[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 196 (Wednesday, December 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H10129-H10130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY DATA FRAMEWORK ACT OF 2017

  Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the 
Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 2454) to direct the Secretary of 
Homeland Security to establish a data framework to provide access for 
appropriate personnel to law enforcement and other information of the 
Department, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the Senate amendment is as follows:
  Senate amendment:

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Homeland 
     Security Data Framework Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY DATA FRAMEWORK.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Development.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     develop a data framework to integrate existing Department of 
     Homeland Security datasets and systems, as appropriate, for 
     access by authorized personnel in a manner consistent with 
     relevant legal authorities and privacy, civil rights, and 
     civil liberties policies and protections.
       (2) Requirements.--In developing the framework required 
     under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     ensure, in accordance with all applicable statutory and 
     regulatory requirements, the following information is 
     included:
       (A) All information acquired, held, or obtained by an 
     office or component of the Department of Homeland Security 
     that falls within the scope of the information sharing 
     environment, including homeland security information, 
     terrorism information, weapons of mass destruction 
     information, and national intelligence.
       (B) Any information or intelligence relevant to priority 
     mission needs and capability requirements of the homeland 
     security enterprise, as determined appropriate by the 
     Secretary.
       (b) Data Framework Access.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     ensure that the data framework required under this section is 
     accessible to employees of the Department of Homeland 
     Security who the Secretary determines--
       (A) have an appropriate security clearance;
       (B) are assigned to perform a function that requires access 
     to information in such framework; and
       (C) are trained in applicable standards for safeguarding 
     and using such information.
       (2) Guidance.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall--
       (A) issue guidance for Department of Homeland Security 
     employees authorized to access and contribute to the data 
     framework pursuant to paragraph (1); and
       (B) ensure that such guidance enforces a duty to share 
     between offices and components of the Department when 
     accessing or contributing to such framework for mission 
     needs.
       (3) Efficiency.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     promulgate data standards and instruct components of the 
     Department of Homeland Security to make available information 
     through the data framework required under this section in a 
     machine-readable standard format, to the greatest extent 
     practicable.
       (c) Exclusion of Information.--The Secretary of Homeland 
     Security may exclude information from the data framework 
     required under this section if the Secretary determines 
     inclusion of such information may--
       (1) jeopardize the protection of sources, methods, or 
     activities;
       (2) compromise a criminal or national security 
     investigation;
       (3) be inconsistent with other Federal laws or regulations; 
     or
       (4) be duplicative or not serve an operational purpose if 
     included in such framework.
       (d) Safeguards.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     incorporate into the data framework required under this 
     section systems capabilities for auditing and ensuring the 
     security of information included in such framework. Such 
     capabilities shall include the following:
       (1) Mechanisms for identifying insider threats.
       (2) Mechanisms for identifying security risks.
       (3) Safeguards for privacy, civil rights, and civil 
     liberties.
       (e) Deadline for Implementation.--Not later than 2 years 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security shall ensure the data framework required 
     under this section has the ability to include appropriate 
     information in existence within the Department of Homeland 
     Security to meet the critical mission operations of the 
     Department of Homeland Security.
       (f) Notice to Congress.--
       (1) Status updates.--The Secretary of Homeland Security 
     shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
     regular updates on the status of the data framework until the 
     framework is fully operational.
       (2) Operational notification.--Not later than 60 days after 
     the date on which the data framework required under this 
     section is fully operational, the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security shall provide notice to the appropriate 
     congressional committees that the data framework is fully 
     operational.
       (3) Value added.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     annually brief Congress on component use of the data 
     framework required under this section to support operations 
     that disrupt terrorist activities and incidents in the 
     homeland.
       (g) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Appropriate congressional committee; homeland.--The 
     terms ``appropriate congressional committee'' and 
     ``homeland'' have the meaning given those terms in section 2 
     of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101).
       (2) Homeland security information.--The term ``homeland 
     security information'' has the meaning given such term in 
     section 892 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     482).
       (3) National intelligence.--The term ``national 
     intelligence'' has the meaning given such term in section 
     3(5) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 
     3003(5)).
       (4) Terrorism information.--The term ``terrorism 
     information'' has the meaning given such term in section 1016 
     of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 
     2004 (6 U.S.C. 485).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Hurd) and the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material 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. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2454, the Department of 
Homeland Security Data Framework Act. This legislation provides the 
first ever authorization for the DHS data framework.
  Under this initiative, the Department is bringing together vital DHS 
databases, including travel and cargo information, investigative data, 
and critical infrastructure data, among other things.
  Mr. Speaker, Americans would not only be surprised, but appalled to 
learn about the number of information-sharing stovepipes that still 
exist within the Department of Homeland Security. This bill will bring 
together the datasets in each of the classified and unclassified spaces 
to ensure that the men and women working at the Department have the 
information they need to keep our Nation safe.
  This bill also mandates privacy and security safeguards, training for 
departmental personnel, and requires the Secretary to ensure 
information in the framework is both protected and auditable.
  The House has overwhelmingly supported this measure twice before as 
part of the DHS Authorization Act, on July 20, 2017, and again as a 
standalone measure on September 12, 2017.
  The Senate made some minor changes to the bill and passed it on 
December 6. With today's vote, we will send this bill to the 
President's desk for his signature.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to again support this measure, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2454, the Department of 
Homeland Security Data Framework Act of 2017.
  The Department of Homeland Security Data Framework Act directs the

[[Page H10130]]

Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a data framework 
consolidating existing databases and systems at the Department. H.R. 
2454 requires the Secretary to ensure that this data framework is 
accessible to DHS employees with proper clearances and that they are 
trained to safeguard and use such information when appropriate.
  The central data framework will help cut down on the processing time 
of data searchs and allow analysts at DHS agencies to more efficiently 
access information across the Department.
  I want to thank my colleague, Congressman Will Hurd, for introducing 
this legislation, and Senator Maggie Hassan for introducing its 
companion in the Senate. This bill has already passed the House once 
before, and I look forward to the President signing it into law this 
year.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan 
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is an important piece of legislation that has 
strong support on both sides of the aisle. It will improve DHS' 
operations by moving it towards a consolidated data system, enhancing 
the ability of the men and women serving at DHS to access, in a timely 
manner, the data that they need to fulfill their critical missions. I 
urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2454.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to urge my colleagues to support this piece of 
legislation once again.
  Again, we are authorizing the Department of Homeland Security's data 
framework. It holds DHS accountable with aggressive timelines, includes 
robust requirements for privacy and data standards and data safeguards, 
as well as ensuring important congressional notifications continue.
  I would like to thank Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson for 
their support in moving this measure through the House, as well as all 
of our colleagues on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs Committee for moving this bill through the Senate.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill, and 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. Hurd) that the House suspend the rules and 
concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, H.R. 2454.
  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. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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