[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 31, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H794-H796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GAINS IN GLOBAL NUCLEAR DETECTION ARCHITECTURE ACT
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 690) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance
certain duties of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 690
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 address--
``(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;
[[Page H795]]
``(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 New
York (Mr. Donovan) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Richmond) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. DONOVAN. 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 material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 690, the Gains in Global
Nuclear Detection Architecture Act of 2016, sponsored by Representative
Richmond. H.R. 690 directs the Department of Homeland Security's
Domestic Nuclear Detection Office to develop and maintain documentation
that provides information on how the office's research investments
align with gaps in the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture and the
research challenges identified by the Domestic Nuclear Detection
Office.
It further directs the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office 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 the research
challenges.
ISIS has declared its intention to develop weapons of mass
destruction, which include nuclear devices, as well as radiological
dispersal devices. The key to preventing this from happening is to make
sure that nuclear material never falls into terrorist hands.
According to data compiled by the International Atomic Energy Agency,
there were nearly 1,150 incidents involving theft, criminal possession,
or loss of radiological material reported between 1993 and 2014. The
James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in California
identified 325 instances alone between 2013 and 2014 in 38 different
countries where nuclear or radioactive material was stolen, lost, or
outside of regulatory control.
The amount of nuclear material in peaceful uses in the world has
risen by 70 percent since 1999. It will continue to grow in the coming
decades as global use of nuclear power increases.
Just last summer, six men were convicted in Tbilisi, Georgia, for
trying to sell uranium-238; and in January of 2016, three members of a
criminal group were detained for trying to sell caesium-137, which
could be used to make a dirty bomb.
We must ensure that terrorists never get their hands on radioactive
materials. This bill will enhance the Domestic Nuclear Detection
Office'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 it 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 multiagency framework for detecting,
analyzing, and reporting on nuclear and other radioactive materials
that are out of regulatory control.
Requiring the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office to document their
rationale for choosing research topics will ensure that the most
important gaps in the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture are
addressed.
{time} 1615
I would like to thank Mr. Richmond for the work that he and his staff
have done on this legislation. I believe this will better enable this
country to detect smuggling of nuclear materials and prevent ISIS and
other terrorists from carrying out a nuclear or radiological attack on
American soil.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space and
Technology,
Washington, DC, January 30, 2017.
Hon. Michael McCaul,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning H.R. 690, the
``Gains in Global Nuclear Detection Architecture Act,'' which
was introduced on January 24, 2017.
H.R. 690 contains provisions within the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology's Rule X jurisdiction. In
order to expedite this bill for floor consideration, the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will forego
action on the bill. This is being done on the basis of our
mutual understanding that doing so will in no way diminish or
alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology with respect to the appointment of conferees,
or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject
matters contained in the bill or similar legislation.
I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming
this understanding, and would request that you include a copy
of this letter and your response in the Congressional Record
during the floor consideration of this bill. Thank you in
advance for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Lamar Smith,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Homeland Security,
Washington, DC, January 30, 2017.
Hon. Lamar Smith,
Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Smith: Thank you for your letter regarding
H.R. 690, the ``Gains in Global Nuclear Detection
Architecture Act.'' I appreciate your support in bringing
this legislation before the House of Representatives, and
accordingly, understand that the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology will not seek a sequential referral on this
legislation.
The Committee on Homeland Security concurs with the mutual
understanding that by foregoing further action on this bill
at this time, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter
contained in this bill or similar legislation in the future.
In addition, should a conference on this bill be necessary, I
would support your request to have the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology represented on the conference
committee.
I will insert copies of this exchange in the Congressional
Record during consideration of this bill on the House floor.
I thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Michael T. McCaul,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security.
Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 690. I would like to thank the
gentleman from New York, Congressman Donovan, for his help and support
and his bipartisanship.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 690 is based on a bipartisan bill I introduced last
year, H.R. 5391, which passed the House in September.
For decades, security experts have warned of the danger that
radioactive materials could be smuggled within and across our borders
and used in an act of nuclear terrorism. The DHS Domestic Nuclear
Detection Office, or DNDO, brings together expertise from across the
Federal Government to detect and prevent the illicit transport,
storage, and assembly of nuclear and radiological weapons. These
interagency partners coordinate their efforts using a multilayered
framework--the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture, or GNDA. GNDA
describes Federal programs, guidelines, and detection technologies and
identifies research challenges and security gaps.
In 2015, GAO looked at how DNDO manages its $350 million research and
development program. The report found that DNDO needs to do a better
job of documenting how it chooses which projects to fund and how these
investments align with security gaps and research challenges--
especially for vulnerabilities identified in the GNDA.
H.R. 690 would resolve these issues by requiring DNDO to document the
rationale it uses to prioritize research topics, explain how selected
investments align with gaps and research challenges, and develop a
systematic approach to evaluate the outcomes for individual projects.
Such documentation is essential to ensure that DNDO is making the right
research investments to keep the Nation secure.
[[Page H796]]
Mr. Speaker, my bill, H.R. 690, would help DNDO use its limited
resources toward projects that actually close the vulnerability gaps.
Preventing and detecting nuclear smuggling is a complex endeavor. It
requires seamless coordination between law enforcement and intelligence
officials across the Federal Government.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 690, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 690.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Donovan) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 690.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________