[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 96 (Monday, June 10, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H4369-H4370]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STRENGTHENING LOCAL TRANSPORTATION SECURITY CAPABILITIES ACT OF 2019
Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 2539) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security
to prioritize the assignment of certain officers and intelligence
analysts from the Transportation Security Administration and the Office
of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security to
locations with participating State, local, and regional fusion centers
in jurisdictions with a high-risk surface transportation asset in order
to enhance the security of such assets, including by improving timely
sharing of classified information regarding terrorist and other
threats, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2539
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 ``Strengthening Local
Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Public and private sector stakeholders.--The term
``public and private sector stakeholders'' has the meaning
given such term in section 114(u)(1)(C) of title 49, United
States Code.
(2) Surface transportation asset.--The term ``surface
transportation asset'' includes facilities, equipment, or
systems used to provide transportation services by--
(A) a public transportation agency (as such term is defined
in section 1402(5) of the Implementing Recommendations of the
9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C.
1131(5)));
(B) a railroad carrier (as such term is defined in section
20102(3) of title 49, United States Code);
(C) an owner or operator of--
(i) an entity offering scheduled, fixed-route
transportation services by over-the-road bus (as such term is
defined in section 1501(4) of the Implementing
Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Public
Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C. 1151(4))); or
(ii) a bus terminal; or
(D) other transportation facilities, equipment, or systems,
as determined by the Secretary.
SEC. 3. THREAT INFORMATION SHARING.
(a) Prioritization.--The Secretary of Homeland Security
shall prioritize the assignment of officers and intelligence
analysts under section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of
2002 (6 U.S.C. 124h) from the Transportation Security
Administration and, as appropriate, from the Office of
Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland
Security, to locations with participating State, local, and
regional fusion centers in jurisdictions with a high-risk
surface transportation asset in order to enhance the security
of such assets, including by improving timely sharing of
classified information regarding terrorist and other threats.
(b) Intelligence Products.--Officers and intelligence
analysts assigned to locations with participating State,
local, and regional fusion centers under this section shall
participate in the generation and dissemination of
transportation security intelligence products, with an
emphasis on terrorist and other threats to surface
transportation assets that--
(1) assist State, local, and Tribal law enforcement
agencies in deploying their resources, including personnel,
most efficiently to help detect, prevent, investigate,
apprehend, and respond to terrorist and other threats;
(2) promote more consistent and timely sharing of threat
information among jurisdictions; and
(3) enhance the Department of Homeland Security's
situational awareness of such terrorist and other threats.
(c) Clearances.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
make available to appropriate owners and operators of surface
transportation assets, and to any other person that the
Secretary determines appropriate to foster greater sharing of
classified information relating to terrorist and other
threats to surface transportation assets, the process of
application for security clearances under Executive Order No.
13549 (75 Fed. Reg. 162; relating to a classified national
security information program) or any successor Executive
order.
SEC. 4. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SECURITY TRAINING.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in
consultation with public and private sector stakeholders, may
develop, through the Federal Law Enforcement Training
Centers, a training program to enhance the protection,
preparedness, and response capabilities of law enforcement
agencies with respect to terrorist and other threats at a
surface transportation asset.
(b) Requirements.--If the Secretary of Homeland Security
develops the training program described in subsection (a),
such training program shall--
(1) be informed by current information regarding terrorist
tactics;
(2) include tactical instruction tailored to the diverse
nature of the surface transportation asset operational
environment; and
(3) prioritize training officers from law enforcement
agencies that are eligible for or receive grants under
sections 2003 or 2004 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6
U.S.C. 604 and 605) and officers employed by railroad
carriers that operate passenger service, including interstate
passenger service.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New York (Miss Rice) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Crenshaw) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
General Leave
Miss RICE of New York. 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 York?
There was no objection.
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. 2539, the Strengthening Local
Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2019.
Every day, tens of millions of Americans rely on our Nation's vast
transportation surface system. Securing that system must remain one of
our top national security priorities.
H.R. 2539 will help bolster situational awareness about threats to
these vital systems by requiring DHS to prioritize the assignment of
officers and intelligence analysts to State, local, and regional fusion
centers located in areas with high-risk surface transportation assets.
Further, H.R. 2539 authorizes a training program to enhance the
effectiveness of law enforcement agencies that protect surface
transportation assets.
I would like to thank my colleague, Ms. Barragan, for introducing
this important bill. I urge my House colleagues to support H.R. 2539.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of H.R. 2539, the Strengthening Local
Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2019. This bill will
provide important support to surface transportation security at a time
when our transportation sector faces evolving threats.
This bill ensures that the Secretary of Homeland Security will
prioritize the assignment of intelligence analysts to fusion centers in
areas with high-risk surface transportation assets to bolster security,
improve coordination, and enhance information sharing.
This bill underscores the critically important work of State, local,
and regional fusion centers in protecting the homeland. These centers
analyze current threats and push critical threat information to the
front lines.
It is important that Congress pass bills like this to strengthen the
relationships among Federal, State, and local jurisdictions so that
relevant threat information reaches the right people in a timely
manner.
I am pleased by the support of my Democratic colleagues for fusion
centers and hope this will lead to quick
[[Page H4370]]
passage of another bill, introduced by Homeland Security Committee
Ranking Member Rogers, H.R. 480, the Homeland Threat Assessment Act.
Keeping transportation systems secure is part and parcel to
protecting the American way of life and keeping America moving forward.
I commend this legislation for raising the baseline on how the
Department of Homeland Security supports the security of surface
transportation systems, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am
prepared to close after the gentleman from Texas closes.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
H.R. 2539 would be an important step toward securing some of our
country's most important transportation systems.
DHS is faced with an enormous challenge of combating the constantly
evolving threats facing our Nation's transportation systems. Timely
information sharing about these systems is essential to counter any
threat.
Last Congress, a similar measure passed the House with wide
bipartisan support. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this
important legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, terrorists continue to pose a significant
threat to transportation systems.
Since 9/11, Congress has supported efforts to strengthen the security
of our transportation systems.
Working with the private sector and state and local governments, we
have invested substantial resources to prevent attacks and improve our
intelligence around potential threats.
Still, terrorists continue to probe critical infrastructure- looking
for ``soft targets'' to attack.
Worldwide, increasingly, terrorist have turned their attention to
mass transit systems, bus stations, and freight and passenger rail
systems.
In America, surface transportation systems transport millions of
passengers and tons of freight every day.
In my district, my constituents rely on L.A. Metro rail and bus
systems to get them to their offices, doctor's appointments, places of
worship, and homes every day.
According to L.A. Metro Monthly Ridership stats, over 31 million
riders travel by bus or rail each month.
Due to the high accessibility of transit systems, protecting
passengers and personnel is difficult.
Law enforcement agencies rely on credible, timely intelligence to
keep systems secure.
My bill seeks to enhance security in two key ways.
First, it requires DHS to prioritize the assignment of officers and
intelligence analysts to State, local, and regional fusion centers
areas with a high-risk surface transportation asset.
Such deployments would help ensure that intelligence relating to
threats is shared with appropriate stakeholders in a timely manner,
improving the chances of preventing the next attack.
Second, my bill authorizes DHS to develop a training program to
enhance the protection, preparedness, and response capabilities of law
enforcement agencies that operate at surface transportation assets.
Surface transportation systems are unique in their layouts and use,
and training tailored to the uniqueness of these systems would help
improve law enforcement capabilities.
This transportation security bill is supported on a bipartisan basis
and, when it was considered last month in the Committee on Homeland
Security, was approved unanimously.
As such, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2539.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Miss RICE of New York. 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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