[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 102 (Tuesday, June 19, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H5269-H5271]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          SHIELDING PUBLIC SPACES FROM VEHICULAR TERRORISM ACT

  Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4627) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to 
authorize expenditures to combat emerging terrorist threats, including 
vehicular attacks, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4627

       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 ``Shielding Public Spaces from 
     Vehicular Terrorism Act''.

     SEC. 2. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

       The Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (11) of section 302 (6 U.S.C. 182), by 
     inserting ``research and development to combat emerging 
     terrorist threats, such as vehicular attacks, and'' before 
     ``the long-term''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (B) of section 308(b)(2) (6 U.S.C. 
     188(b)(2))--
       (A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking 
     ``expertise in--'' and inserting ``expertise in the 
     following:'';
       (B) by redesignating clause (xiv) as clause (xv); and
       (C) by inserting after clause (xiii) the following new 
     clause:
       ``(xiv) Combatting emerging terrorist threats, including 
     vehicular attacks.''.

     SEC. 3. ALLOWABLE USES.

       Section 2008 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     609) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by redesignating paragraphs (11) through (14) as 
     paragraphs (12) through (15), respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after paragraph (10) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(11) addressing security vulnerabilities of public 
     spaces, including through the installation of bollards and 
     other target hardening activities;''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ``(a)(10)'' and 
     inserting ``(a)(12)''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the folllowing new paragraph:
       ``(6) Firearms.--
       ``(A) In general.--A grant awarded under section 2003 or 
     2004 may not be used for the provision to any person of a 
     firearm or training in the use of a firearm.
       ``(B) No effect on other laws.--Nothing in this paragraph 
     may be construed to preclude or contradict any other 
     provision of law authorizing the provision of firearms or 
     training in the use of firearms.''.

     SEC. 4. REPORT.

       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 report on

[[Page H5270]]

     potential terrorism vulnerabilities relating to emerging 
     automotive technologies that support driverless vehicles and 
     the associated threat such vehicles may pose to people in 
     public spaces. Such report shall also compare any public 
     benefit of such vehicles against any such vulnerabilities and 
     threats.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Donovan) and the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin) 
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 
may have 5 legislative days in 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 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. 4627, the Shielding Public 
Spaces from Vehicular Terrorism Act. As Secretary Nielsen testified 
before the Committee on Homeland Security earlier this year, the 
threats to our Nation from terrorist groups are serious and more 
dispersed.

                              {time}  1715

  As she noted: ``Terrorists are adapting. They are taking an all-of-
the-above approach to spreading violence. That includes promoting 
attacks on soft targets. . . . `'
  Rather than solely focusing on recruiting people to join the fight 
overseas, terrorist organizations, like ISIS, are encouraging 
extremists to commit terrorist acts in their homeland by any means 
necessary. In fact, in September 2014, now-deceased ISIS senior leader 
Abu Mohammed al-Adnani urged those attacks, stating: ``Smash his head 
with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over with your 
car, or throw him down from a high place, or choke him, or poison 
him.'' Unfortunately, people are heeding this call.
  The Committee on Homeland Security's Terror Threat Snapshot has 
documented 21 ISIS-linked terror plots against the West using vehicles, 
79 using or attempting to build or use explosives, and 56 using a knife 
or other edged weapon.
  We have seen examples of this in the United States as recently as the 
vehicular attack on a pedestrian pathway in October and the detonated 
explosive device at a transit station in December, both in my hometown 
of New York City.
  As terror tactics evolve, so must our ability to combat them. That is 
why I introduced the Shielding Public Spaces from Vehicular Terrorism 
Act. This bipartisan bill requires the Department of Homeland 
Security's Science and Technology Directorate to conduct research and 
development activities to combat emerging terrorist threats, such as 
vehicular attacks.
  The bill also ensures that our Nation's first responders can use 
vital State Homeland Security Grant Program funding and Urban Areas 
Security Initiative funding to address the security vulnerabilities of 
public spaces, such as surface transportation facilities and mass 
gathering locations.
  In this time of increased threats, it is necessary to assess security 
vulnerabilities, identify and implement the most effective safeguards, 
and support our first responders to the greatest extent possible in 
order to protect innocent lives in public spaces.
  This bill is supported by the Security Industry Association. Mr. 
Speaker, I include in the Record their letter of support.

                                Security Industry Association,

                                                 January 31, 2018.
     Hon. Dan Donovan,
     Chairman, House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency 
         Preparedness, Response and Communications, Washington, 
         DC.
     Hon. Donald Payne,
     Ranking Member, House Homeland Security Subcommittee on 
         Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Donovan and Ranking Member Payne: On behalf 
     of the Security Industry Association (SIA), I would like to 
     express our strong support for H.R. 4627, the Shielding 
     Public Spaces from Vehicular Terrorism Act, which would 
     assist our communities in addressing this evolving threat. 
     SIA is a non-profit international trade association 
     representing nearly 800 companies that provide security and 
     life safety solutions vital to enhancing public safety.
       H.R. 4627 requires the DHS Science and Technology 
     Directorate to engage in research and development activities 
     to address emerging terrorist threats such as vehicular 
     attacks, and stipulates that federal homeland security grants 
     can be used to address ``security vulnerabilities of public 
     spaces, including through the installation of bollards and 
     other target hardening activities.''
       Unfortunately, public areas and places where crowds gather 
     for events have become targets for vehicular attacks around 
     the world and recently in New York City and Charlottesville, 
     VA. In addition to purposeful attacks, accidents involving 
     vehicles and buildings or crowded events injure thousands and 
     kill hundreds of Americans every year.
       The strategic placement of bollards, traffic control 
     systems and other security barriers in key locations are 
     critical to protecting the public in these locations, and 
     require significant security and engineering expertise to 
     deploy affordably and effectively. As you know, these safety 
     systems saved countless lives in Times Square during an 
     incident on May 18, 2017, stopping a vehicle used in a 
     ramming attack by a drugged driver.
       We believe leadership and assistance from DHS is critical 
     as many community leaders responsible for public safety seek 
     to increase these protections. SIA and its members stand 
     ready to serve as a resource to you as you continue work on 
     this critical issue. Thank you for your leadership and 
     attention to this important matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Don Erickson,
                               CEO, Security Industry Association.

  Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting 
the Shielding Public Spaces from Vehicular Terrorism Act, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4627, the Shielding Public 
Spaces from Vehicular Terrorism Act.
  Mr. Speaker, the tactics and targets of terrorist organizations are 
ever changing. Most recently, ISIL-inspired groups have called for 
jihadists to use vehicles to carry out attacks on so-called soft 
targets like shopping malls, mass transit centers, and other places 
where people gather.
  ISIL has claimed credit for 21 vehicular terrorist attacks in major 
cities like Berlin, Nice, London, and Barcelona. These attacks have 
also hit closer to home, including in October 2017 in New York City, 
when a terrorist used a rented pickup truck to mow down pedestrians on 
a popular bike path, killing eight and injuring 13.
  In light of the elevated terror environment, H.R. 4627 would direct 
the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate 
to conduct research on emerging and evolving terrorist threats, like 
vehicular attacks.
  The bill would also provide flexibility for homeland security grant 
funding to be used for securing public spaces through target-hardening 
activities, including the installation of bollards.
  Additionally, I am pleased that the bill includes key language 
authored by my friend Representative Val Demings, the gentlewoman from 
Florida, to codify a current Department practice that prohibits the use 
of grant funding to purchase firearms or for training on the use of 
firearms.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Donovan) for 
his words of support on this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 4627 to help 
secure our public spaces from emerging terrorist threats, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Demings).
  Mrs. DEMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Rhode Island 
(Mr. Langevin) for the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4627.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Donovan, for this important 
legislation, which contains a critical provision to ensure that our 
antiterrorism funds go to their intended purpose.
  Three months ago, we heard rumors of plans to use precious homeland 
security funding to distribute guns to teachers. I introduced language 
to block this idea, and I am glad to say that this language has, 
indeed, been included in H.R. 4627.
  As a former law enforcement commander, I was assigned to Orlando 
International Airport during the 9/11 attacks. I have seen firsthand 
the vital

[[Page H5271]]

need for our antiterrorism funding to be used wisely, carefully, and 
precisely to prevent terrorist attacks before they occur.
  It is essential that our students go to school safely. Arming 
teachers would be both impractical and immoral. Requiring teachers to 
stop mass shooters not only shifts our responsibilities as lawmakers to 
them, but it also shifts the hurt, the pain, the guilt, and, 
potentially, the liability when they find themselves outskilled and 
outgunned by a shooter with a weapon of war.
  We already, as you all know, ask our overworked and underpaid 
teachers to do too much. We must find ways to continue to allow them to 
teach. Let's support them in helping all of our children reach their 
full potential and continue to work with our law enforcement 
departments to reduce gun violence.
  Our limited homeland security funding should be used to prevent 
terrorist attacks in our local communities. Therefore, I join my 
colleagues here on the floor, and I urge all of my colleagues to 
support H.R. 4627.
  Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I, again, 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  In closing, I once again thank Chairman Donovan from the great State 
of New York for his support of this bill and for his comments, and I 
thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Demings) for her work on this 
important piece of legislation.
  I want to reiterate my support for the Shielding Public Spaces from 
Vehicular Terrorism Act. Passing this bill will reenforce our 
commitment to combating emerging and evolving terrorist threats and 
protecting public spaces.
  As the co-chair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, I am well 
aware of how technology can dramatically alter our conceptions about 
homeland security. The advent of more connected devices from pacemakers 
to power grids has only impacted the attack surface, and the internet 
makes it possible for these devices to be targeted from anywhere on the 
globe.
  With respect to vehicle attacks, imagine a connected car being hacked 
to run down pedestrians or an autonomous vehicle's sensors being 
tricked to not see humans at all. These are the emerging challenges 
that we face, and it is imperative that we continue to do whatever is 
necessary to strengthen the capabilities that we depend on to keep all 
of our citizens safe.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to recognize Sarah Jorgenson of 
my subcommittee staff. This is Sarah's last week with the subcommittee, 
and I thank her for her work on this bill and for all of her work on 
the subcommittee to enhance the security and resiliency of our Nation. 
I wish her the very best in her new role at the Department of the 
Interior.
  Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4627, 
and 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. 4627, 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.

                          ____________________