[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 40 (Monday, March 7, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H1308-H1310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DHS BASIC TRAINING ACCREDITATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2021
Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
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bill (H.R. 5616) to require reporting regarding accreditation of basic
training programs of the Department of 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. 5616
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 ``DHS Basic Training
Accreditation Improvement Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. REPORTING ON BASIC TRAINING PROGRAMS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
(a) Annual Reporting.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall report to the relevant
congressional committees on the accreditation status for each
basic training program within the Department of Homeland
Security, including information relating to the following:
(A) The date on which each such program achieved initial
accreditation, or in the case of a program that is not
currently accredited, the reasons for not obtaining or
maintaining accreditation, the activities, if any, taken to
achieve accreditation, and an anticipated timeline for
accreditation of such program.
(B) The date each such program most recently received
accreditation or reaccreditation, if applicable.
(C) Each such program's anticipated accreditation or next
reaccreditation date.
(D) The name of the accreditation manager for each such
program.
(2) Termination of reporting requirement.--Annual reports
under paragraph (1) shall terminate when all basic training
programs of the Department of Homeland Security are
accredited.
(b) Lapse in Accreditation.--
(1) In general.--If a basic training program of the
Department of Homeland Security loses accreditation, the head
of the relevant component of the Department shall notify the
Secretary of Homeland Security not later than 30 days after
such loss.
(2) Notice to congress.--Not later than 30 days after
receiving a notification pursuant to paragraph (1), the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall notify the relevant
congressional committees of the lapse in accreditation at
issue, the reason for such lapse, and the activities underway
and planned to regain accreditation.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Accreditation.--The term ``accreditation'' means the
recognition by a board that a basic training program is
administered, developed, and delivered according to an
applicable set of standards.
(2) Accreditation manager.--The term ``accreditation
manager'' means the individual assigned by the component of
the Department of Homeland Security to manage accreditation
activities for a basic training program.
(3) Basic training program.--The term ``basic training
program'' means an entry level program of the Department of
Homeland Security that is transitional to law enforcement
service, provides training on critical competencies and
responsibilities, and is typically a requirement for
appointment to a law enforcement service job or job series.
(4) Reaccreditation.--The term ``reaccreditation'' means
the assessment of a basic training program after initial
accreditation to ensure the continued compliance with an
applicable set of standards.
(5) Relevant congressional committees.--The term ``relevant
congressional committees'' means the Committee on Homeland
Security and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs and the Committee of the Judiciary of
the Senate.
SEC. 3. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
The Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the
Department of Homeland Security shall carry out research and
development of systems and technologies to enhance access to
training offered by the Federal Law Enforcement Training
Centers to State, local, Tribal, and territorial law
enforcement, with particular attention to law enforcement in
rural and remote communities, for the purpose of enhancing
domestic preparedness for and collective response to
terrorism and other homeland security threats.
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, today, I rise to urge my colleagues to support H.R.
5616, the DHS Basic Training Accreditation Improvement Act of 2021.
Every year, DHS onboards thousands of new officers who all must
successfully complete basic law enforcement training programs.
As a former police chief with 27 years of law enforcement service, I
have seen how training saves lives.
Unfortunately, at DHS, several of the basic training programs
tailored to component officers are not accredited.
In some cases, programs have been unaccredited for several years.
Unaccredited programs include: the U.S. Border Patrol Academy, the
Customs and Border Protections' Field Operations Academy Officer Basic
Training program, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services'
Officer Basic Training program.
In 2019, the head of the Department's Federal Law Enforcement
Training Centers testified before the Homeland Security Committee that
accreditation is important because it ``assigns rigor to training
processes'' and ``results in the best product.''
H.R. 5616 seeks to improve the quality of the training provided to
all new DHS officers.
It does this by requiring the Department to report to Congress on the
accreditation status of each of its basic training programs.
For those programs that are not accredited, it requires DHS to
report: the reasons for not obtaining or maintaining accreditation; the
activities, if any, taken to achieve accreditation; and the anticipated
timeline for accreditation of the program.
Further, H.R. 5616 requires DHS to continue to report to Congress
annually until all DHS basic training programs are accredited.
H.R. 5616 also directs DHS to engage in research to help State,
local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement officers better access
the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center training opportunities,
including those that enhance national preparedness and response to
terrorism.
I introduced this bill in October to direct DHS to prioritize
improving its basic training programs to maintain a higher standard of
excellence for new officers and position them to effectively safeguard
the American people, our homeland, and institutions.
Madam Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on the Judiciary,
Washington, DC, February 7, 2022.
Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Thompson: This letter is to advise you that
the Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to
review the provisions in H.R. 5616, the ``DHS Basic Training
Accreditation Improvement Act of 2021,'' that fall within our
Rule X jurisdiction. I appreciate your consulting with us on
those provisions. The Judiciary Committee has no objection to
your including them in the bill for consideration on the
House floor, and to expedite that consideration is willing to
forgo action on H.R. 5616, with the understanding that we do
not thereby waive any future jurisdictional claim over those
provisions or their subject matters.
In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar
legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the
right to request an appropriate number of conferees to
address any concerns with these or similar provisions that
may arise in conference.
Please place this letter into the Congressional Record
during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank
you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked
regarding this matter and others between our committees.
Sincerely,
Jerrold Nadler,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Homeland Security,
Washington, DC, February 7, 2022.
Hon. Jerrold Nadler,
Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Nadler: Thank you for your letter regarding
H.R. 5616, the ``DHS Basic Training Accreditation Improvement
Act of 2021.'' I recognize that the Committee on the
Judiciary has a jurisdictional interest in H.R. 5616, 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 the Judiciary with
respect to
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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. 5616 in the Committee
report on this measure and 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, Committee on Homeland Security.
Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5616, the DHS Basic
Training Accreditation Improvement Act of 2021.
This legislation requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to
report to Congress on an annual basis on the accreditation status for
each basic training program within the Department. It also requires
congressional notification within 30 days of a lapse of accreditation
for any Department basic training program.
This legislation will help bring needed congressional oversight to
DHS basic training programs by ensuring that DHS is transparent about
any accreditation shortcomings and properly addresses them.
Madam Speaker, I urge members to join me in supporting H.R. 5616, and
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers, I am prepared
to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I urge Members to support this bill, I
think it is a good bill, and I commend my friend for bringing it to the
floor.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, our top priority, as Members of Congress, is
protecting the safety and security of the American people.
We have no room for error when it comes to keeping Americans safe.
H.R. 5616 prioritizes the quality of training DHS offers its newest
officers and ensures that State, local, and Tribal law enforcement
entities have better access to trainings that will make American
communities safer.
I thank my colleagues on the Homeland Security Committee for
unanimously supporting H.R. 5616.
Madam Speaker, I urge the rest of my colleagues to support H.R. 5616,
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. 5616, 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.
Mrs. GREENE of Georgia. 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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