[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 44 (Monday, March 10, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H1056-H1057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SECURING THE CITIES IMPROVEMENT ACT
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 1374) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to
make improvements to the Securing the Cities program, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1374
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 ``Securing the Cities
Improvement Act''.
SEC. 2. STC PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY, METRICS, AND CONGRESSIONAL
OVERSIGHT.
Section 1928 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C.
596b) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``high-risk urban
areas'' and inserting ``jurisdictions designated under
subsection (c)'';
(2) by amending paragraph (7) of subsection (b) to read as
follows:
``(7) establish performance metrics and milestones for the
STC program, monitor expenditures for the program, and track
the performance against program metrics and milestones;
and'';
(3) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``from among high-
risk urban areas under section 2003'' and inserting ``based
on the capability and capacity of the jurisdiction relating
to preparedness and response, as well as the relative threat
to such jurisdiction, vulnerability of such jurisdiction, and
consequences for such jurisdiction, regarding terrorist
attacks and other high-consequence events utilizing nuclear
or other radiological materials''; and
(4) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
``(d) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of
the enactment of this subsection, 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 regarding
participation in the STC program, the establishment of
metrics and milestones for the STC program, performance
against such metrics and milestones, and plans for any
changes to the STC program.''.
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. 1374.
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 today in support of H.R. 1374, the Securing the
Cities Improvement Act.
Since the inception of DHS' Securing the Cities program, uncertainty
about standards to qualify as a high-risk area and metrics necessary to
remain in the program once admitted have been unclear. This bill will
direct DHS to establish appropriate performance metrics and milestones.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Carter from Louisiana for his work on this
legislation, 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 here today to consider
Representative Carter's bill, H.R. 1374, the Securing the Cities
Improvement Act, or STC. This bill is essential for enhancing cities'
security against nuclear and radiological threats.
The STC program was created by the Department of Homeland Security in
2007. It began as a pilot program in high-risk cities to detect nuclear
and radiological threats. Since then, it has expanded to include
additional cities, offering equipment, training, technological support,
and program guidance.
The program supports major events by ensuring cities are prepared for
potential threats. However, its reliance on the annual Urban Area
Security Initiative, or UASI, designations creates uncertainty for
local governments, as the designated high-risk areas can change, and
they usually do.
This bill aims to improve the program's stability and strengthen
partnerships with at-risk cities by allowing the Countering Weapons of
Mass Destruction Office to select STC cities based on their
preparedness capabilities rather than UASI designations.
The bill, Mr. Speaker, also establishes performance metrics, enhances
oversight of expenditures, and requires DHS to report to Congress on
program participation and any further changes.
Mr. Speaker, I applaud Representative Carter's leadership on this
measure. I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 1374, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Carter), who is the author of this
legislation.
Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Correa
for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Securing the
Cities Improvement Act, a critical piece of legislation designed to
help us build and maintain our Nation's security capabilities.
Specifically, this bill provides participating cities with more
reliable guidance and support from the Department of Homeland
Security's Securing the Cities program, which seeks to reduce the risk
of terrorist attacks in high-risk urban areas, like my hometown of New
Orleans.
I want to specifically thank Ranking Member Bennie Thompson and
Congressman Clay Higgins for their support and for cosponsoring this
bill. I also thank Lou Correa for managing the bill today and Chairman
Green for his leadership, as well as the Homeland Security Committee
staff, especially Lauren McClain, who tirelessly led us through this
effort.
The need for this legislation has been tragically underscored by the
recent terrorist attacks in the city of New Orleans on New Year's Day,
which claimed 15 lives and left dozens of others injured.
In the early hours of New Year's Day, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen from
Texas drove a rented Ford F-150 pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon
Street in the French Quarter neighborhood during the city's New Year's
Eve celebration. After crashing, he exited the vehicle and engaged in a
shootout with law enforcement before being fatally shot by courageous
New Orleans police officers who rushed to the scene, putting themselves
in harm's way to protect our citizens, visitors, and guests.
Prior to the pickup truck's attack, the terrorist planted two
improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, concealed within coolers at
separate locations along crowded Bourbon Street. These rudimentary pipe
bombs were filled with shrapnel materials, such as nails, screws, and
tacks, and were designed for remote detonation using a wireless device
found in his vehicle. Luckily, he was not able to detonate these bombs
and cause any further carnage.
An ISIS flag was found in the truck, and the FBI confirmed that ISIS
had not coordinated with the attacker but, in fact, had inspired him.
This heinous and sick act of cowardice not only shattered the lives
of victims and their families but also exposed vulnerabilities in our
urban security infrastructure.
While the New Orleans attack did not involve radiological or nuclear
materials, it serves as a grim reminder of the evolving tactics of
terrorists and the potential for more catastrophic methods used. It
also underscores why continued security investments in New Orleans and
other highly targeted cities with programs like Securing the Cities are
so crucial.
The Department of Homeland Security launched the Securing the Cities
initiative in 2007 as a pilot program to assist the New York City metro
area in detecting and preventing nuclear or radiological threats. The
program has since expanded and currently provides 14 municipal
governments nationwide, including the city of New Orleans, with
detection equipment, training, exercise support, operational and
technological expertise, and programmatic assistance, which makes a
huge difference.
[[Page H1057]]
However, the program participation criteria has caused uncertainty
and inconsistencies for cities that rely on this support. Eligibility
for the program is currently restricted to high-risk urban areas as
determined by FEMA under the Urban Area Security Initiative program,
under which the composition of jurisdictions can vary from year to
year. This eligibility criteria led to some jurisdictions being funded
and supported by the Securing the Cities program in one year but not
the next. The inconsistency has caused great harm.
This bill clears up the eligibility criteria for the program so that
it can be a steady, reliable source of support for cities. It removes
the statutory requirement restricting participation in the program to
areas designated by FEMA. Instead, it requires Homeland Security's
Office of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction to decide which cities
to partner with for the program based on the jurisdiction's capability
and capacity to prepare and respond to terrorist attacks and other
high-consequence events.
This legislation also sets performance metrics and goals for the
Department of Homeland Security to report back to Congress.
Through these changes, the Securing the Cities Improvement Act offers
a more targeted and effective approach to national security
preparedness and response. It ensures that our cities that need support
are reliably equipped with advanced detection technologies and will
have the infrastructure and training to utilize them ready at hand.
Last Congress, this bill passed the House and the Senate's Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and I hope it will be
signed into law this Congress.
Passing this legislation is a proactive step toward safeguarding our
citizens from the unimaginable. By enhancing our detection and response
capabilities, we deter adversaries from contemplating radiological or
nuclear attacks and reassure the public that our commitment to their
safety is sound, real, and committed.
In memory of the lives lost in New Orleans and in recognition of
ever-present and evolving threats, I urge my colleagues to support the
Securing the Cities Improvement Act.
Let's honor the victims by taking decisive action to protect our
Nation from future atrocities and future acts of cowardice. We are
America. We stand firm in our protection.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R.
1374.
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I
am prepared to close after the gentleman from California closes.
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, let me start by thanking Mr. Carter for H.R. 1374. This
legislation will play a critical role in ensuring that our local
jurisdictions maintain the ability to detect and respond to chemical,
biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.
Without initiatives like this legislation, the STC, efforts to combat
these dangers could be significantly hindered or even discontinued,
putting the safety and security of our communities, taxpayers, and
citizens at risk.
Passage of this legislation is very essential to preserving our
national readiness and to strengthen security against emerging threats
and those who would do us harm.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 1374,
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. 1374, 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. 1374.
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.
____________________