[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 196 (Monday, December 9, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H9377-H9378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   WEATHERIZING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE NORTH AND TERRORISM EMERGENCY 
                         READINESS ACT OF 2019

  Ms. SLOTKIN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3669) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to 
conduct a collective response to a terrorism exercise that includes the 
management of cascading effects on critical infrastructure during times 
of extreme cold weather, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3669

       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 ``Weatherizing Infrastructure 
     in the North and Terrorism Emergency Readiness Act of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. EXERCISE ON TERRORIST ATTACK DURING EXTREME COLD.

       (a) In General.--In addition to, or as part of exercise 
     programs currently carried out by the Department of Homeland 
     Security, to enhance domestic preparedness for terrorism, 
     promote the dissemination of homeland security information, 
     and test the homeland security posture of the United States, 
     the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through 
     appropriate offices and components of the Department, shall 
     develop and conduct a collective response to terrorism 
     exercise that includes management of cascading effects on 
     critical infrastructure (as such term is defined in section 
     1016(e) of Public Law 107-56 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e))), such as 
     an extreme cold weather event caused by a polar vortex.
       (b) Exercise Requirements.--The exercise required under 
     subsection (a) shall include a scenario involving the 
     following:
       (1) An extreme cold weather event, such as an event caused 
     by a polar vortex, with respect to access to critical 
     services.
       (2) Any cascading effects on critical infrastructure.
       (3) How the effects of a successful terrorist attack 
     against critical infrastructure could be mitigated by 
     emergency managers, State officials, and appropriate private 
     sector and community stakeholders.
       (4) How the resilience of communities that could be 
     impacted by such an attack could be bolstered.
       (5) Coordination with appropriate Federal departments and 
     agencies, and State, local, Tribal, and territorial agencies.
       (6) Coordination with appropriate private sector and 
     community stakeholders.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the completion of 
     the exercise required under subsection (a), the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security shall, consistent with the protection of 
     classified information, submit to the Committee on Homeland 
     Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
     Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate an 
     after-action report presenting the initial findings of such 
     exercise, any immediate and longer-term plans for 
     incorporating lessons learned into future operations of the 
     Department of Homeland Security, and any proposed legislative 
     changes informed by such exercise.

  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.

                              {time}  1700


                             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 strong support of my own bill, H.R. 3669, the 
Weatherizing Infrastructure in the North and Terrorism Emergency 
Readiness Act of 2019 or, as we like to call it, the WINTER Act.
  Terrorism is a persistent threat to the United States. We need to be 
prepared to confront terrorism in all situations, even during extreme 
weather events. As climate change continues to change weather patterns, 
extreme winter storms will become more common.
  The effects of climate change produce more snowfall during winter 
storms as a warmer planet evaporates more water into the atmosphere, 
and that moisture means heavier snowfall and worse storms.
  Given what we know, we must make sure we are prepared to act if a 
terrorist attack were to take place during an extreme cold event. This 
is why I introduced H.R. 3669, the WINTER Act.
  In recent years, the Nation has experienced several extreme cold 
weather events, such as the polar vortex during the winter of 2019. 
This one was very specific and personal to the State of Michigan.
  Last winter, in my State, temperatures reached as low as negative 43 
degrees Fahrenheit during the polar vortex. During that time we had a 
fire, an accidental fire at one of our gas facilities, causing it to 
shut down, and resulting in a gas shortage in our State. As a result, 
our Governor had to go on television and ask all Michiganians to turn 
down their thermostats below 65 degrees to ensure that we didn't lose 
power across the State and were able to keep our warming stations, our 
hospitals, our homeless shelters open.
  The dangers that result from cold weather aren't unique to Michigan. 
Across the U.S., over 6,000 people died from hypothermia or exposure to 
cold between 2006 and 2010, equating to over 1,000 deaths per year.
  During these extreme cold weather events, infrastructure and 
emergency services are critical, and any disruption poses a serious 
threat to the health and safety of Americans in the affected area.
  Last winter's events made me realize that if we had a critical 
infrastructure attack in the middle of winter, particularly in places 
in the northern half of the country, we would be extremely vulnerable. 
If terrorists choose to take advantage of any of these circumstances to 
amplify the deadly impacts of an attack, our elderly, our families, and 
our first responders could be put in the most danger.
  This bipartisan bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to 
develop and conduct a terrorism training exercise that addresses the 
effects of a successful terrorist attack on critical infrastructure 
during extreme cold weather.
  This exercise will help determine the best way for emergency 
managers, State and local officials, and community stakeholders to 
mitigate the impacts of such an attack and help keep people safe.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an important bill. I urge my colleagues to 
support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 3669, the Weatherizing Infrastructure 
in the North and Terrorism Emergency Readiness Act--the WINTER Act--of 
2019.
  This legislation seeks to better position the United States 
government and relevant State, local, and private sector agencies to be 
able to respond to a terrorist attack during an extreme cold weather 
event.
  An extreme weather event, such as a polar vortex, has the potential 
to severely impact our daily lives, damage

[[Page H9378]]

our critical infrastructure, and leave America incredibly vulnerable to 
terrorist attack.
  H.R. 3669 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and 
conduct an exercise to respond to terrorism during extreme weather 
events.
  The bill also requires the Secretary to produce an after-action 
report to Congress, presenting the findings of the exercise and plans 
for quickly incorporating those lessons learned for future operations 
of the Department.
  As the threat of terrorism continues to evolve, we must be prepared 
to respond to any scenario.
  I thank the gentlewoman from Michigan for her leadership on this 
bill. I urge all Members to join me in supporting the bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. SLOTKIN. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am prepared 
to close after the gentleman from Louisiana closes.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I would like the Congresswoman 
to be aware that I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to 
close.
  I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. SLOTKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  The passage of the WINTER Act would ensure that the Department of 
Homeland Security is doing its part to improve preparedness and 
response to terrorism in the event of extreme cold.
  I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 3669; winter is coming; 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. 3669.
  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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