[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H8113-H8117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COUNTERING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION ACT OF 2018
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 6198) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to
establish the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction 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. 6198
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 ``Countering Weapons of Mass
Destruction Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. COUNTERING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION OFFICE.
(a) In General.--Title XIX of the Homeland Security Act of
2002 (6 U.S.C. 591 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in the title heading, by striking ``DOMESTIC NUCLEAR
DETECTION OFFICE'' and inserting ``COUNTERING WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION OFFICE'';
(2) by striking section 1901 and inserting the following:
``SEC. 1900. DEFINITIONS.
``In this title:
``(1) Assistant secretary.--The term `Assistant Secretary'
means the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of
Mass Destruction Office.
``(2) Intelligence community.--The term `intelligence
community' has the meaning given such term in section 3(4) of
the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4)).
``(3) Office.--The term `Office' means the Countering
Weapons of Mass Destruction Office established under section
1901(a).
``(4) Weapon of mass destruction.--The term `weapon of mass
destruction' has the meaning given the term in section 101 of
the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C.
1801).
``Subtitle A--Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office
``SEC. 1901. COUNTERING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION OFFICE.
``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the
Department a Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.
``(b) Assistant Secretary.--The Office shall be headed by
an Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass
Destruction Office, who shall be appointed by the President.
``(c) Responsibilities.--The Assistant Secretary shall
serve as the Secretary's principal advisor on--
``(1) weapons of mass destruction matters and strategies;
and
``(2) coordinating efforts to counter weapons of mass
destruction.
``(d) Details.--The Secretary may request that the
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary
of State, the Attorney General, the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, and the directors of other Federal agencies,
including elements of the intelligence community, provide for
the reimbursable detail of personnel with relevant expertise
to the Office.'';
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``Subtitle B--Mission of the Office
``SEC. 1921. MISSION OF THE OFFICE.
``The Office shall be responsible for coordinating with
other Federal efforts and developing departmental strategy
and policy to plan for, detect, and protect against the
importation, possession, storage, transportation,
development, or use of unauthorized chemical, biological,
radiological, or nuclear materials, devices, or agents in the
United States and to protect against an attack using such
materials, devices, or agents against the people, territory,
or interests of the United States.
[[Page H8114]]
``SEC. 1922. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER DEPARTMENT ENTITIES AND
FEDERAL AGENCIES.
``(a) In General.--The authority of the Assistant Secretary
under this title shall neither affect nor diminish the
authority or the responsibility of any officer of the
Department or of any officer of any other department or
agency of the United States with respect to the command,
control, or direction of the functions, personnel, funds,
assets, and liabilities of any entity within the Department
or any Federal department or agency.
``(b) Federal Emergency Management Agency.--Nothing in this
title or any other provision of law may be construed to
affect or reduce the responsibilities of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency or the Administrator of the
Agency, including the diversion of any asset, function, or
mission of the Agency or the Administrator of the Agency.'';
(4) by striking section 1905;
(5) by redesignating sections 1902, 1903, 1904, 1906, and
1907 as sections 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, and 1927,
respectively, and transferring such sections to appear after
section 1922, as added by paragraph (3);
(6) in section 1923, as so redesignated--
(A) in the section heading by striking ``mission of
office'' and inserting ``responsibilities''; and
(B) in subsection (a)(11), by striking ``Domestic Nuclear
Detection Office'' and inserting ``Office'';
(7) in section 1925, as so redesignated, in subsection (a),
in the first sentence, by striking ``section 1902'' and
inserting ``section 1923'';
(8) in section 1926, as so redesignated--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection''
and inserting ``Assistant Secretary''; and
(ii) by striking ``paragraphs (6) and (7) of section
1902(a)'' and inserting ``section 1923''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``paragraphs (6) and (7)
of section 1902(a)'' and inserting ``section 1923'';
(9) in section 1927, as so redesignated--
(A) in subsection (a)(1)(C), in the matter preceding clause
(i), by striking ``Director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection
Office'' and inserting ``Assistant Secretary''; and
(B) in subsection (c), by striking ``section 1902'' and
inserting ``section 1923''; and
(10) by inserting after section 1927, as so redesignated,
the following new section:
``SEC. 1928. SECURING THE CITIES PROGRAM.
``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary, through the Assistant
Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction
Office, shall establish the `Securing the Cities' (`STC')
program to enhance the ability of the United States to detect
and prevent terrorist attacks and other high consequence
events utilizing nuclear or other radiological materials that
pose a high risk to homeland security in high-risk urban
areas. Through the STC program the Secretary shall--
``(1) assist State, local, Tribal, and territorial
governments in designing and implementing, or enhancing
existing, architectures for coordinated and integrated
detection and interdiction of nuclear or other radiological
materials that are out of regulatory control;
``(2) support the development of a region-wide operating
capability to detect and report on nuclear and other
radioactive materials out of regulatory control;
``(3) provide resources to enhance detection, analysis,
communication, and coordination to better integrate into
Federal operations State, local, Tribal, and territorial
assets;
``(4) facilitate alarm adjudication and provide subject
matter expertise and technical assistance on concepts of
operations, training, exercises, and alarm response
protocols;
``(5) communicate with, and promote sharing of information
about the presence or detection of nuclear or other
radiological materials among appropriate Federal, State,
local, Tribal, and territorial governments, in a manner that
ensures transparency with the jurisdictions served by such
program;
``(6) provide augmenting resources, as appropriate, to
enable State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments to
sustain and refresh their capabilities developed under the
STC program; and
``(7) provide any other assistance the Secretary determines
appropriate.
``(b) Designation of Jurisdictions.--In carrying out the
STC program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall
designate jurisdictions from among high-risk urban areas
under section 2003, and other cities and regions, as
appropriate.
``(c) Congressional Notification.--The Secretary shall
notify the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate not later than
three days before the designation of a new jurisdiction in
accordance with subsection (b) or any other change to
participating jurisdictions.''.
(b) References and Construction.--
(1) In general.--Any reference in any law, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to--
(A) the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office shall be deemed
to be a reference to the Countering Weapons of Mass
Destruction Office; and
(B) the Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection shall be
deemed to be a reference to the Assistant Secretary for the
Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.
(2) Construction.--Sections 1923 through 1927 of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002, as so redesignated by
subsection (a), shall be construed to cover the chemical and
biological responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary for
the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.
(3) Authority.--The authority of the Director of the
Domestic Nuclear Detection Office to make grants or enter
into cooperative agreements is transferred to the Assistant
Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction
Office, and such authority shall be construed to include
grants for all purposes of title XIX of the Homeland Security
Act of 2002, as amended by this Act.
(c) Chief Medical Officer.--
(1) Repeal.--Title V of the Homeland Security Act of 2002
(6 U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is amended by striking section 516.
(2) Amendment.--Title XIX of the Homeland Security Act of
2002 (6 U.S.C. 591 et seq.), as amended by subsection (a), is
further amended by adding at the end the following:
``Subtitle C--Chief Medical Officer
``SEC. 1931. CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER.
``(a) In General.--There is in the Office a Chief Medical
Officer, who shall be appointed by the President. The Chief
Medical Officer shall report to the Assistant Secretary.
``(b) Qualifications.--The individual appointed as Chief
Medical Officer shall be a licensed physician possessing a
demonstrated ability in and knowledge of medicine and public
health.
``(c) Responsibilities.--The Chief Medical Officer shall
have the responsibility within the Department for medical
issues related to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and
other man-made disasters, including--
``(1) serving as the principal advisor on medical and
public health issues to the Secretary, the Administrator of
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Assistant
Secretary, and other Department officials;
``(2) providing operational medical support to all
components of the Department;
``(3) as appropriate, providing medical liaisons to the
components of the Department, on a reimbursable basis, to
provide subject matter expertise on operational medical
issues;
``(4) coordinating with Federal, State, local, and Tribal
governments, the medical community, and others within and
outside the Department, including the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and the Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Preparedness and Response of the Department of
Health and Human Services, with respect to medical and public
health matters; and
``(5) performing such other duties relating to such
responsibilities as the Secretary may require.''.
(3) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents in section
1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by
striking the item relating to section 516.
(d) Workforce Health and Medical Support.--Title VII of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 341 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 710. WORKFORCE HEALTH AND MEDICAL SUPPORT.
``(a) In General.--The Under Secretary for Management shall
be responsible for workforce-focused health and medical
activities of the Department. The Under Secretary for
Management may further delegate these responsibilities, as
appropriate.
``(b) Responsibilities.--The Under Secretary for
Management, in coordination with the Chief Medical Officer,
shall--
``(1) provide oversight and coordinate the medical and
health activities of the Department for the human and animal
personnel of the Department;
``(2) establish medical, health, veterinary, and
occupational health exposure policy, guidance, strategies,
and initiatives for the human and animal personnel of the
Department;
``(3) as deemed appropriate by the Under Secretary, provide
medical liaisons to the components of the Department, on a
reimbursable basis, to provide subject matter expertise on
occupational medical and public health issues;
``(4) serve as the primary representative for the
Department on agreements regarding the detail of Commissioned
Corps officers of the Public Health Service of the Department
of Health and Human Services to the Department, except that
components and offices of the Department shall retain
authority for funding, determination of specific duties, and
supervision of such detailed Commissioned Corps officers; and
``(5) perform such other duties relating to such
responsibilities as the Secretary may require.''.
(e) Transfers; Abolishment.--
(1) Transfers.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
transfer to--
(A) the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office all
functions, personnel, budget authority, and assets of--
(i) the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, as in existence
on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act; and
(ii) the Office of Health Affairs, as in existence on the
day before the date of the enactment of this Act, except for
the functions, personnel, budget authority, and assets of
such office necessary to perform the functions specified in
section 710 of the Homeland
[[Page H8115]]
Security Act of 2002 (relating to workforce health and
medical support), as added by this Act; and
(B) the Directorate of Management of the Department of
Homeland Security all functions, personnel, budget authority,
and assets of the Office of Health Affairs, as in existence
on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, that
are necessary to perform the functions of such section 710.
(2) Abolishment.--Upon completion of all transfers pursuant
to paragraph (1)--
(A) the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office of the Department
of Homeland Security and the Office of Health Affairs of the
Department of Homeland Security are abolished; and
(B) the positions of Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs
and Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection are abolished.
(f) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Other officers.--Paragraph (4) of section 103(d) of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 113(d)) is amended by
striking ``A Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection'' and
inserting ``An Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons
of Mass Destruction Office''.
(2) National biosurveillance integration center.--Section
316(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C.
195b(a)) is amended by striking ``Secretary shall'' and
inserting ``Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary
for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office,
shall''.
(3) International cooperation.--Section 317(f) of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 195c(f)) is amended
by striking ``the Chief Medical Officer,'' and inserting
``the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass
Destruction Office,''.
(4) Functions transferred.--Section 505(b) of the Homeland
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 315(b)) is amended--
(A) by striking paragraph (4);
(B) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4); and
(C) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated, by striking
``through (4)'' and inserting ``through (3)''.
(5) Coordination of department of homeland security efforts
related to food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against
terrorism.--Section 528(a) of the Homeland Security Act of
2002 (6 U.S.C. 321q(a)) is amended by striking ``Health
Affairs,'' and inserting ``the Countering Weapons of Mass
Destruction Office,''.
(g) Department of Homeland Security Chemical, Biological,
Radiological, and Nuclear Activities.--Not later than one
year after the date of enactment of this Act and once every
year thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall
provide a briefing and report to the appropriate
congressional committees (as defined in section 2 of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101) on--
(1) the organization and management of the chemical,
biological, radiological, and nuclear activities of the
Department of Homeland Security, including research and
development activities, and the location of each activity
under the organizational structure of the Countering Weapons
of Mass Destruction Office;
(2) a comprehensive inventory of chemical, biological,
radiological, and nuclear activities, including research and
development activities, of the Department of Homeland
Security, highlighting areas of collaboration between
components, coordination with other agencies, and the
effectiveness and accomplishments of consolidated chemical,
biological, radiological, and nuclear activities of the
Department of Homeland Security, including research and
development activities;
(3) information relating to how the organizational
structure of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction
Office will enhance the development of chemical, biological,
radiological, and nuclear priorities and capabilities across
the Department of Homeland Security;
(4) a discussion of any resulting cost savings and
efficiencies gained through activities described in
paragraphs (1) and (2);
(5) information on how the Assistant Secretary for the
Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office is coordinating
with the Under Secretary of Science and Technology of the
Department of Homeland Security on research and development
activities; and
(6) recommendations for any necessary statutory changes,
or, if no statutory changes are necessary, an explanation of
why no statutory or organizational changes are necessary.
(h) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents in section
1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended--
(1) by inserting after the item relating to section 709 the
following:
``Sec. 710. Workforce health and medical support.'';
and
(2) by striking the item relating to title XIX (including
items relating to section 1901 through section 1907) and
inserting the following:
``TITLE XIX--COUNTERING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION OFFICE
``Sec. 1900. Definitions.
``Subtitle A--Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office
``Sec. 1901. Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.
``Subtitle B--Mission of the Office
``Sec. 1921. Mission of the Office.
``Sec. 1922. Relationship to other department entities and Federal
agencies.
``Sec. 1923. Responsibilities.
``Sec. 1924. Hiring authority.
``Sec. 1925. Testing authority.
``Sec. 1926. Contracting and grant making authorities.
``Sec. 1927. Joint annual interagency review of global nuclear
detection architecture.
``Sec. 1928. Securing the Cities program.
``Subtitle C--Chief Medical Officer
``Sec. 1931. Chief Medical Officer.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Donovan) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) 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 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, the Department of Homeland Security was created in
response to the September 11th terrorist attacks and the threats to the
homeland posed by al-Qaida and other terrorist groups.
As we pause this week to honor those we lost and the heroic first
responders who answered the call that day, we recognize that the scope
of the threat we face has changed dramatically since that time and has
become much more diverse and diffuse.
We know that the terrorist groups have long strived to employ
chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials in their
attacks. There have been documented reports of ISIS using mustard gas
in Syria, as well as sarin and chlorine gas used by the Syrian
Government.
A plot to release hydrogen sulfide via an improvised chemical
dispersion device was uncovered by the Australian Federal Police. A
laptop, reportedly retrieved from an ISIS hideout in Syria in 2014,
contained plans for bubonic plague and a document that discussed the
advantages of using biological weapons.
The rapid evolution of new biological techniques, such as CRISPR
CAS9, posed potential threats as the new techniques can be used for
good or evil.
As the world of threats continues to evolve and becomes more complex,
it is incumbent upon the Department of Homeland Security to
continuously assess whether or not it is optimally organized to best
confront the variety of threats it is expected to counter.
Last year, former Acting Secretary Elaine Duke determined that the
Department was, in fact, not organized to best address these threats.
As a result, on October 6, she notified the committee of her intent to
use her 872 reorganization authority to establish a Countering Weapons
of Mass Destruction, or CWMD, Office, headed by an Assistant Secretary
for CWMD. This reorganization took effect last December.
However, the Secretary realized that the use of her 872 authority
would only take her so far, and legislative changes are necessary to
fully integrate the CWMD Office.
The bill we are considering today will take the Department the rest
of the way in developing an integrated, effective organization to
counter CBRN threats. The bill seeks to ensure that the Department of
Homeland Security has the structure, authority, and tools it needs to
counter the threat of weapons of mass destruction.
It consolidates the Office of Health Affairs and the Domestic Nuclear
Detection Office into a new Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction
Office to ensure coordination and unity of effort at the Department of
Homeland Security on these threats.
Current DHS Secretary Nielsen has indicated that this bill is one of
her top legislative priorities, noting that it will: ``Provide DHS
crucial, legal authorities to protect the homeland . . . and enable DHS
to more quickly obtain, test, and deploy effective counter-WMD tactics
and technologies.''
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from Secretary Nielsen
in support of this bill.
[[Page H8116]]
Department of Homeland Security,
Washington, DC, August 30, 2018.
Hon. Paul Ryan,
Speaker of the House, House of Representatives, Washington,
DC.
Dear Speaker Ryan: Thank you for your leadership addressing
threats to the homeland and strengthening the Department of
Homeland Security's (DHS) ability to carry out its mission. I
would like to highlight the work being done in Congress to
close identified security gaps and better guard against the
persistent and evolving threat from weapons of mass
destruction (WMD).
As we saw with the Russian chemical weapon incidents in the
United Kingdom, nation-states are using these capabilities
for lethal attacks against civilians. At the same time,
terrorist groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
(ISIS) are developing and deploying their own WMD
capabilities to use on the battlefield and in external
operations in the West. Unfortunately, the U.S. Government--
including the Department of Homeland Security--lacks the
central focal point and authorities needed to decisively
combat these dangers and adequately defend the U.S. homeland.
That is why I am seeking your assistance in authorizing the
DHS Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office.
This is one of my top legislative priorities for DHS, in
addition to authorizing DHS to counter the threat posed by
the nefarious use of unmanned aircraft systems and
authorization of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure
Security Agency, as well as DHS itself. The CWMD legislation
sponsored by Representative Donovan (R-NY) and cosponsored by
Chairman McCaul (R-TX), H.R. 6198, the Countering Weapons of
Mass Destruction Act of 2018, represents a critical step
towards enabling the Department to mitigate WMD threats.
I strongly support this bill's movement under suspension of
the rules at the earliest possible opportunity. Once enacted,
the legislation will permanently establish the CWMD Office as
the nucleus of DHS efforts to guard the homeland against
chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, and
it will provide DHS crucial legal authorities to protect the
homeland. DHS currently has broad authorities related to the
radiological and nuclear detection mission space, but the
lack of similar authorities for chemical and biological
missions constrains our ability to address threats
comprehensively. This legislation would address that
disparity and will enable DHS to more quickly obtain, test,
and deploy effective counter-WMD tactics and technologies.
Similar bill language has been reported out of the Senate
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee as part
of the DHS Authorization bill, H.R. 2825, so I am hopeful
that near-term House passage will bring this legislation
closer to reaching the President's desk. Thank you again for
your attention to this important matter, and for your
continued support of the men and women at DHS, who are
committed to protecting this Nation.
Best Regards,
Kirstjen M. Nielsen,
Secretary.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, the bill we are considering today is
similar in intent to the Department of Homeland Security CBRNE Defense
Act, which passed the House by voice last Congress. Similar legislation
was approved by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs earlier this year, and I am hopeful we will work
together to swiftly get this important bill to the President for his
signature.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Walden of the Energy and
Commerce Committee for working with me to bring this bill to the floor.
I urge all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 6198, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Energy and Commerce,
Washington, DC, September 10, 2018.
Hon. Michael T. McCaul,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman McCaul: I am writing to notify you that the
Committee on Energy and Commerce will forgo action on H.R.
6198 so that it may proceed to the House floor for
consideration. This is done with the understanding that the
Committee's jurisdictional interests over this and similar
legislation are in no way diminished or altered. In addition,
the Committee reserves the right to seek conferees on the
bill and expects your support when such a request is made.
Please include a copy of this letter outlining our mutual
understanding with respect to H.R. 6198 in the Congressional
Record during consideration of the bill on the House floor.
Sincerely,
Greg Walden,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Homeland Security,
Washington, DC, September 11, 2018.
Hon. Greg Walden,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Walden: Thank you for your letter regarding
H.R. 6198, the ``Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act
of 2018.'' I appreciate your support in bringing this
legislation before the House of Representatives, and
accordingly, understand that the Committee on Energy and
Commerce will forego further consideration of the bill.
The Committee on Homeland Security concurs with the mutual
understanding that by foregoing consideration of this bill at
this time, the Committee on Energy and Commerce 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 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.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6198, the Countering Weapons
of Mass Destruction Act of 2018. This bill authorizes the Department of
Homeland Security to reorganize itself in order to prevent, prepare
for, and respond to a biological, chemical, radiological, or nuclear
attack.
Yesterday, we came together to mark the 17th anniversary of the 9/11
terrorist attacks. As a proud New Jerseyan, I carry those images of
that day in the work that I do in Congress and on the Committee on
Homeland Security.
Today, in a small way, we are here to honor the loss and sacrifice
Americans felt that day by positioning DHS to better address emerging
terrorist threats. Plans to reorganize DHS' biological, chemical,
radiological, and nuclear programs first surfaced in the Obama
administration.
In December 2017, then-Acting DHS Secretary Elaine Duke exercised her
statutory authority to reorganize elements within the Department to
establish a new Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. The CWMD
Office merged the functions of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office,
DNDO; the majority of the Office of Health Affairs, OHA; parts of
Science and Technology Directorate, S&T; parts of DHS Office of
Strategy, Policy, and Plans, SPP; and DHS Office of Operations
Coordination, OPS.
Though many of us in Congress were disappointed that DHS acted
without explicit congressional authorization to make this major
operational change, the reorganization appears to have been effective
in harmonizing efforts within DHS.
I am pleased that the legislation before you today contains language
authored to ensure that CWMD Office leverages research and development
resources and capabilities by coordinating with the Science and
Technology Directorate.
H.R. 6198 also contains language, already passed by the House, to
authorize the Securing the Cities program. Securing the Cities is an
important tool to protecting New York City and other major metropolitan
areas.
Mr. Speaker, I would encourage my colleagues to support this bill,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul), the distinguished chairman of the
Committee on Homeland Security.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Countering
Weapons of Mass Destruction Act to help protect our homeland from the
world's most dangerous weapons.
Yesterday, we observed the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 terror
attacks. On that day in 2001, 19 Islamist terrorists turned airplanes
into cruise missiles and crashed them into the Twin Towers, the
Pentagon, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Had it not been for
the heroic passengers on United Airlines flight 93, this very building,
the Capitol, could have been destroyed.
Almost 3,000 innocent people were killed and thousands more injured.
It was the most devastating attack on our homeland in our Nation's
history, targeting our military, economic, and political symbols of
power.
While attending a memorial service at the Pentagon yesterday, many of
us remembered the images from 9/11 and they returned to me: the towers
falling, the Pentagon on fire, and our brave first responders running
into
[[Page H8117]]
harm's way to save their fellow citizens.
I also remembered that in the aftermath of the attack, we pledged to
never forget: never forget the pain we felt, never forget the victims,
and never forget that our enemies will search for new ways to attack
our country.
Today, the most serious threats to our national security come from
biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons. Over the last few decades,
North Korea has been developing nuclear weapons and intercontinental
ballistic missiles to deliver them.
The terror-sponsoring regime in Iran has also been building a nuclear
program, and Bashar al-Assad's evil dictatorship in Syria has used
chemical weapons to kill innocent civilians, including women and
children.
Russia recently used a chemical weapon in an assassination attempt in
Great Britain, and reports of terror groups like al-Qaida have been in
pursuit of weapons of mass destruction for many, many years.
These weapons are real and lethal. A WMD attack in the United States
could kill millions of people and bring economic mayhem. We cannot
allow these weapons to be used on our soil.
To prevent this from happening, we must give the Department of
Homeland Security the authority it needs to counter the threat. This
legislation will consolidate the Office of Health Affairs and the
Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, along with other department
programs, into a Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.
I personally talked to the Secretary who strongly supports this
legislation. I believe DHS is making good progress in this direction,
but this legislation will ensure that they have the necessary
authorities to counter these dangerous threats.
This is an opportunity, I believe, for both parties on the day after
9/11--both Republican and Democrat, as we do so many times on this
committee--to come together and pass legislation that will strengthen
our homeland.
I would like to thank Congressman Donovan from New York, where this
awful, tragic event happened 17 years ago, for all of his hard work on
this issue, and Congressman Payne, who has always been a team player,
if you will, on the other side of the aisle, for working together to
get good things done for the country which will better protect the
American people.
{time} 1445
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, in closing, the ultimate success of the CWMD
Office rests with the dedicated men and women who have served at the
Department.
The threat landscape is diverse, with conventional and
nonconventional threats emerging daily. It is critical that we stay
vigilant and do all we can to ensure that the Federal Department we
established in response to the 9/11 attacks is positioned to meet the
demands of the current threat landscape. By passing H.R. 6198, we can
do our part to set the CWMD Office on a positive course.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support
H.R. 6198, 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. 6198, 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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