[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H991-H993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH ACT

  Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4737) to amend the Homeland Security Act 
of 2002 to require the Under Secretary for Science and Technology of 
the Department of Homeland Security to research and evaluate existing 
Federal research regarding approaches to mitigate climate change on 
homeland security to identify areas for further research within the 
Department, research and develop approaches to mitigate the 
consequences of climate change on homeland security, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4737

       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 ``Department of Homeland 
     Security Climate Change Research Act''.

     SEC. 2. CLIMATE CHANGE PLANNING, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, 
                   AND PROTECTION AND PREPAREDNESS.

       (a) In General.--Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 321. CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

       ``(a) In General.--The Under Secretary for Science and 
     Technology--
       ``(1) shall evaluate existing Federal research regarding 
     approaches to mitigate the consequence of climate change on 
     homeland security to identify areas for additional research 
     and development pursuant to paragraph (2) with respect to--
       ``(A) any connection between climate change and homeland 
     security, including

[[Page H992]]

     how the resulting competition for resources, economic 
     distress, and social discontent has contributed to, among 
     other outcomes, acts of terrorism;
       ``(B) the degree to which climate change is reflected in 
     terrorism preparedness and emergency planning and policies, 
     including with respect to preparedness, response to, and 
     recovery from natural disasters; and
       ``(C) the degree to which the Federal funding structure to 
     respond to major disaster declarations and emergency 
     declarations is adequately structured to meet the demands of 
     responding to and recovering from acts of terrorism and 
     natural disasters that are aggravated by climate change; and
       ``(2) shall, to the extent practicable, conduct research 
     and development on approaches to mitigate the consequences of 
     climate change on homeland security in response to finding 
     pursuant to paragraph (1).
       ``(b) Scope.--The scope of the research and development 
     under subsection (a)(2) shall include the following:
       ``(1) Any connection between climate change and homeland 
     security, including how the resulting competition for 
     resources, economic distress, and social discontent can 
     contribute to, among other outcomes, acts of terrorism.
       ``(2) The degree to which climate change is reflected in 
     terrorism preparedness and emergency planning and policies, 
     including with respect to preparedness, response to, and 
     recovery from natural disasters.
       ``(3) The degree to which the Federal funding structure to 
     respond to major disaster declarations and emergency 
     declarations is adequately structured to meet the demands of 
     responding to and recovering from acts of terrorism and 
     natural disasters that are aggravated by climate change.
       ``(c) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the 
     Under Secretary for Science and Technology shall consult with 
     the heads of other relevant agencies and departments of the 
     Federal Government, first responders, and relevant owners and 
     operators of critical infrastructure.
       ``(d) Climate Change Defined.--The term `climate change' 
     refers to detectable changes in one or more climate system 
     components that is directly or indirectly attributed to--
       ``(1) human activity; and
       ``(2) altering the composition of the global atmosphere.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by 
     inserting after the item relating to section 320 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 321. Climate change research and development.''.

     SEC. 3. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

       Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act and annually thereafter for three years, the Under 
     Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of 
     Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on 
     any research and development activities carried out pursuant 
     to section 321 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added 
     by this Act.

  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.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4737, the Department of 
Homeland Security Climate Change Research Act.
  Mr. Speaker, we know that climate change is happening, and it is 
affecting every country around the globe. Moreover, we know that 
climate change is leading to increased instability in developing 
countries.
  Not only has the Department of Defense written about it, Congress 
acknowledged this in the fiscal year 2018 National Defense 
Authorization Act, which included in its finding that ``as global 
temperatures rise, droughts and famines can lead to more failed states, 
which are breeding grounds of extremist and terrorist organizations.''
  While DOD has researched the implications of climate change on 
national security, DHS is best positioned to research and respond 
climate change on homeland security. There are already reports of 
extremist groups overseas using extreme weather events as a recruitment 
tool, targeting farmers whose crops were lost to drought or other 
weather events.
  As these groups recruit more members, gaining strength, the threat 
they pose to homeland security increases. DHS must be proactive, not 
simply reactive in this threat.
  H.R. 4737 will ensure that DHS is using its resources efficiently, 
evaluating what we already know about climate change's effects on 
homeland security, and, where practical, developing tactics to mitigate 
those effects critical to the Department's mission. With this 
knowledge, the good people at DHS will be able to better perform their 
job and keep our country safe.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.

         House of Representatives, Committe on Science, Space, and 
           Technology,
                                  Washington, DC, January 9, 2020.
     Chairman Bennie G. Thompson,
     Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thompson, I am writing to you concerning H.R. 
     4737, the ``Department of Homeland Security Climate Change 
     Research Act,'' which was referred to the Committee on 
     Homeland Security on October 18, 2019.
       I agree to work cooperatively on H.R. 4737 and in order to 
     expedite consideration of the bill the Committee on Science, 
     Space, and Technology (``Science Committee'') will waive 
     formal consideration of the bill. This is, however, not a 
     waiver of future jurisdictional claims by the Science 
     Committee over the subject matter contained in H.R. 4737 or 
     similar legislation.
       Thank you for agreeing to support the appointment of 
     Science Committee conferees during any House--Senate 
     conference convened on this legislation. Additionally, thank 
     you for your assurances to include our exchange of letters in 
     the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the 
     bill.
           Sincerely,
                                            Eddie Bernice Johnson,
     Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Homeland Security,

                                  Washington, DC, January 8, 2020.
     Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson,
     Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 
         House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairwoman Johnson: Thank you for your letter 
     regarding H.R. 4737, the ``Department of Homeland Security 
     Climate Change Research Act.'' I recognize that the Committee 
     on Science, Space and Technology has a jurisdictional 
     interest in H.R. 4737, and 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 Science, Space and 
     Technology with respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives on 
     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. 4737 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. 4737, the Department of 
Homeland Security Climate Change Research Act.
  Numerous Federal studies have been conducted that summarize the 
impacts of climate change on the United States and discuss the nexus 
between climate change and terrorism.
  This bill directs DHS' Science and Technology Directorate to evaluate 
the current Federal research regarding the connection between climate 
change and homeland security to identify any research gaps and, to the 
extent practical, conduct additional research to fill those gaps.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage Members to support 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, effectively combating terrorism is a bipartisan issue, 
and we have a duty to our constituents to support smart legislative 
proposals.
  Passage of the DHS Climate Change Research Act would ensure that the 
Department of Homeland Security is proactively addressing and 
attempting to mitigate the risks that climate change poses to our 
homeland security.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask for my colleagues to support H.R. 4737, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H993]]

  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. 4737, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________