[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 156 (Thursday, September 26, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8025-H8027]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COUNTER TERRORIST NETWORK ACT
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3526) to authorize certain counter terrorist networks
activities of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3526
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 ``Counter Terrorist Network
Act''.
SEC. 2. DUTY TO COUNTER TERRORIST NETWORKS; DETAILS AND
ASSIGNMENT.
Section 411 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C.
211) is amended--
(1) in subsection (g)(4)--
(A) in subparagraph (C)--
[[Page H8026]]
(i) in clause (vi), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(ii) by redesignating clause (vii) as clause (viii); and
(iii) by inserting after clause (vi) the following new
clause:
``(vii) collaborate with appropriate agencies, including
Federal, State, local, Tribal, and international entities, to
enhance border security through operations such as operations
that seek to disrupt and dismantle networks, including
foreign terrorist organizations (as such term is described in
section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1189)), that pose terrorist or other threats; and'';
(2) by redesignating subsections (p) through (r) as
subsections (q) through (s), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after subsection (o) the following new
subsection:
``(p) Assignment of Personnel.--The Commissioner may detail
or otherwise assign personnel of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection to other appropriate agencies, including to serve
overseas in support of global information sharing partnership
operations in furtherance of enhancing border security,
including by preventing entry into the United States by
individuals known or suspected of being associated with a
network, including a foreign terrorist organization (as such
term is described in section 219 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189)), that poses terrorist or
other threats.''.
SEC. 3. BRIEFINGS.
The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
shall biannually brief the Committee on Homeland Security of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate regarding
activities, during the prior six months, in furtherance of
clause (vii) of section 411(g)(4)(C) of the Homeland Security
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 211(g)(4)(C)), as added by section 2 of
this Act. Such briefings may be provided in a classified
setting if the Commissioner determines such is appropriate.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Correa) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Green)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous materials on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3526, the Counter
Terrorist Network Act. Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, is
charged with the important mission of securing our Nation's borders and
ports of entries against a range of threats, including foreign
terrorist networks. In pursuit of this mission, it is vital that CBP
and the Department of Homeland Security collaborate with international
partners to effectively prevent foreign terrorists from carrying out
attacks on U.S. soil.
H.R. 3526 authorizes CBP's National Targeting Center, or NTC, to
collaborate with international partners to disrupt and dismantle
foreign terrorist networks. The NTC uses technology and analytical
tools to identify threats and share this information with domestic and
international partners.
This bill seeks to solidify CBP's collaboration with international
partners outside of our borders. The Counter Terrorist Network Act will
authorize CBP to assign NTC personnel abroad to perform critical
information-sharing operations in real time to ensure that individuals
who are known or suspected of being associated with terrorist networks
are prevented from entering the United States.
Even as Congress addresses the rise of domestic terrorism, we must
continue to be vigilant of the threats posed by foreign terrorist
organizations such as al-Qaida and the Islamic State. H.R. 3526
underscores this by authorizing CBP to counter terrorist and criminal
networks from exploiting legitimate avenues to enter the United States.
Due to its border security mission, CBP is uniquely situated to
combat these threats that originate from terrorist and criminal
networks around the globe. This bill will allow Congress to work with
CBP to ensure our borders are secure in a proven and effective manner.
I thank the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Underwood) for introducing
this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3526.
The men and women in uniform at U.S. Customs and Border Protection
are tasked with an incredibly important mission. Every day they protect
our Nation from transnational criminal organizations, human
traffickers, and terrorists who wish to exploit vulnerabilities at our
Nation's borders. To execute this critical mission, CBP has developed a
cadre of subject matter experts who are well-versed in counter criminal
network operations. These experts work tirelessly at our seaports,
airports, and land border crossings honing their skills, stopping the
flow of illicit goods and people, and creating actionable intelligence.
Given that CBP is uniquely positioned on our Nation's front line, it
is alarming that the CBP does not have the authority to participate in
counterterrorist network activities both domestically and
internationally. CBP lacks the statutory authority to assign personnel
to such specialized details and liaison assignments with a national
security force.
H.R. 3526 corrects this deficiency by giving the commissioner of CBP
the statutory authority to assign personnel to these specialized task
forces and collaborate with appropriate Federal, State, local, and
Tribal entities to disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal
organizations and foreign terrorist networks.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3526 will lead to enhanced information sharing and
an increase in intelligence-driven enforcement operations. I encourage
my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Illinois (Ms. Underwood).
Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3526, the
Counter Terrorist Network Act. I introduced the bipartisan Counter
Terrorist Network Act with my colleague from New York, Representative
Katko, to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security has the tools
it needs to work effectively with international partners to prevent
foreign terrorist organizations from carrying out attacks on U.S. soil.
As we work to address growing threats posed by domestic terrorism, we
must also remain vigilant against the threats posed by al-Qaida and its
affiliates, the Islamic State, and other foreign terrorist
organizations that aspire to do our Nation harm.
With the Counter Terrorist Network Act, law enforcement will have
enhanced resources to help thwart threats to our country. The Counter
Terrorist Network Act authorizes the National Targeting Center, which
is housed within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to collaborate
with international security agencies to disrupt and dismantle terrorist
networks.
Importantly, it authorizes CBP to assign National Targeting Center
personnel to overseas posts to improve information sharing about
terrorist networks and help prevent entry to the U.S. by travelers who
are known or suspected of being associated with a terrorist network.
NTC--that is the National Targeting Center--personnel play an
important role in the safety of our country, including my community in
northern Illinois. We know that in fiscal year 2015, CBP was able to
prevent 22,000 high-risk travelers from traveling to the U.S. through
the collaboration between the NTC and other predeparture screening
programs. This number represents previously unknown high-risk travelers
who were found to pose a national security or terrorist threat.
The successful partnerships and programs that CBP has built with
other law enforcement partners in furtherance of their antiterrorism
and homeland security mission warrant congressional support. As we work
to address growing threats posed by domestic terrorism, we must also
remain vigilant against the threats posed by al-Qaida and its
affiliates, the Islamic State, and other foreign terrorist
organizations that continue to aspire to do our Nation harm.
I would note that similar language overwhelmingly passed the House in
[[Page H8027]]
2018, and I urge my colleagues to again support the Counter Terrorist
Network Act.
Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Thompson and his
staff on the House Committee on Homeland Security for all of their
invaluable work on this legislation.
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I have no speakers on this bill.
I renew my recommendation that my colleagues support this bill, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, 18 years after the most devastating terrorist attack on
our country, it is imperative that DHS continue its efforts to prevent
foreign terrorist organizations from carrying out attacks on our
homeland. By passing H.R. 3526 today, Congress can ensure that DHS
continues to address border or homeland security threats long before
they are present at our borders.
I would also note that last Congress, the House overwhelmingly passed
similar legislation in a bipartisan manner. It was approved by a vote
of 410-2. I would hope that my colleagues would again lend their
support and join me in passing this legislation today.
I want to thank Ms. Underwood for this most important and timely
piece of legislation to protect our homeland from terrorists.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Correa) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3526.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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