[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.

                          ____________________