[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 5, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H791-H792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    DHS BIODETECTION IMPROVEMENT ACT

  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 6174) to improve the biodetection functions of the 
Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6174

       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 Biodetection Improvement 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. DHS UTILIZATION OF DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL 
                   LABORATORIES AND SITES FOR CERTAIN BIODETECTION 
                   RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT RELATING TO THE 
                   MISSIONS OF THE DHS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     conduct an assessment of how the Department of Homeland 
     Security has utilized Department of Energy national 
     laboratories and sites regarding research and development in 
     carrying out the missions of the Department of Homeland 
     Security, in accordance with section 309 of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 189).
       (b) Strategy on Biodetection Research and Development.--Not 
     later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security 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 the assessment required 
     under subsection (a), together with a strategy for how the 
     Department of Homeland Security will conduct research and 
     development in coordination with Department of Energy 
     national laboratories and sites to address biodetection 
     research and development of the Department of Homeland 
     Security, including the following:
       (1) Identifying biodetection technologies that can, either 
     individually or together, meet the biodetection mission needs 
     as outlined in Department of Homeland Security capabilities 
     analysis and requirements documents and informed by studies 
     produced by the Comptroller General of the United States, 
     such as the National Re-Assessment of the BioWatch Collector 
     Network to Increase the Fraction of Population Covered, as 
     developed by the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction 
     Office of the Department in November 2021, and other such 
     future studies as applicable.
       (2) Developing an acquisition and procurement plan to 
     acquire and provide, in accordance with Federal law, the 
     Federal Acquisition Regulation, and Department of Homeland 
     Security acquisition and procurement management directives, 
     the biodetection technologies referred to in paragraph (1) to 
     existing BioWatch jurisdictions.
       (3) Conducting periodic external evaluations to identify 
     gaps and potential failure points with respect to such 
     biodetection technologies, and recommending contingency plans 
     in the event such biodetection technologies do not perform as 
     expected or intended.
       (4) Assisting, as appropriate and in partnership with 
     Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments, institutions 
     of higher education (as such term is defined in section 101 
     of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), and 
     the private sector, with the development of clearly defined 
     program and technical requirements for future Department of 
     Homeland Security environmental biodetection programs, 
     including any related transformational program of research 
     and development.
       (c) Reports to Congress.--Not later than one year after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security shall provide to the Committee on Homeland Security 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate an update of 
     the assessment and strategy required under this section, 
     including any challenges to implementing such strategy.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Green) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Carter) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6174.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6174. The Department of 
Homeland Security established the BioWatch program to collect and test 
air samples for biological agents likely to be used in a bioterrorism 
attack. However, there have been ample criticisms and questions about 
the effectiveness of the BioWatch program.
  As such, in 2019, DHS launched a new acquisition program to move into 
the next generation of detection of biothreats and to replace the 
BioWatch program with new and more reliable technology.
  However, DHS has not used all the resources at its disposal, 
including the national laboratories housed within the Department of 
Energy.
  H.R. 6174, the DHS Biodetection Improvement Act, would ensure that 
DHS is doing everything it can to improve biodetection research and 
development, including requiring DHS to explain how it plans to utilize 
the expertise of the Department of Energy national labs.
  I thank Congressman Strong for his work on this bill, and I hope all 
Members will support this legislation today.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6174, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6174, the DHS 
Biodetection Improvement Act. This bill seeks to enhance biodetection 
capabilities at the Department of Homeland Security by leveraging 
resources at the Department of Energy's national laboratories.
  Currently, DHS' Office of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, or 
CWMD, leads DHS' biodetection work. The premier biodetection program is 
BioWatch, which is outdated, expensive, and labor-intensive. CWMD's 
more recent efforts to advance biodetection technologies have been 
delayed because of this.
  H.R. 6174 would move DHS' biodetection programs forward by requiring 
the Department to complete an assessment of how it is utilizing the 
Department of Energy's national laboratories for biodetection. The bill 
would require DHS to create the defined program and technical 
requirements necessary to advance biodetection programs, including 
critical research and development.
  Further, the bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to 
provide Congress with a strategy for conducting regular external 
evaluations to identify capability gaps and recommend contingency plans 
if biodetection technologies underperform.
  As foreign and domestic security threats evolve, Congress' support 
for advancements in biodetection programs is key.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Strong), the sponsor of this bill.
  Mr. STRONG. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Green for his support, as 
well as that of my colleagues who join me in introducing this 
legislation, H.R. 6174, the DHS Biodetection Improvement Act.
  Threats from America's enemies have continued to evolve and become 
more complex. The anthrax attack of 2001 opened our eyes to a new 
threat landscape that includes acts of bioterrorism. In the wake of the 
2001 attacks, the Department of Homeland Security established the 
BioWatch program, which monitors, collects, and tests air samples for 
biological agents likely to be used in a terrorist attack.
  This technology is vital in protecting Americans against bioweapons, 
and we must have full confidence that it will deliver timely, accurate, 
and comprehensive information to our partners that operate this system.
  As a first responder myself, I know the difference that early 
detection makes. This becomes more vital when responding to an act of 
bioterrorism, which could have catastrophic consequences.
  We have worked across all levels of government to improve prevention, 
detection, and response capabilities, but there remains work to be 
done.

[[Page H792]]

  DHS has faced continuous challenges in developing and acquiring new 
technologies to move toward the next generation of national 
biodetection. This legislation would ensure that DHS is fully 
leveraging every tool and resource to accomplish this goal, to include 
utilizing the Department of Energy's national labs to develop new 
technologies related to biodefense, developing a plan to acquire 
existing technologies that can meet the Department's biodetection 
mission needs, conducting external evaluations to identify gaps and 
potential failure points, and reporting to Congress a defined plan for 
the future of biodetection.

  As our adversaries watch on, we cannot afford to fall behind. 
America's security depends on it.
  I was proud to introduce this legislation, the DHS Biodetection 
Improvement Act, to ensure DHS is prepared to protect Americans against 
bioweapons.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. Speaker, while DHS has worked to improve its biodetection 
capabilities, many challenges remain, and the current technologies are 
aging.
  H.R. 6174 pairs DHS and the Department of Energy's national 
laboratories, which would improve biodetection innovation and, 
ultimately, keep our communities safe from biological threats.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this 
critical bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6174, and I 
appreciate and thank Mr. Strong for his hard work on this bill. I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Green) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 6174.
  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. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the 
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a 
quorum is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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