[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 40 (Monday, March 7, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H1307-H1308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HOMELAND SECURITY CAPABILITIES PRESERVATION ACT
Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5615) to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit
a plan to make Federal assistance available to certain urban areas that
previously received Urban Area Security Initiative funding to preserve
homeland security capabilities, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5615
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
Capabilities Preservation Act''.
SEC. 2. PRESERVATION OF HOMELAND SECURITY CAPABILITIES.
(a) Plan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland
Security, acting through the Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, 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 plan, informed by the survey information
collected pursuant to subsection (b), to make Federal
assistance available for at least three consecutive fiscal
years to certain urban areas that in the current fiscal year
did not receive grant funding under the Urban Area Security
Initiative under section 2003 of the Homeland Security Act of
2002 (6 U.S.C. 604) and require continued Federal assistance
for the purpose of preserving a homeland security capability
related to preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and
responding to acts of terrorism that had been developed or
otherwise supported through prior grant funding under such
Initiative and allow for such urban areas to transition to
such urban areas costs of preserving such homeland security
capabilities.
[[Page H1308]]
(2) Additional requirement.--The plan required under
paragraph (1) shall also contain a prohibition on an urban
area that in a fiscal year is eligible to receive Federal
assistance described in such paragraph from also receiving
grant funding under the Urban Area Security Initiative under
section 2003 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002. In such a
case, such plan shall require such an urban area to promptly
notify the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency regarding the preference of such urban area to retain
either--
(A) such eligibility for such Federal assistance; or
(B) such receipt of such grant funding.
(b) Survey.--In developing the plan required under
subsection (a), the Administrator of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, shall, to ascertain the scope of Federal
assistance required, survey urban areas that--
(1) did not receive grant funding under the Urban Area
Security Initiative under section 2003 of the Homeland
Security Act of 2002 in the current fiscal year concerning
homeland security capabilities related to preventing,
preparing for, protecting against, and responding to acts of
terrorism that had been developed or otherwise supported
through funding under such Initiative that are at risk of
being reduced or eliminated without such Federal assistance;
(2) received such funding in the current fiscal year, but
did not receive such funding in at least one fiscal year in
the six fiscal years immediately preceding the current fiscal
year; and
(3) any other urban areas the Secretary determines
appropriate.
(c) Exemption.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may
exempt the Federal Emergency Management Agency from the
requirements of subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44,
United States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Paperwork
Reduction Act''), for purposes of carrying out subsection (b)
if the Secretary determines that complying with such
requirements would delay the development of the plan required
under subsection (a).
(d) Contents.--The plan required under subsection (a)
shall--
(1) establish eligibility criteria for urban areas to
receive Federal assistance pursuant to such plan to provide
assistance for the purpose described in such subsection;
(2) identify annual funding levels for such Federal
assistance in accordance with the survey required under
subsection (b); and
(3) consider a range of approaches to make such Federal
assistance available to such urban areas, including--
(A) modifications to the Urban Area Security Initiative
under section 2003 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 in a
manner that would not affect the availability of funding to
urban areas under such Initiative;
(B) the establishment of a competitive grant program;
(C) the establishment of a formula grant program; and
(D) a timeline for the implementation of any such approach
and, if necessary, a legislative proposal to authorize any
such approach.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Florida (Mrs. Demings) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Katko) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.
General Leave
Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which 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 Florida?
There was no objection.
Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 5615, the
Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Act.
In the wake of September 11, there was a recognition that cities
across the Nation could be targeted for terrorism and that they did not
have the resources to develop core capabilities to prevent, protect
against, and respond to terrorist attacks and other catastrophic events
on their own.
Starting in 2003, cities across the Nation began receiving dedicated
counterterrorism grant funding from the Department of Homeland
Security's Urban Area Security Initiative grant program.
The UASI program, as it has come to be known, provides first
responders with the tools, resources, and training they need to safely
and effectively protect their communities.
At its height, the UASI program funded approximately 60 cities.
In recent years, however, the number of cities receiving funding from
the program has been reduced to, on average, 30 each year.
While support to cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago has
remained constant, year-to-year fluctuations in grant funding levels
and changes in DHS' risk formula have resulted in some cities losing
funding unexpectedly.
As a result, cities like Orlando, Las Vegas, and Omaha face
uncertainty year after year about whether they will receive UASI
funding or will be forced to try and maintain core homeland security
capabilities on their own.
The sudden loss of Federal support places great strain on cities that
often lack the resources to cover such unexpected costs.
My bill, the Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Act, which
is cosponsored by my friend from Nebraska (Mr. Bacon) recognizes the
importance of preserving capabilities achieved with Federal grant
dollars, particularly given how dynamic the terrorism threat landscape
is today.
It directs DHS to develop a plan for how to support the transition of
costs associated with maintaining homeland security core capabilities
achieved through UASI investments.
Specifically, my bill would direct DHS, acting through FEMA, to
survey current and former UASI cities regarding their capabilities that
were achieved through UASI grant funding that are at risk of being
reduced or eliminated without Federal assistance.
Additionally, the bill would require DHS, if needed, to submit a plan
on how to make Federal assistance available to former UASI
jurisdictions to take on the costs of preserving UASI-funded homeland
security capabilities, including legislation.
This plan is the first step to ensure that all cities have the
capabilities they need to secure themselves from terrorist threats.
Madam Speaker, I urge my House 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. 5615, the Homeland
Security Capabilities Preservation Act.
The DHS Urban Area Security Initiative provides critical funding to
high-risk urban areas. Since UASI funding is risk-based, there are
urban areas that develop and support certain counterterrorism
capabilities using the grant funding but don't remain on the high-risk
list and therefore don't consistently receive funding every year.
This legislation simply directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to
submit to Congress a plan to make Federal assistance available for at
least 3 consecutive fiscal years to certain urban areas that did not
receive funding under UASI.
This plan will inform Congress about the needs and concerns of
certain urban areas that may not consistently receive such funding.
I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 5615, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, I am
prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 5615 is the first step in ensuring that cities
that fall on and off the UASI list will have the opportunity to
preserve their capabilities that were built out with the funding
provided by the program.
Enacting H.R. 5615 is timelier now more than ever, particularly given
how dynamic the terrorist threat landscape is today.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5615, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Demings) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5615.
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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