[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H990-H991]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HOMELAND SECURITY FOR CHILDREN ACT
Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the
rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2932) to amend the Homeland Security Act
of 2002 to ensure that the needs of children are considered in homeland
security planning, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2932
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 ``Homeland Security for
Children Act''.
SEC. 2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR STRATEGY,
POLICY, AND PLANS.
Paragraph (6) of section 709(c) of the Homeland Security
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 349(c)) is amended by inserting ``,
including feedback from organizations representing the needs
of children,'' after ``stakeholder feedback''.
SEC. 3. TECHNICAL EXPERT AUTHORIZED.
Paragraph (2) of section 503(b) of the Homeland Security
Act (6 U.S.C. 313(b)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (G), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (H), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(I) identify and integrate the needs of children into
activities to prepare for, protect against, respond to,
recover from, and mitigate against the risk of natural
disasters, acts of terrorism, and other manmade disasters,
including catastrophic incidents, including by appointing a
technical expert, who may consult with relevant outside
organizations and experts, as necessary, to coordinate such
integration, as necessary.''.
SEC. 4. REPORT.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of
this Act and annually thereafter for five years, the Under
Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans of the Department
of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on
Homeland Security and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of
the Senate a report describing the efforts the Department has
undertaken to review and incorporate feedback from
organizations representing the needs of children into
Department policy in accordance with paragraph (6) of section
709(c) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as amended by
section 2 of this Act), including information on the
following:
(1) The designation of any individual responsible for
carrying out such paragraph (6).
(2) Any review, formal or informal, of Department policies,
programs, or activities to assess the suitability of such
policies, programs, or activities for children and where
feedback from organizations representing the needs of
children should be reviewed and incorporated.
(3) Any review, change, modification, or promulgation of
Department policies, programs, or activities to ensure that
such policies, programs, or activities are appropriate for
children.
(4) Coordination with organizations or experts outside the
Department pursuant to such paragraph (6) conducted to inform
any such review, change, modification, or promulgation of
such policies, programs, or activities.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New Mexico (Ms. Torres Small) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Crenshaw) 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.
I rise in strong support of H.R. 2932, the Homeland Security for
Children Act.
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the Department of Homeland Security's
policies and programs, it is important the children, the most
vulnerable among us, are taken into consideration.
H.R. 2932, introduced by my fellow Subcommittee Chairman Donald
Payne, would, for the first time, authorize the children's technical
expert position within FEMA to ensure the needs of children are
incorporated in all disaster-related activities.
Importantly, the bill recognizes that, when it comes to DHS, the
impacts of policies and programs go well beyond disaster response and
recovery. It recognizes that, from screening protocols at TSA
checkpoints to short-term detention standards to active-shooter
training, DHS policy must incorporate the needs of children.
To that end, H.R. 2932 would direct the Department of Homeland
Security's Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans to
incorporate the needs of children in all departmental policies,
programs, and activities. A similar measure passed by voice vote in the
full House passed last Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S.
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, January 7, 2020.
Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Thompson: I write concerning H.R. 2932, the
Homeland Security for Children Act. There are certain
provisions in this legislation that fall within the Rule X
jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure.
In order to expedite floor consideration of H.R. 2932, the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure agrees to
forgo action on the bill. However, this is conditional on our
[[Page H991]]
mutual understanding that forgoing consideration of the bill
would not prejudice the Committee with respect to the
appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional
claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or
similar legislation that fall within the Committee's Rule X
jurisdiction. I also request that you urge the Speaker to
name members of this Committee to any conference committee
which is named to consider such provisions.
Please place a copy of this letter and your response
acknowledging our jurisdictional interest into the committee
report on H.R. 2932 and into the Congressional Record during
consideration of the measure on the House floor.
Sincerely,
Peter A. DeFazio,
Chair.
____
Committee on Homeland Security,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, January 7, 2020.
Hon. Peter DeFazio,
Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman DeFazio: Thank you for your letter regarding
H.R. 2932, the ``Homeland Security for Children Act.'' The
Committee on Homeland Security recognizes that the Committee
on Transportation Infrastructure has a jurisdictional
interest in H.R. 2932, and I appreciate your effort to allow
this bill to be considered on the House floor.
I concur with you that forgoing action on the bill does not
in any way prejudice the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure with respect to its jurisdictional
prerogatives this bill or similar legislation in the future,
and I would support your effort to seek appointment of an
appropriate number of conferees to any House--Senate
conference involving this legislation.
I will include our letters on H.R. 2932 in the
Congressional Record during floor consideration of this bill.
I look forward to working with you on this legislation and
other matters of great importance to this nation.
Sincerely,
Bennie G. Thompson,
Chairman.
Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2932, the Homeland Security
for Children Act. This legislation seeks to ensure that the needs of
children, one of our most vulnerable populations, are considered in
Department of Homeland Security planning.
H.R. 2932 directs the Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans
to incorporate feedback from children's organizations into
departmentwide activities.
Furthermore, this bill authorizes the technical expert position
within the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, to identify
and integrate the needs of children when preparing for, protecting
against, responding to, and recovering from natural and manmade
disasters.
It is imperative that we ensure that those who are unable to advocate
for themselves are being represented when disaster strikes.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the
balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, children make up nearly 23 percent of the Nation's
population, and as the threats to our homeland continue to evolve, it
is important that we be prepared to adequately assist every child at
every age.
H.R. 2932 directs the Department of Homeland Security to include the
needs of children, the most vulnerable among us, in all departmental
activities.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter of support signed by
several organizations representing the needs of children, including
Save the Children, the Child Welfare League of America, Share Our
Strength, and Zero to Three.
National Coalition on
Children and Disasters,
Arlington, VA, July 12, 2019.
Hon. Donald M. Payne, Jr.,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Payne: As members of the National
Coalition on Children and Disasters, which includes
organizations that advocate for the well-being of children
and their families in the preparation for, response to, and
recovery from natural or man-made disasters, we endorse H.R.
2932, the ``Homeland Security for Children Act of 2019.''
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the nation learned
how unprepared we were at the federal, state, and local
levels of government in addressing and responding to the
needs of children. As a result, in 2007, Congress established
the National Commission on Children and Disasters, which
produced a comprehensive book of recommendations in 2010.
They included improved mental health services, pediatric and
child welfare needs, and disaster management planning,
response, and reunification for child care settings. Most
importantly, the Commission strongly recommended that
improved coordination of the needs of children among federal
agencies was needed.
The Homeland Security for Children Act would help improve
the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) and the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) response to the needs
of children during disasters. Your bill would also increase
accountability across government agencies in times of
emergency and incorporate feedback from youth-serving
organizations to prioritize and represent the needs of
children into department-wide policies. In addition, it would
mandate that DHS provide routine updates to Congress
summarizing efforts undertaken to incorporate the needs of
children in Department-wide policies, programs, and
activities.
With natural disasters on the rise, the time is now for
Congress to ensure that the necessary supports are in place
to address needs of children and families following
disasters. Children are not little adults. They have
specialized needs that must be considered when planning for,
responding to, and recovering from a disaster.
Thank you for your sponsorship of this critical
legislation, as well as your ongoing leadership on behalf of
children and families. If we can be of any assistance on
advancing this bill, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
National Coalition on Children and Disasters Members
include: Child Care Aware of America; Child
Welfare League of America; Early Care and Education
Consortium; First Focus Campaign for Children;
Institute for Child Success; National Center for
Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University; 1,000
Days; Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies;
Public Advocacy for Kids; Save the Children; Share Our
Strength; Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights;
Zero to Three.
Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to
support H.R. 2932, 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. 2932, as amended.
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, 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.
____________________