[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 48 (Monday, March 20, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H2215-H2216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1615
QUADRENNIAL HOMELAND SECURITY REVIEW TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT OF 2017
Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1297) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make
technical corrections to the requirement that the Secretary of Homeland
Security submit quadrennial homeland security reviews, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1297
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 ``Quadrennial Homeland
Security Review Technical Corrections Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO QUADRENNIAL HOMELAND
SECURITY REVIEW.
(a) In General.--Section 707 of the Homeland Security Act
of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 347) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(3)--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon at the end;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D);
and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new
subparagraph:
``(C) representatives from appropriate advisory committees
established pursuant to section 871, including the Homeland
Security Advisory Council and the Homeland Security Science
and Technology Advisory Committee, or otherwise established,
including the Aviation Security Advisory Committee
established pursuant to section 44946 of title 49, United
States Code; and'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by inserting before the semicolon at
the end the following: ``based on the risk assessment
required pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(B)'';
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by inserting ``, to the extent practicable,'' after
``describe''; and
(ii) by striking ``budget plan'' and inserting ``resources
required'';
(C) in paragraph (4)--
(i) by inserting ``, to the extent practicable,'' after
``identify'';
(ii) by striking ``budget plan required to provide
sufficient resources to successfully'' and inserting
``resources required to''; and
(iii) by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting
the following: ``, including any resources identified from
redundant, wasteful, or unnecessary capabilities or
capacities that may be redirected to better support other
existing capabilities or capacities, as the case may be;
and'';
(D) in paragraph (5), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
period; and
(E) by striking paragraph (6);
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``December 31 of the
year'' and inserting ``60 days after the date of the
submission of the President's budget for the fiscal year
after the fiscal year'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``description of the
threats to'' and inserting ``risk assessment of'';
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``, as required
under subsection (b)(2)'' before the semicolon at the end;
(iii) in subparagraph (D)--
(I) by inserting ``to the extent practicable,'' before ``a
description''; and
(II) by striking ``budget plan'' and inserting ``resources
required'';
(iv) in subparagraph (F)--
(I) by inserting ``to the extent practicable,'' before ``a
discussion''; and
(II) by striking ``the status of'';
(v) in subparagraph (G)--
(I) by inserting ``to the extent practicable,'' before ``a
discussion'';
(II) by striking ``the status of'';
(III) by inserting ``and risks'' before ``to national
homeland''; and
(IV) by inserting ``and'' after the semicolon at the end;
(vi) by striking subparagraph (H); and
(vii) by redesignating subparagraph (I) as subparagraph
(H);
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
(D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new
paragraph:
``(3) Documentation.--The Secretary shall retain and, upon
request, provide to Congress the following documentation
regarding each quadrennial homeland security review:
``(A) Records regarding the consultation carried out the
pursuant to subsection (a)(3), including--
``(i) all written communications, including communications
sent out by the Secretary and feedback submitted to the
Secretary through technology, online communications tools,
in-person discussions, and the interagency process; and
``(ii) information on how feedback received by the
Secretary informed each such quadrennial homeland security
review.
``(B) Information regarding the risk assessment required
under subsection (c)(2)(B), including--
``(i) the risk model utilized to generate such risk
assessment;
``(ii) information, including data used in the risk model,
utilized to generate such risk assessment;
``(iii) sources of information, including other risk
assessments, utilized to generate such risk assessment; and
``(iv) information on assumptions, weighing factors, and
subjective judgments utilized to generate such risk
assessment, together with information on the rationale or
basis thereof.'';
(4) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
(5) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new
subsection:
``(d) Review.--Not later than 90 days after the submission
of each report required under subsection (c)(1), the
Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Homeland Security
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate information
on the degree to which the findings and recommendations
developed in the quadrennial homeland security review that is
the subject of such report were integrated into the
acquisition strategy and expenditure plans for the
Department.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall
apply with respect to a quadrennial homeland security review
conducted after December 31, 2021.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Rutherford) and the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs.
Watson Coleman) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
General Leave
Mr. RUTHERFORD. 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 Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1297, the Quadrennial
Homeland Security Review Technical Corrections Act of 2017.
Congress mandated through the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/
11 Commission Act of 2007 that the Department of Homeland Security
conduct a quadrennial Homeland Security review every 4 years. This
review is intended to outline DHS' vision and strategy to effectively
implement its mission to protect the homeland. Given the threats that
we face from terrorists, it is vital that DHS has a sound strategy to
help keep the American public safe.
Last year, the Government Accountability Office reported on
opportunities for DHS to improve the QHSR process, and the GAO made
four recommendations for executive action. This legislation leverages
GAO's findings to enhance the QHSR and make it better.
Specifically, this legislation requires DHS to conduct a risk
assessment to
[[Page H2216]]
better inform the QHSR, and the bill also mandates that the DHS
maintain a paper trail of communications related to the QHSR. This
should allow Congress and watchdogs to conduct more effective oversight
of DHS.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New Jersey for introducing
this legislation, and I urge all Members to join me in supporting this
commonsense legislation.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 1297.
The Department of Homeland Security's mission is complex and diverse.
Not only is DHS charged with preventing terrorism, but it is the lead
Federal agency for immigration enforcement, emergency management,
cybersecurity, and border, maritime, and transportation security.
Given the breadth of DHS' responsibilities, it is essential that its
limited resources be aligned with its mission to meet the ever-changing
threat landscape. As such, the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review,
which DHS undertakes every 4 years, is a critical tool to ensure that
the Department is positioned to effectively carry out its multifaceted
mission.
To date, DHS has issued two such reviews and is expected to release
its third such review in 2018. My legislation seeks to make refinements
to the law to address weaknesses identified by the Government
Accountability Office in the prior reviews.
Specifically, my bill seeks to ensure more robust consultation with
Homeland Security stakeholders, including State and local governments
and academic institutions.
It also seeks to ensure that DHS undertakes and documents our risk
analysis to inform its policy positions. GAO emphasized that
documentation of the review process, including the risk analysis, is
essential to ensuring the repeatability of the review process.
Last Congress, this House unanimously approved this measure in July
2016; however, the Senate did not act on the bill. Last week the
Committee on Homeland Security, on a bipartisan basis, voted to
favorably report this measure to the House.
My legislation is intended to ensure that the Quadrennial Homeland
Security Review is a driving vision for the Department of Homeland
Security. By enacting this legislation, Congress can guard against it
becoming a paperwork exercise that fails to influence the Department's
policies, programs, and priorities.
Given the criticalness of the DHS mission and the increasingly scarce
availability of resources, it is essential that DHS produce a risk-
informed review that takes into account the diverse views of its
Homeland Security partners.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 1297, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Mrs. Watson
Coleman on a very commonsensical bill here that is really going to help
protect tax dollars and help keep our country safe.
Mr. Speaker, I once again urge all my colleagues to support H.R.
1297, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rutherford) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1297.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________