[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3681-H3683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STRENGTHENING LOCAL TRANSPORTATION SECURITY CAPABILITIES ACT OF 2021
Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1870) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to
prioritize strengthening of local transportation security capabilities
by assigning certain officers and intelligence analysts to State,
local, and regional fusion centers in jurisdictions with a high-risk
surface transportation asset and improving the timely sharing of
information regarding threats of terrorism and other threats, including
targeted violence, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1870
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 ``Strengthening Local
Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Domestic terrorism.--The term ``domestic terrorism''
has the meaning given such term in section 2331 of title 18,
United States Code.
(2) International terrorism.--The term ``international
terrorism'' has the meaning given such term in section 2331
of title 18, United States Code.
(3) Public and private sector stakeholders.--The term
``public and private sector stakeholders'' has the meaning
given such term in section 114(u)(1)(c) of title 49, United
States Code.
(4) Surface transportation asset.--The term ``surface
transportation asset'' includes facilities, equipment, or
systems used to provide transportation services by--
(A) a public transportation agency (as such term is defined
in section 1402(5) of the Implementing Recommendations of the
9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C.
1131(5)));
(B) a railroad carrier (as such term is defined in section
20102(3) of title 49, United States Code);
(C) an owner or operator of--
(I) an entity offering scheduled, fixed-route
transportation services by over-the-road bus (as such term is
defined in section 1501(4) of the Implementing
Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Public
Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C. 1151(4))); or
[[Page H3682]]
(ii) a bus terminal; or
(D) other transportation facilities, equipment, or systems,
as determined by the Secretary.
(5) Targeted violence.--The term ``targeted violence''
means an incident of violence in which an attacker selected a
particular target in order to inflict mass injury or death
with no discernable political or ideological motivation
beyond mass injury or death.
(6) Terrorism.--The term ``terrorism'' means domestic
terrorism and international terrorism.
SEC. 3. THREAT INFORMATION SHARING.
(a) Prioritization.--The Secretary of Homeland Security
shall prioritize the assignment of officers and intelligence
analysts under section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of
2002 (6 U.S.C. 124h) from the Transportation Security
Administration and, as appropriate, from the Office of
Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland
Security, to locations with participating State, local, and
regional fusion centers in jurisdictions with a high-risk
surface transportation asset in order to enhance the security
of such assets, including by improving timely sharing, in a
manner consistent with the protection of privacy rights,
civil rights, and civil liberties, of information regarding
threats of terrorism and other threats, including targeted
violence.
(b) Intelligence Products.--Officers and intelligence
analysts assigned to locations with participating State,
local, and regional fusion centers under this section shall
participate in the generation and dissemination of
transportation security intelligence products, with an
emphasis on such products that relate to threats of terrorism
and other threats, including targeted violence, to surface
transportation assets that--
(1) assist State, local, and Tribal law enforcement
agencies in deploying their resources, including personnel,
most efficiently to help detect, prevent, investigate,
apprehend, and respond to such threats;
(2) promote more consistent and timely sharing with and
among jurisdictions of threat information; and
(3) enhance the Department of Homeland Security's
situational awareness of such threats.
(c) Clearances.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
make available to appropriate owners and operators of surface
transportation assets, and to any other person that the
Secretary determines appropriate to foster greater sharing of
classified information relating to threats of terrorism and
other threats, including targeted violence, to surface
transportation assets, the process of application for
security clearances under Executive Order No. 13549 (75 Fed.
Reg. 162; relating to a classified national security
information program) or any successor Executive order.
(d) GAO Report.--Not later than two years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
United States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland
Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a
review of the implementation of this section, together with
any recommendations to improve information sharing with
State, local, Tribal, territorial, and private sector
entities to prevent, identify, and respond to threats of
terrorism and other threats, including targeted violence, to
surface transportation assets.
SEC. 4. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SECURITY TRAINING.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in
consultation with public and private sector stakeholders, may
in a manner consistent with the protection of privacy rights,
civil rights, and civil liberties, develop, through the
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, a training program
to enhance the protection, preparedness, and response
capabilities of law enforcement agencies with respect to
threats of terrorism and other threats, including targeted
violence, at a surface transportation asset.
(b) Requirements.--If the Secretary of Homeland Security
develops the training program described in subsection (a),
such training program shall--
(1) be informed by current information regarding tactics
used by terrorists and others engaging in targeted violence;
(2) include tactical instruction tailored to the diverse
nature of the surface transportation asset operational
environment; and
(3) prioritize training officers from law enforcement
agencies that are eligible for or receive grants under
sections 2003 or 2004 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6
U.S.C. 604 and 605) and officers employed by railroad
carriers that operate passenger service, including interstate
passenger service.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Barragan) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Katko)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
General Leave
Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from California?
There was no objection.
Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1870, the
Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2021.
This legislation I introduced seeks to improve information sharing
between the Department of Homeland Security and State and local law
enforcement in areas with high-risk surface transportation assets.
This bill will enhance security in two key ways.
First, it requires DHS to prioritize the assignment of officers and
intelligence analysts to State, local, and regional fusion centers in
jurisdictions with a high-risk surface transportation asset. To
mitigate threats to our critical surface transportation assets, we must
ensure that intelligence regarding threats to surface transportation
are shared with appropriate stakeholders in a timely manner. This
important provision meets that mission, improving the chances of
preventing the next attack.
Second, the bill authorizes DHS to develop a training program to
enhance the protection, preparedness, and response capabilities of law
enforcement agencies that operate at surface transportation assets.
Surface transportation systems are unique in their layouts and use, and
this training would improve law enforcement capabilities in these
settings in a manner that protects civil rights and liberties.
Considering the increase in terrorist attacks in recent years against
mass transit systems, bus stations, and passenger rail systems, it is
crucial that timely information be shared with local law enforcement
and security personnel at transit centers. These surface transportation
systems are critical to our way of life, and an attack against one
could be devastating.
Enactment of H.R. 1870 would be a significant step toward ensuring we
are prepared to mitigate such risk by supplying DHS and State and local
law enforcement with the resources they need to meet this homeland
security challenge.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1870, the
Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2021.
It is simply not enough for our Federal Government to be prepared for
an attempted terrorist attack. We must ensure that our State and local
partners are prepared as well.
Nowhere else is this more apparent than in the case of surface
transportation. This legislation ensures that the Federal Government is
providing sufficient information, intelligence, and training to State
and local partners to better defend surface transportation assets.
Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 1870,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am
prepared to close after the gentleman from New York closes.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge Members
to support this bill, and I congratulate my colleague on it.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 1870 is a timely measure, as attackers remain
intent on targeting surface transportation systems at this time of
heightened threat.
Enacting H.R. 1870 will improve information sharing among DHS and
State and local law enforcement agencies, increasing our ability to
stop or significantly decrease the harm caused by such attacks.
Madam Speaker, for this reason, I urge my colleagues to support H.R.
1870, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from California (Ms.
[[Page H3683]]
Barragan) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R.
1870, 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.
____________________