[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 67 (Monday, April 19, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H1904-H1905]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CBRN INTELLIGENCE AND INFORMATION SHARING ACT OF 2021
Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the bill (H.R. 397) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002
to establish chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear
intelligence and information sharing functions of the Office of
Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security and to
require dissemination of information analyzed by the Department to
entities with responsibilities relating to 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. 397
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 ``CBRN Intelligence and
Information Sharing Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, AND NUCLEAR
INTELLIGENCE AND INFORMATION SHARING.
(a) In General.--Subtitle A of title II of the Homeland
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121 et seq.) is amended by
inserting after section 210G the following new section:
``SEC. 210H. CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, AND NUCLEAR
INTELLIGENCE AND INFORMATION SHARING.
``(a) In General.--The Office of Intelligence and Analysis
of the Department of Homeland Security shall--
``(1) support homeland security-focused intelligence
analysis of terrorist actors, their claims, and their plans
to conduct attacks involving chemical, biological,
radiological, or nuclear materials against the United States,
including critical infrastructure;
``(2) support homeland security-focused intelligence
analysis of global infectious disease, public health, food,
agricultural, and veterinary issues;
``(3) support homeland security-focused risk analysis and
risk assessments of the homeland security hazards described
in paragraphs (1) and (2), including the transportation of
chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological materials, by
providing relevant quantitative and nonquantitative threat
information;
``(4) leverage existing and emerging homeland security
intelligence capabilities and structures to enhance early
detection, prevention, protection, response, and recovery
efforts with respect to a chemical, biological, radiological,
or nuclear attack;
``(5) share information and provide tailored analytical
support on such threats to State, local, Tribal, and
territorial authorities, and other Federal agencies, as well
as relevant national biosecurity and biodefense stakeholders,
as appropriate; and
``(6) perform other responsibilities, as assigned by the
Secretary.
``(b) Coordination.--Where appropriate, the Office of
Intelligence and Analysis shall coordinate with other
relevant Department components, including the Countering
Weapons of Mass Destruction Office and the National
Biosurveillance Integration Center, agencies within the
intelligence community, including the National Counter
Proliferation Center, and other Federal, State, local,
Tribal, and territorial authorities, including officials from
high-threat urban areas, State and major urban area fusion
centers, and local public health departments, as appropriate,
and enable such entities to provide recommendations on
optimal information sharing mechanisms, including expeditious
sharing of classified information, and on how such entities
can provide information to the Department.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Intelligence community.--The term `intelligence
community' has the meaning given such term in section 3(4) of
the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4)).
``(2) National biosecurity and biodefense stakeholders.--
The term `national biosecurity and biodefense stakeholders'
means officials from Federal, State, local, Tribal, and
territorial authorities and individuals from the private
sector who are involved in efforts to prevent, protect
against, respond to, and recover from a biological attack or
other phenomena that may have serious health consequences for
the United States, including infectious disease outbreaks.''.
(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 201E the
following new item:
``Sec. 210H. Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear
intelligence and information sharing.''.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for each of
the following four years, the Secretary of Homeland Security
shall report to the appropriate congressional committees on
the following:
(A) The intelligence and information sharing activities
under section 210H of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as
added by subsection (a) of this section) and of all relevant
entities within the Department of Homeland Security to
counter the threat from attacks using chemical, biological,
radiological, or nuclear materials.
(B) The Department's activities in accordance with relevant
intelligence strategies.
(2) Assessment of implementation.--The reports required
under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) An assessment of the progress of the Office of
Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland
Security in implementing such section 210F.
(B) A description of the methods established to carry out
such assessment.
(3) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means the Committee on Homeland
Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and
any committee of the House of Representatives or the Senate
having legislative jurisdiction under the rules of the House
of Representatives or Senate, respectively, over the matter
concerned.
SEC. 3. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ANALYZED BY THE
DEPARTMENT TO STATE, LOCAL, TRIBAL,
TERRITORIAL, AND PRIVATE ENTITIES WITH
RESPONSIBILITIES RELATING TO HOMELAND SECURITY.
Paragraph (6) of section 201(d) of the Homeland Security
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121(d)) is amended by striking ``and to
agencies of State'' and all that follows through the period
at the end and inserting ``to State, local, tribal,
territorial, and private entities with such responsibilities,
and, as appropriate, to the public, in order to assist in
preventing, deterring, or responding to acts of terrorism
against the United States.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Torres) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Garbarino) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Torres).
[[Page H1905]]
{time} 1500
General Leave
Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam 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
gentleman from New York (Mr. Torres)?
There was no objection.
Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 397, the Chemical, Biological,
Radiological, and Nuclear Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of
2021.
This past year, we have witnessed a global pandemic dominate nearly
every aspect of American life and claim the lives of over half a
million people. As it tore through our communities, it also brought
into stark focus hard truths about inequities in our healthcare system,
the reliability of our PPE pipeline, the need for better information
sharing between the Federal Government and State, local, and private-
sector partners.
The legislation before us seeks to promote timely sharing of
intelligence about chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear
threats, or CBRN threats. It does so by specifically directing the
Department of Homeland Security to analyze CBRN-related terrorist
threats and share threat information with Federal, State, and local
partners.
In the event of an attack of this nature, situational awareness at
all levels of government is key. Better situational awareness is also
important to help New York City and other DHS grant recipients more
efficiently target their grant dollars to address threats.
Earlier versions of this bill overwhelmingly passed in the House in
the last three Congresses, and I urge my colleagues to support the
measure once again.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GARBARINO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise today in support of H.R. 397, the CBRN Intelligence and
Information Sharing Act of 2021.
We all know that terrorist groups have long sought to develop the
capability to attack our Nation with chemical, biological,
radiological, and nuclear materials. H.R. 397 would address this threat
by requiring the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, within the
Department of Homeland Security, to support the homeland security-
focused analysis of terrorist capabilities related to chemical,
biological, radiological, and nuclear materials, as well as threats to
the homeland from global infectious diseases.
To improve coordination with local law enforcement, H.R. 397 requires
the Office of Intelligence and Analysis to share threat information not
only with Federal entities but also State, local, Tribal, and
territorial agencies.
I commend my colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Gimenez), for
introducing this important legislation.
Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support this bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, effective prevention and
response to terrorism and naturally occurring threats start with
information-sharing.
At a time when threats are changing at such a rapid pace, H.R. 397
will help to facilitate information-sharing to better safeguard the
homeland from bad actors.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 397, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Torres) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 397, 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.
Mr. BIGGS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
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