[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 14, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H3761-H3762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
QUADRENNIAL HOMELAND SECURITY REVIEW TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT OF 2019
Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the
rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1892) 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. 1892
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 2019''.
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
pursuant to subsection (a)(3), including the following:
``(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.
``(ii) Information on how feedback received by the
Secretary informed each such quadrennial homeland security
review.
``(B) Information regarding the risk assessment required
pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(B), including the following:
``(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.
``(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 gentlewoman from
New Mexico (Ms. Torres Small) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Joyce) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Mexico.
General Leave
Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New Mexico?
There was no objection.
Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time
as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1829, the Quadrennial Homeland
Security Review Technical Corrections Act. This bill, authored by Mrs.
Watson Coleman of New Jersey, will ensure that the Quadrennial Homeland
Security Review, or QHSR, is a driving vision for the Department of
Homeland Security.
Given the importance of DHS' mission, it is vital that the Department
continually review its policy positions so that they, with Congress'
help, can continue to stay ahead of the constantly changing threats
facing our country.
By enacting this legislation, Congress can see that DHS carries out
its long-overdue third QHSR and stays focused on the mission.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1892, the Quadrennial
Homeland Security Review Technical Corrections Act of 2019.
{time} 1645
In the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of
2007, Congress required the Department of Homeland Security to conduct
a security review every 4 years. As the threats to the United States
change and evolve, it is more important than ever for DHS to produce a
robust strategy to protect the American public.
The Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, or QHSR, is intended to
outline DHS' strategic outlook in its plan to successfully carry out
its mission to protect our homeland. Thus far, DHS has produced two
QHSRs since the requirement was established: one in 2010 and its most
recent one in 2014. We are currently awaiting the release of the 2018
QHSR, which is quite a bit behind schedule.
The Government Accountability Office has reviewed both reports and
made recommendations on how DHS could improve its efforts for future
quadrennial reviews. In its 2016 review of the most recent QHSR, the
GAO
[[Page H3762]]
made several recommendations to strengthen the QHSR process, which are
the basis of this legislation.
H.R. 1892 requires DHS to perform a risk assessment to shape the
direction and the focus of QHSR. Second, the Department would be
required to collect and maintain communications related to the QHSR to
allow for better congressional oversight. Finally, DHS would be
required to enhance its stakeholder engagement throughout the
development of QHSR.
The result of these changes would be a more robust strategy that
provides a roadmap for DHS to address future threats as they emerge and
allows Congress to better execute its oversight responsibilities.
This language passed the House with wide support last Congress but,
unfortunately, was not taken up by the Senate.
I continue to believe that this is an important piece of legislation,
and I thank the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman) for
reintroducing it.
I urge all Members to join me in supporting this commonsense bill,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman).
Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for
yielding.
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 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 missions to meet the ever-
challenging threat landscape. As such, the Quadrennial Homeland
Security Review, or QHSR, which DHS is mandated to carry out every 4
years, is critical to ensuring that the Department is positioned to
effectively carry out its multifaceted mission.
To date, DHS has issued two such reviews, as we have heard.
Unfortunately, the Department's third is 16 months overdue. This
legislation seeks to make refinements to the law to address weaknesses
identified by the Government Accountability Office in the prior two
reviews.
GAO, for example, emphasized that documentation of the review process
is essential to ensuring the repeatability of the review process.
Accordingly, H.R. 1892 requires that DHS retain and, when requested,
provide to Congress certain documentation related to the QHSR.
H.R. 1892 also seeks to ensure more robust consultation with Homeland
Security stakeholders, including State and local governments and
academic institutions. H.R. 1892 ensures that DHS undertakes and
documents a risk analysis to inform its policy positions.
This House unanimously approved this measure in both the 115th
Congress and the 114th Congress; however, the Senate has, indeed,
failed to act on the bill on both occasions.
Enactment of this bill will help chart a thoughtful path on how to
align its resources with its mission and make the Nation more secure.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 1892.
Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, this legislation will
see that the Department of Homeland Security remains focused on its
primary mission.
It is important that the Department complete this review so that it,
in partnership with Congress, can continue to evolve with the threats
that face our homeland.
I would also add that this measure passed the House last Congress by
a vote of 415-0, and I would hope my colleagues would do the same
today.
Finally, I urge DHS to deliver the long-overdue 2018 QHSR to
Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 1892, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Torres Small) that the House suspend
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1892.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, 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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