[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 196 (Monday, December 9, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H9376-H9377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   INLAND WATERS SECURITY REVIEW ACT

  Ms. SLOTKIN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4402) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to 
conduct an inland waters threat analysis, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4402

       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 ``Inland Waters Security 
     Review Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (B) the Committee on Homeland Security and Government 
     Affairs of the Senate; and
       (C) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
     of the Senate.
       (2) Inland waters.--The term ``inland waters'' has the 
     meaning given such term in section 83.03 of title 33, Code of 
     Federal Regulations.

     SEC. 3. INLAND WATERS THREAT ANALYSIS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security 
     shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an 
     inland waters threat analysis that includes an identification 
     and description of the following:
       (1) Current and potential terrorism and criminal threats 
     posed by individuals and groups seeking to--
       (A) enter the United States through inland waters; or
       (B) exploit security vulnerabilities on inland waters.
       (2) Security challenges at United States inland waters 
     ports regarding--
       (A) terrorism and instruments of terror entering the United 
     States; and
       (B) criminal activity, as measured by the total flow of 
     illegal goods and illicit drugs, related to the inland 
     waters.
       (3) Security mitigation efforts with respect to the inland 
     waters to--
       (A) prevent terrorists and instruments of terror from 
     entering the United States; and
       (B) reduce criminal activity related to the inland waters.
       (4) Vulnerabilities related to cooperation between State, 
     local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement, or 
     international agreements, that hinder effective security, 
     counterterrorism, anti-trafficking efforts, and the flow of 
     legitimate trade with respect to inland waters.
       (5) Metrics and performance measures used by the Department 
     of Homeland Security to evaluate inland waters security, as 
     appropriate.
       (b) Analysis Requirements.--In preparing the threat 
     analysis required under subsection (a), the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security shall consider and examine the following:
       (1) Technology needs and challenges.
       (2) Personnel needs and challenges.
       (3) The roles of State, local, Tribal, and territorial law 
     enforcement, as well as private sector partners and the 
     public, relating to inland waters security.
       (4) The need for cooperation among Federal, State, local, 
     Tribal, territorial, and international partner law 
     enforcement, as well as private sector partners and the 
     public, relating to inland waters security.
       (5) The challenges posed by geography with respect to 
     inland waters security.
       (c) Classified Threat Analysis.--To the extent possible, 
     the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit the threat 
     analysis required under subsection (a) in unclassified form. 
     The Secretary may submit a portion of the threat analysis in 
     classified form if the Secretary determines that such is 
     appropriate.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Ms. Slotkin) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Ms. SLOTKIN. 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 Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. SLOTKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4402, the Inland Waters 
Security Review Act. This one is very close to my heart.
  Maritime security is an integral part of our homeland security; 
however, most terrorism assessments related to maritime security have 
focused on the risks of terrorism on the high seas or on coastal areas.
  In the United States, we have massive inland water systems that 
present unique security challenges. In Michigan, for instance, from 
where I hail, we have 3,288 miles of coastline, second only to Alaska--
take that, California and Florida--so inland waters are a big deal to 
us. Maritime security is not just for our oceans but also for our Great 
Lakes, which represent a huge part of our U.S.-Canada border.
  As a Michiganian who came to Congress to protect the Great Lakes, I 
am pleased to support this legislation, which requires the Department 
of Homeland Security to take a good, hard look at security threats to 
these vital waterways.
  Specifically, H.R. 4402 would require DHS to submit an analysis of 
the current and potential terrorism and criminal threats, as well as 
security challenges, with respect to our Nation's inland waters.
  In producing this assessment, DHS must consider technology, 
personnel, law enforcement cooperation, public-private partnerships, 
and challenges posed by geography. This assessment will provide 
Congress and the public with vital information regarding the threats 
facing our inland waters.
  I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 4402, a bipartisan 
bill that was reported out of committee by unanimous consent. I thank 
my colleague on the Homeland Security committee, Mrs. Lesko, for her 
leadership on this bill.
  With that, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4402, the Inland Waters 
Security Review Act sponsored by my friend and colleague, the ranking 
member of the Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee, 
Representative Debbie Lesko.
  H.R. 4402 will improve the security awareness of the Department of 
Homeland Security and the United States Coast Guard for threats and 
vulnerabilities on America's inland water systems. These important 
arteries for commerce face unique challenges related to illegal drugs 
and smuggling. It

[[Page H9377]]

is important that the Coast Guard continues to work diligently with 
relevant stakeholders to address these challenges.
  This legislation would also ensure that Federal authorities are 
working in close partnership with their State, local, Tribal, 
territorial, and private sector partners to identify and address 
security issues related to America's inland waters.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Lesko for her leadership on this 
bipartisan legislation. I urge my colleagues to support the bill; I 
urge adoption of the bill; and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. SLOTKIN. Mr. Speaker, America is home to over 3 million miles of 
lakes, rivers, and streams, including more than 25,000 miles of 
navigable waters.
  It is critically important that we have a complete picture of the 
security and criminal threats that inland waters face. H.R. 4402 would 
do just that.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Arizona for introducing 
this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4402.
  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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