[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H6565-H6566]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DHS SPECIAL EVENTS PROGRAM AND SUPPORT ACT
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 6229) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to
authorize a program to assess the threat, vulnerability, and
consequences of terrorism or other security threats, as appropriate, to
certain events, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6229
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 Special Events Program
and Support Act''.
SEC. 2. DHS SPECIAL EVENTS PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Subtitle H of title VIII of the Homeland
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 451 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 890E. SPECIAL EVENTS PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--There is authorized within the
Department a program to assess the threat, vulnerability, and
consequences of terrorism or other security threats, as
appropriate, at certain special events in accordance with
subsection (b).
``(b) Requirements.--The program authorized under
subsection (a) shall--
``(1) apply to special events that are pre-planned and not
designated as National Special Security Events by the
Secretary;
``(2) include a standard process for Federal, State, local,
Tribal, and territorial officials to voluntarily submit to
the Secretary requests for a special event rating that could
result in direct support for security and situational
awareness for such special event;
``(3) maintain a risk-based methodology to assess ratings
requests, including requests submitted pursuant to paragraph
(2), that considers the anticipated attendance by United
States officials or foreign dignitaries, the size and venue
of the special event, credible threats of terrorism or other
security threats, and other homeland security information, as
appropriate; and
``(4) include a process for expedited consideration and,
where appropriate, a process for the reassessment, of a
special event rating.
``(c) Support to Special Events.--For purposes of
protecting a special event described in subsection (b), the
Secretary may provide security and situational awareness
support to a Federal, State, local, Tribal, or territorial
official at the request of an appropriate Federal, State,
local, Tribal, or territorial official.
``(d) Annual Reports.--Not later than one year after the
date of the enactment of this section and annually
thereafter, the Secretary 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 a report on the program authorized under
subsection (a). Each such report shall include information
relating to the following:
``(1) The total number of special events submitted to the
program authorized under subsection (a) in the prior year,
including the number of special events at each rating level.
``(2) The total number of events in the prior year for
which the Secretary designated a Federal coordinator or
coordinated security and situational awareness support,
including a summary of Federal support provided.
``(3) The total number of requests for special event rating
reassessment under subsection (b)(4), including the
following:
``(A) The identification of the requesting entity.
``(B) The special event name, date, and location.
``(C) The initial and final rating determination.
``(D) The justification for such final rating
determination.
``(e) Periodic Assessments.--Not later than one year after
the date of the enactment of this section and every five
years thereafter, the Secretary 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 an assessment of the program authorized under
subsection (a).
``(f) Definition.--In this section, the term `homeland
security information' has the meaning given such term in
section 892.''.
(b) Mass Gathering Research.--Not later than one year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Homeland Security, in coordination with the Undersecretary
for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland
Security and the official responsible for carrying out
section 890E of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added
by subsection (a), shall, to the extent practicable, carry
out research and development, including operational testing,
of technologies and techniques for enhancing the Department's
security and situational awareness support to Federal, State,
local, Tribal, and territorial officials relating to mass
gatherings consistent with applicable constitutional,
privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties protections.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section
1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by
inserting after the item relating to section 890D the
following new item:
``Sec. 890E. Special events program.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Green) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke)
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. 6229.
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. 6229, the DHS Special Events
Program and Support Act. I thank the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms.
Titus) for bringing this measure forward.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6229, the DHS Special Events
Program and Support Act, sponsored by the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms.
Titus).
H.R. 6229 is a bipartisan bill that would make our communities safer
during large public events and mass gatherings by ensuring that our
State,
[[Page H6566]]
local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement have access to tools,
resources, and help from the Department of Homeland Security.
We all know that the United States holds some of the world's greatest
events, from professional football games to Formula One races, rodeos,
State fairs, NASCAR, and so on. Every one of these events, big or
small, requires security planning and management by State, local,
Tribal, and territorial officials. Good planning and management are
what it takes to prevent threats at mass gatherings and public events
and, in the event of any danger, respond quickly and effectively.
H.R. 6229 is an opportunity for Congress to provide our communities
with planning and management resources by authorizing the Special Event
Assessment Rating program, known as the SEAR program, within DHS.
The SEAR program has had great success in every one of the States we
represent, helping us ensure safe and enjoyable experiences at home
events, big and small.
What SEAR does is measure the risk of a terrorist attack or other
hazards, as appropriate, on a special event. Events are submitted to
DHS by a State, local, Tribal, or territorial partner for an
assessment.
Under the bill, DHS may provide security coordination and protection
support for events with the most serious ratings.
Earlier this year in a hearing during National Police Week, former
Atlanta Chief of Police Rodney Bryant told the House Committee on
Homeland Security that the SEAR program and DHS resources helped him
ensure a safe experience for Americans attending the Super Bowl and
college football playoff championship.
Looking forward, our communities are going to need even more help
from DHS through the SEAR program. In addition to longstanding large-
scale public events like NFL games or New Year's celebrations in Times
Square, the United States has a robust and growing presence on the
Formula One racing circuit, and in just 2 years, we will be host to the
World Cup.
{time} 1515
DHS recently informed Congress that the World Cup matches across the
country in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles,
Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, and New Jersey
are SEAR rated and will need Federal help to secure their global soccer
matches.
Mr. Speaker, it is time we authorize this critical program and ensure
that these social, sporting, and other events can be enjoyed freely,
safely, and without fear.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms.
Titus), the author of the bill.
Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6229, the DHS
Special Events Program and Support Act.
Nevada's First District, that I am proud to represent, hosts hundreds
of high-profile events each year that require considerable security
measures to keep safe the southern Nevadans and the thousands of
visitors who attend these events.
While State and local law enforcement take the primary responsibility
in providing support for local events, many occasions, from the Super
Bowl to Formula One races, require additional Federal support to ensure
that security measures are hardened to prevent and protect against bad
actors intending to do harm.
Through October of this year, about 35 million visitors have come to
Las Vegas. This includes 5 million who came for conventions, 330,000
who attended the Super Bowl, and 300,000 who were there recently for
Formula One.
Major events like this don't just occur in my district. They occur
all around the country. Our country hosts some of the world's greatest
events, as you have heard. In communities across the United States,
special events routinely draw visitors from around the country and
around the world, necessitating large-scale security coordination and
assistance from the Federal Government.
Our next decade will be crucial for the United States as we host
several large-scale events that will draw millions of visitors. These
will require enhanced security coordination. They include the World
Cup, the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, Men's and Women's Rugby
World Cup, and the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, that in
addition will give our country the opportunity to show off to the rest
of the world that we are the unparalleled sports, entertainment, and
hospitality capital.
My bill, H.R. 6229, the DHS Special Events Program and Support Act,
will enable the Federal Government to support these local jurisdictions
in safely hosting these events.
The SEAR program within DHS helps to provide this supplemental
Federal support on an ad hoc basis, but it has never been authorized
into law. This legislation does just that and in turn fortifies the
existing program to better equip law enforcement authorities to
prevent, mitigate, and respond to threats to events that happen in all
our districts.
Importantly, it codifies the standardized SEAR process into law,
ensures DHS maintains its risk-based methodology for event review, and
allows expedited consideration or reconsideration of events that
receive an initial SEAR designation.
I thank Representative Richard Hudson of North Carolina for
partnering with me on this legislation to codify the SEAR program, as
well as Representatives Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Anthony
D'Esposito of New York, and Jared Moskowitz of Florida for cosponsoring
the bill. I thank the chairman and ranking member for bringing it to
the floor, and I urge all Members to vote in support of this bipartisan
measure.
Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time for closing.
Mr. Speaker, authorizing SEAR's great work will ensure that DHS may
continue providing risk assessments and support to certain preplanned
special events across the United States.
I thank Representatives Titus of Nevada and Hudson of North Carolina
for introducing this bill, which will strengthen Homeland Security and
protect our greatest community events from terrorism or other security
threats.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 6229,
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, I again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6229, 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, H.R. 6229.
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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