country with 8,588 commercial vessels making
82,044 port calls in 2015. In my community alone, Houston, Texas, has a
25-mile maritime line.
In the Port of Houston, as we were ranked one of the first in foreign
tonnage with 46 percent of market share by tonnage, we know what
challenges come about in the potential of cargo being, if you will,
exploited by putting in dangerous elements dealing with nuclear
equipment.
So the idea of Homeland Security focusing on, as this legislation
says, gains in Global Nuclear Detection Architecture, is crucial to
supporting the Nation's ports, securing the Nation's tonnage, and
securing the Nation.
The Securing the Cities Act was legislation that related to the idea
of nuclear detection and interdiction of radiological materials. Just
last year, the city of Houston was awarded an initial Securing the
Cities grant of $3.5 million as the initial installment of a $30
million grant payable over 5 years.
This is a very important aspect of nuclear detection. This
legislation is a great partner to filling in the gap. The grant that we
received in Houston was funded through the Urban Area Security
Initiative Grant Program, which I cosponsored and truly believe is a
major element of protection for our cities around the Nation.
This is, again, a potentially devastating impact if some nuclear
materials were able to come into a port, come into an airport, come
into our communities. I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 5391, Gains
in Global Nuclear Detection Architecture Act, to be able to provide
more security to the United States of America.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in strong support of H.R. 5391, the
Gains in Global Nuclear Detection Architecture Act, which will address
the threat of nuclear weapons or unapproved material materials from
entering the country.
I thank my colleague on the Homeland Security Congressman Cedric
Richmond for authoring this bill, which requires the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, when
conducting research and development to generate and improve
technologies to detect and prevent the illicit entry, transport,
assembly, or potential use within the United States of a nuclear
explosive device or fissile or radiological material, to: develop and
maintain documentation that provides information on how the Office's
research investments align with gaps in the enhanced global nuclear
detection architecture and with research challenges identified by the
Director, and that defines in detail how the Office will address such
research challenges; document the rational for prioritizing and
selecting research topics; and develop a systematic approach for
evaluating how the outcomes of the Office's individual research
projects collectively contribute to addressing its research challenges.
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, and serving as a member of this
body representing the Houston area, which is home to one of our
nation's busiest ports this topic is of great concern to me.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation the U.S. maritime
border covers 95,000 miles of shoreline with 361 seaports.
Ocean transportation accounts for 95 percent of cargo tonnage that
moves in and out of the country, with 8,588 commercial vessels making
82,044 port calls in 2015.
The Port of Houston is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public
and private facilities located just a few hours' sailing time from the
Gulf of Mexico.
In 2012 ship channel-related businesses contribute 1,026,820 jobs and
generate more than $178.5 billion in statewide economic impact.
In 2014, the Port of Houston was ranked among U.S. ports: 1st in
foreign tonnage, Largest Texas port with 46% of market share by tonnage
and 95% market share in containers by total TEUS in 2014, Largest Gulf
Coast container port, handling 67% of U.S. Gulf Coast container traffic
in 2014, 2nd ranked U.S. port in terms of total foreign cargo value
(based on U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of Census).
[[Page H5954]]
The Government Accountability Office (GAO), reports that this port,
and its waterways, and vessels are part of an economic engine handling
more than $700 billion in merchandise annually.
The Port of Houston houses approximately 100 steamship lines offering
services that link Houston with 1,053 ports in 203 countries.
The Port of Houston has $15 billion petrochemical complex, the
largest in the nation and second largest worldwide.
These statistics clearly communicate the potential for a terrorist
attack using nuclear or radiological material may in some estimations
be low, but should an attack 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.
DHS plays an essential role in domestic defense against the potential
smuggling of a weapon of mass destruction in a shipping container or
the use of a bomb-laden small vessel to carry out an attack at a port.
I was pleased to have been one of the lead sponsors of the ``Securing
the Cities Act,'' when it was introduced in 2006 and reauthorized in
2010 and 2015.
The ``Securing the Cities Act,'' mandated that DHS's Director for
Domestic Nuclear Detection to create a Securing the Cities program.
The purpose of the ``Securing the Cities Program'' mandated by the
legislation is to:
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.
The 18th Congressional District of Texas, which I represent, is
centered in the Houston area, the 4th largest city in the United States
and home to over 2 million residents.
Last year the City of Houston was awarded an initial ``Securing the
Cities'' grant of $3.5 million by the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS), as the initial installment of a $30 million grant payable over 5
years.
This grant is funded through the Urban Area Security Initiative Grant
Program, which I co-sponsored and have strongly supported throughout my
tenure on the Homeland Security Committee.
The grant funding enables the City of Houston and its partners to
work with DHS's Domestic Nuclear Office to build a robust, regional
nuclear detection capability for law enforcement and first responder
organizations.
This is an important joint local and federal effort to increase the
ability of major urban cities to detect and protect against
radiological and nuclear threats.
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.
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.
This is why this legislation is needed to address the real threat of
loose nuclear material and the possibility that it might find its way
into the hands of terrorist or criminals.
It is important that we remain constantly vigilant on the issue of
nuclear threats that are present in our world today.
H.R. 5391, is an essential tool to add to the work being done by DHS
to deter, detect, mitigate and defend against domestic nuclear threats.
I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R.
5391.
Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I yield
myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, my bill, H.R. 5391, would help verify that DHS carefully
prioritizes research and development projects to actually close
identified vulnerability gaps in the Global Nuclear Detection
Architecture.
Across the Federal Government, our goal is to prevent nuclear
terrorism by making it an excessively difficult undertaking for our
adversaries. Getting research and development right at DNDO is critical
to that effort.
I would urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5391.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
I, once again, would like to commend and congratulate my friend, the
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Richmond), for this very important
national security bill.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5391.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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. 5391, 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.
____________________