[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 146 (Thursday, September 19, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6318-S6319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DHS JOINT TASK FORCES REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2024
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar No. 493, S. 4698.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant executive clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 4698) to authorize the Joint Task Forces of the
Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,
which was reported from the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs with an amendment, as follows:
(The part of the bill intended to be stricken is in boldfaced
brackets and the part of the bill intended to be inserted is in
italic.)
S. 4698
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 Joint Task Forces
Reauthorization Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 708 OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY ACT
OF 2002.
(a) In General.--Section 708(b) of the Homeland Security
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 348(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (9)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(ii) in clause (iii)(II), by adding ``and'' at the end; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(iv) a staffing plan for each Joint Task Force;''; and
(B) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:
``(C) not later than December 23, 2024, and annually
thereafter, submit to the committees specified in
subparagraph (B) a report containing information regarding--
``(i) the progress in implementing the outcome-based and
other appropriate performance metrics established pursuant to
subparagraph (A)(iii);
``(ii) the staffing plan developed for each Joint Task
Force pursuant to subparagraph (A)(iv); and
``(iii) any modification to the mission, strategic goals,
and objectives of each Joint Task Force, and a description
of, and rationale for, any such modifications.''; and
(2) in paragraph (13), by striking ``2024'' and inserting
``[2029] 2026''.
(b) Annual Briefing.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall brief--
[[Page S6319]]
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of
the House of Representatives.
(2) Topics.--Each briefing required under paragraph (1)
shall cover the latest staffing and resource assessment at
Joint Task Force-East, including--
(A)(i) a determination of whether the current staffing
levels of Joint Task Force-East are sufficient to
successfully advance the mission, strategic goals, and
objectives of such Joint Task Force; and
(ii) if such determination reveals insufficient staffing
levels, the cost, timeline, and strategy for increasing such
staffing levels; and
(B)(i) a determination of whether sufficient resources are
being provided for Joint Task Force-East in accordance with
section 708(b)(7)(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6
U.S.C. 348(b)(7)(a)); and
(ii) if such determination reveals insufficient resource
levels, the cost, timeline, and strategy for providing any
remaining resource requirements.
(c) Report on Joint Task Force-East Headquarters.--Not
later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with
the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, the
Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the
Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the
Administrator of General Services, shall submit a report to
the congressional committees listed in subsection (b)(1) that
analyzes the cost and effectiveness of hosting the Joint Task
Force-East headquarters in Portsmouth, Virginia compared to
alternative headquarters locations.
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
committee-reported amendment be withdrawn; that the Peters substitute
amendment, which is at the desk, be considered and agreed to; that the
bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that
the motion to reconsider be considered and made and laid upon the
table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee-reported amendment was withdrawn.
The amendment (No. 3292), in the nature of a substitute, was agreed
to as follows:
(Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``DHS Joint Task Forces
Reauthorization Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 708 OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY ACT
OF 2002.
(a) In General.--Section 708(b) of the Homeland Security
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 348(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (9)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(ii) in clause (iii)(II), by adding ``and'' at the end; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(iv) a staffing plan for each Joint Task Force;''; and
(B) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:
``(C) not later than December 23, 2024, and annually
thereafter, submit to the committees specified in
subparagraph (B) a report containing information regarding--
``(i) the progress in implementing the outcome-based and
other appropriate performance metrics established pursuant to
subparagraph (A)(iii);
``(ii) the staffing plan developed for each Joint Task
Force pursuant to subparagraph (A)(iv); and
``(iii) any modification to the mission, strategic goals,
and objectives of each Joint Task Force, and a description
of, and rationale for, any such modifications.''; and
(2) in paragraph (13), by striking ``2024'' and inserting
``[2029] 2026''.
(b) Annual Briefing.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall brief--
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of
the House of Representatives.
(2) Topics.--Each briefing required under paragraph (1)
shall cover the latest staffing and resource assessment at
Joint Task Force-East, including--
(A)(i) a determination of whether the current staffing
levels of Joint Task Force-East are sufficient to
successfully advance the mission, strategic goals, and
objectives of such Joint Task Force; and
(ii) if such determination reveals insufficient staffing
levels, the cost, timeline, and strategy for increasing such
staffing levels; and
(B)(i) a determination of whether sufficient resources are
being provided for Joint Task Force-East in accordance with
section 708(b)(7)(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6
U.S.C. 348(b)(7)(a)); and
(ii) if such determination reveals insufficient resource
levels, the cost, timeline, and strategy for providing any
remaining resource requirements.
The bill (S. 4698), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.
____________________