[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 201 (Thursday, December 20, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H10414-H10415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               VEHICULAR TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT OF 2018

  Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
concur in the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 4227) an act to 
require the Secretary of Homeland Security to examine what actions the 
Department of Homeland Security is undertaking to combat the threat of 
vehicular terrorism, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the Senate amendments is as follows:
  Senate amendments:

     (1)On page 2, line 16, insert ``and the Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation'' after ``Affairs''.
     (2)On page 3, strike lines 17 through 20 and insert the 
     following:
       (2) Vehicular terrorism.--The term ``vehicular terrorism'' 
     means an action that utilizes automotive transportation to 
     commit terrorism (as defined in section 2(18) of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101(18))).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Kansas (Mr. Estes) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kansas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members 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 Kansas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4227, the Vehicular 
Terrorism Prevention Act, introduced by the gentleman from Ohio, 
Representative Latta.
  H.R. 4227 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to examine the 
threat of vehicular terrorism and develop a strategy to improve DHS 
support for the efforts of emergency responders and the private sector 
to prevent, mitigate, and respond to such a threat.
  Terror groups, including ISIS and al-Qaida, have urged supporters to 
carry out attacks in their home countries using any means necessary, 
including vehicular ramming. Terrorists and inspired homegrown 
extremists have heeded this direction and have carried out vehicular-
based attacks in the past several years, including in France, England, 
Spain, Ohio, and New York City.
  DHS has existing resources and programs that can be better utilized 
to prepare frontline personnel in local communities to address the 
threat of vehicular terrorism. H.R. 4227 requires the Secretary to 
develop a plan on how to improve and increase these capabilities.
  This bill passed the House on March 22 of this year. The Senate made 
minor changes to this measure and passed it with unanimous consent on 
December 18.
  I thank Representative Latta for his work on this important measure, 
and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge the House to concur in the Senate 
amendments to H.R. 4227, the Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act of 
2017.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the Senate amendments to H.R. 4227. 
They are technical in nature and would enhance H.R. 4227, a bill to 
require the Department of Homeland Security to report to Congress on 
what it is doing to help emergency responders and private sector 
partners counter the threat of vehicular terrorism. It would also 
explain how DHS is using existing DHS programs like grants, information 
sharing, training, and research to help in this effort.
  I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.

                              {time}  1230

  Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Latta), the sponsor of the bill.
  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the Senate amendment to my bill, 
H.R. 4227, the Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act. It previously passed 
the House by a vote of 417-2 and was amended by the Senate to make 
simple technical corrections.
  Over the past several years, we have seen an increased frequency of 
terrorists around the world using vehicles, oftentimes rental vans or 
trucks, to commit violence. The United States has not been immune to 
these attacks as we saw in New York City at the end of last year when a 
terrorist killed 8 people and injured 11.
  This bipartisan legislation will ensure that the Department of 
Homeland Security is doing their due diligence to guard against attacks 
like this in the future. It would require the DHS Secretary to assess 
the activities the Department is undertaking to combat the threat of 
vehicular terrorism and submit a strategy to Congress on its findings 
and recommendations.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member 
Thompson, Senator Bill Cassidy, and the staffs of both the House and 
Senate committees for their work in advancing this legislation. I urge 
my colleagues to join me in concurring with the Senate amendment to 
H.R. 4227.

[[Page H10415]]

  Again, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.
  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as threats to our homeland continue to evolve and as 
violent extremists seek to exploit soft targets, the risks posed to our 
innocent bystanders from vehicular terrorism continues to grow. A vote 
today to concur with the Senate amendment to H.R. 4227 is a vote to 
bolster preparedness and response to these emerging threats.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to 
support 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 Kansas (Mr. Estes) that the House suspend the rules and 
concur in the Senate amendments to the bill, H.R. 4227.
  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. MASSIE. 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.

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