[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 148 (Monday, September 23, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5597-H5598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           DHS JOINT TASK FORCES REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2024

  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (S. 4698) to authorize the Joint Task Forces 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:

                                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 
     ``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 SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Green) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa) 
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 have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 4698.
  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.
  I rise in support of S. 4698, the DHS Joint Task Forces 
Reauthorization Act of 2024, which extends authorization for DHS' Joint 
Task Force authority until September 30, 2026.
  This critical authority allows DHS to use multiagency task forces to 
defend U.S. borders against terrorism and other emerging threats in a 
unity of effort campaign.

                              {time}  1700

  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins) for 
his leadership on the House companion to this legislation, H.R. 9460, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are considering the DHS Joint Task 
Force Reauthorization Act of 2024.
  Right now, DHS operates one joint task force in the southeastern U.S. 
and Caribbean called Joint Task Force East. Every day, Joint Task Force 
East combines the efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border 
Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and other agencies to 
share intelligence and counter bad actors who may bring negative 
elements to our Nation.
  This joint task force also works hand in hand with the Department of 
Defense and our international partners. We must ensure that they 
continue to detect and dismantle cartels across the world.
  Just this calendar year alone, coalition efforts under Joint Task 
Force East have resulted in the interdiction of hundreds of migrants, 
over 55,000 kilos of illicit cocaine valued at almost $2 billion, 
illegally harvested fish valued at over $900,000, over 350 illegal 
firearms, and over 26,000 rounds of ammunition.
  Again, that is nearly $2 billion worth of illegal narcotics that have 
been kept off our American streets and over 350 guns not going into the 
hands of cartels or gang members around the world.
  For the joint task force's work to continue, we need to reauthorize 
the joint task force authority. At the same time, Congress needs more 
information

[[Page H5598]]

on the resources the joint task force needs to be successful.
  This bill reauthorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security's ability 
to create and use joint task forces while also requiring DHS to set up 
a staffing plan and share that information with Congress.
  With this legislation, we can support the men and women working to 
protect the homeland and give them the resources that they need to do 
their job of keeping the American people safe.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins).
  Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 
4698, the DHS Joint Task Forces Reauthorization Act of 2024. I am proud 
to lead the House companion to this bill.
  This bipartisan and bicameral legislation will extend the Department 
of Homeland Security's joint task force authority for another 2 years.
  Extending this authority allows for a unified DHS law enforcement 
approach to target, dismantle, and disrupt transnational criminal 
organizations and their illegal activities. This coordination enables 
personnel from Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement, the U.S. Coast Guard, and others to continue integrating 
their existing authorities to work together to confront complex 
national security threats that impact our Nation's land, sea, and air 
borders, and to combat terrorism, unlawful immigration, maritime mass 
migration, and illicit smuggling.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 4698.
  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  In closing, I thank my colleagues Mr. Higgins from Louisiana and Mr. 
Suozzi from New York for leading this bill in this House, and my 
colleagues from both sides of the aisle on Homeland Security for their 
support. I would also like to thank Senator Peters for leading this 
bill in the Senate.
  During my own travels this year, I saw the great work that Joint Task 
Force East conducts on a day-to-day basis. This reauthorization makes 
sure that their good work continues.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 4698, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my 
time.
  Again, I urge my colleagues to support S. 4698, and 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, S. 4698.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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