[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 6, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REPORTING EFFICIENTLY TO PROPER OFFICIALS IN RESPONSE TO TERRORISM ACT 
                                OF 2021

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 5, 2022

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1540, 
the Reporting Efficiently to Proper Officials in Response to Terrorism 
Act of 2021 or the REPORT Act.
  The purpose of this bill is to provide reports to Congress that are 
jointly developed by relevant federal agencies regarding incidents of 
terrorism.
  This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security, in 
coordination with the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, whenever an incident of terrorism occurs in the United 
States, to submit to Congress an unclassified report upon completion of 
the investigation by the primary U.S. government agency conducting the 
investigation concerning the incident.
  The report should contain:
  1. A statement of the facts of the incident that are known at the 
time of the report.
  2. Any recommendations for changes in practices or law, consistent 
with the Constitution, with particular attention to changes that could 
help prevent future incidents of terrorism.
  The bipartisan bill requires the Department of Homeland Security, the 
Justice Department, the FBI, and/or the National Counterterrorism 
Center to work together to submit a report to Congress after a foreign 
or domestic terrorist attack, which must include an explanation of what 
happened, any gaps in national security, and recommendations for 
additional measures to improve homeland security and prevent future 
terrorist attacks.
  After a terrorist attack, federal agencies will be required to report 
to Congress with information about exactly what happened and 
recommendations to prevent future attacks.
  The first priority of government should be making sure that all 
Americans are safe, secure, and free.
  The 9/11 attack on American soil on September 11, 2001 took the lives 
of nearly 3,000 innocent civilians and since that day, the role of 
virtually every federal, state, and local law enforcement agency 
changed.
  The 9/11 attack remains a tragedy that defines our nation's history. 
But the final chapter will be written by those who are charged with 
keeping our nation and people safe while preserving the way of life 
that terrorists sought to change.
  On January 6, 2021, during a joint session of Congress, a mob 
breached the U.S. Capitol, illegally entering the complex, violent 
participants, incited by the former President's rhetoric, injured 
scores of D.C. Police and U.S. Capitol Police officers--killing one, 
while four civilians also died.
  The escalation in violent domestic attacks since the January 6 attack 
has been felt by our nation's law enforcement officers, as well as 
others which is evidenced by the rise in murder and assaults across the 
nation.
  Today, we find ourselves in a nation where the terrorism landscape is 
more complex, it is imperative that we recognize and communicate the 
evolving and unorthodox nature of the terrorism threats we face today.
  This bill is the most effective way for us to protect our country 
through solid reporting and communicating.
  To prevent terrorist attacks and ensure efficiency and effectiveness 
in responding to an attack, agencies need to coordinate with each other 
to determine what went wrong so that we can strengthen our 
counterterrorism efforts moving forward.
  Congress must have all available information to make the most 
informed policy decisions following a terrorist attack.
  The REPORT Act ensures that members of Congress will receive the full 
accounting of the facts, so that they can hold federal agencies 
accountable.
  Information sharing with both Congress and the American people, is a 
vital element of preventing, and responding to, terrorism.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in voting for H.R. 1540 because our 
mission has been and will continue to be focused on preventing and 
preparing for all issues surrounding terrorism.
  We owe a debt to those who have lost their lives and we must do all 
that we can to prevent another attack on United States soil.

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