[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 44 (Monday, March 10, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H1051-H1052]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RESEARCH SECURITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN DHS ACT
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 901) to require the Under Secretary of the Science
and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security to
develop a Department-wide policy and process to safeguard research and
development from unauthorized access to or disclosure of sensitive
information in research and development acquisitions, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 901
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 ``Research Security and
Accountability in DHS Act''.
SEC. 2. SAFEGUARDING SENSITIVE RESEARCH IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY.
(a) In General.--Section 302 of the Homeland Security Act
of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 182) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (13), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (14), by striking the period and inserting
``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(15) developing, in coordination with appropriate agency
officials, a Department-wide policy and process to safeguard
research and development from unauthorized access to or
disclosure of sensitive information in research and
development acquisitions.''.
(b) GAO Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
United States 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 how the Department of Homeland Security has
complied with National Security Presidential Memorandum-33
(NSPM-33) and adopted the National Science and Technology
Council's 2022 implementation guidance.
(2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1)
shall address the following:
(A) How the Department of Homeland Security has complied
with disclosure requirements outlined in NSPM-33, and how
violations are reported to the relevant executive agencies,
including in the intelligence community (as such term is
defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947
(50 U.S.C. 3003(4)).
(B) Coordination and compliance with guidelines established
by the National Science Foundation, the National Science
Technology Council, the Office of Science and Technology
Policy, and other executive agencies regarding Federal
research security.
(C) The role of the Science and Technology Directorate of
the Department regarding establishing a research security
framework for research and development projects across the
Department.
(c) Congressional Briefing.--Not later than 90 days 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 a
briefing addressing the development of policies and processes
to safeguard Department of Homeland Security research and
development in accordance with paragraph (15) of section 302
of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 182), as added
by subsection (a).
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 H.R. 901.
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 today in support of H.R. 901, the Research Security and
Accountability in DHS Act. The Science and Technology Directorate is
the principal of research and development for DHS. In 2022, the DHS
Office of Inspector General found that S&T failed to safeguard
sensitive information in research and development projects.
This bill requires S&T to develop a proper standard for safeguarding
sensitive information which has become especially critical given the
heightened activity of our adversaries. This bill carried by former
Representative Anthony D'Esposito passed the House last Congress, and I
thank the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Strong) for his attention to this
issue this Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 901, the Research Security and
Accountability in DHS Act. This bill seeks to enhance security measures
by directing the Department of Homeland Security's Science and
Technology Directorate to establish a comprehensive policy and process
to protect research and development activities from unauthorized access
or disclosure of sensitive information.
Additionally, this bill would task the Government Accountability
Office to assess DHS' adherence to the National Science and Technology
Council's 2022 implementation guidance and a 2021 National Security
Presidential Memorandum focused on safeguarding U.S. research from
foreign interference.
This bill also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide
Congress with a briefing on its implementation.
Time and time again, we have seen bad actors attempt to exploit our
sensitive information. This measure strengthens DHS' ability to prevent
such threats and protects our national security.
This bill is a critical step in ensuring DHS upholds strong policies
and procedures to secure research and development efforts.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R.
901, 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 Alabama (Mr. Strong).
Mr. STRONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 901,
the Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act.
I understand how important new technologies are in saving lives and
protecting the American homeland as threats and challenges evolve.
Whether the Department of Homeland Security is working to prevent a
terrorist act, inhibiting drug traffic at the southwest border, or
responding to a life-threatening natural disaster, DHS relies heavily
on research and development projects to enhance its operational
effectiveness.
The critical role that R&D projects and new technologies play in
helping protect our homeland cannot be understated. It is no secret
that Federal R&D projects are a target for foreign theft, espionage,
and influence.
It is our responsibility to safeguard them from malicious actors and
prevent the unauthorized access to, or disclosure of, sensitive
information.
This is why I reintroduced H.R. 901, the Research Security and
Accountability in DHS Act. This legislation requires the Science and
Technology Directorate to develop a process that safeguards sensitive
information in R&D projects across all components of the Department.
Both the Trump and Biden administrations have made Federal research
[[Page H1052]]
security a priority by issuing executive orders and Federal research
security guidance for government agencies like DHS to follow.
Despite this, S&T has not demonstrated how it will protect its $461
million worth of R&D projects from unauthorized access.
Every taxpayer dollar spent on R&D to improve our national security
should be safeguarded from foreign and domestic bad actors who seek to
do us harm.
This is why H.R. 901 also requires GAO to submit a report on how DHS
has complied with existing Federal guidance to safeguard these R&D
projects.
I thank Chairman Green and all the members who have supported this
legislation.
By passing this commonsense bill and protecting sensitive R&D
projects throughout the Department, we will improve the effectiveness
of DHS' mission, the safety of our Nation's law enforcers, and,
ultimately, our national security.
I urge all Members to join me in supporting this vital piece of
legislation to better safeguard DHS and the American people.
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, the passage of this legislation is a key step in
protecting DHS' research and development capabilities from bad actors.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 901, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
I again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 901, 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. 901.
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, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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