[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H4394-H4395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   WEATHERIZING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE NORTH AND TERRORISM EMERGENCY 
                         READINESS ACT OF 2025

  Mr. GARBARINO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3106) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to 
conduct a collective response to a terrorism exercise that includes the 
management of cascading effects on critical infrastructure during times 
of extreme cold weather, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3106

       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 ``Weatherizing Infrastructure 
     in the North and Terrorism Emergency Readiness Act of 2025''.

     SEC. 2. EXERCISE ON TERRORIST ATTACK DURING EXTREME COLD.

       (a) In General.--In addition to, or as part of exercise 
     programs currently carried out by the Department of Homeland 
     Security, to enhance domestic preparedness for terrorism, 
     promote the dissemination of homeland security information, 
     and test the homeland security posture of the United States, 
     the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through 
     appropriate offices and components of the Department, shall 
     develop and conduct a collective response to terrorism 
     exercise that includes management of cascading effects on 
     critical infrastructure (as such term is defined in section 
     1016(e) of Public Law 107-56 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e))) in 
     accordance with the requirements relating to a scenario 
     specified in subsection (b).
       (b) Exercise Requirements.--The requirements relating to a 
     scenario specified in this subsection are the following:
       (1) An extreme cold weather event, such as an event caused 
     by a polar vortex, with respect to access to critical 
     services.
       (2) Any cascading effects on critical infrastructure.
       (3) How the effects of a successful terrorist attack 
     against critical infrastructure could be mitigated by 
     emergency managers, State officials, and appropriate private 
     sector and community stakeholders.
       (4) How the resilience of communities that could be 
     impacted by such an attack could be bolstered.
       (5) Coordination with appropriate Federal departments and 
     agencies, and State, local, Tribal, and territorial agencies.
       (6) Coordination with appropriate private sector and 
     community stakeholders.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the completion of 
     the exercise required under subsection (a), the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security shall, consistent with the protection of 
     classified information, 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 
     after-action report presenting the initial findings of such 
     exercise, any immediate and longer-term plans for 
     incorporating lessons learned into future operations of the 
     Department of Homeland Security, and any proposed legislative 
     changes informed by such exercise.


[[Page H4395]]


  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Garbarino) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Walkinshaw) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GARBARINO. 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. 3106.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GARBARINO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3106, the Weatherizing 
Infrastructure in the North and Terrorism Emergency Readiness Act of 
2025.
  This legislation requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting 
through appropriate offices and components of DHS to develop and 
conduct an exercise featuring the participation of Federal, State, 
local, Tribal, territorial agencies, and private-sector stakeholders 
focusing on a collective response to terrorism that includes the 
management of the cascading effects on critical infrastructure that 
results from the occurrence of a terrorist attack during an extreme 
cold weather event.
  DHS must then provide an after-action report to Congress consisting 
of initial findings, plans to incorporate any lessons learned into 
future DHS operations, and any proposed legislative changes informed by 
this exercise.
  This legislation will help strengthen the United States' ability to 
respond to terrorist threats, especially when they might coincide with 
extreme weather events.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WALKINSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Kennedy), the sponsor of this bill.
  Mr. KENNEDY of New York. I thank Representative Walkinshaw for 
yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 3106, the 
Weatherizing Infrastructure in the North and Terrorism Emergency 
Readiness Act, also known as the WINTER Act.
  As a nation, we must be prepared to prevent and respond to terrorist 
threats in every circumstance, including during the harshest winter 
weather. That is why I introduced the WINTER Act, to strengthen our 
Homeland Security posture during extreme cold weather conditions and 
ensure that the Department of Homeland Security is prepared to respond.
  My hometown of Buffalo, New York, is no stranger to cold weather 
events. In December of 2022, Winter Storm Elliott hit western New York 
with historic force. During the Christmas holiday, this powerful storm 
brought dangerous blizzard conditions, including 60-mile-per-hour 
winds, dangerous levels of lake-effect snowfall, and life-threatening 
subfreezing temperatures. Thousands lost power, phone lines went dark, 
and roads became impassable, bringing emergency operations and critical 
infrastructure in the city of Buffalo to a screeching halt.
  This catastrophic storm claimed 47 precious lives in our community. 
Families endured unimaginable hardship and heartbreak, and local 
governments have spent years responding to the disaster to help 
neighborhoods recover.
  Now, imagine the devastation if, amid a major winter storm of this 
caliber, our Nation was forced to respond to a terrorist attack. Severe 
winter conditions often strain emergency response capabilities, disrupt 
communications, and damage critical infrastructure, making an already 
dangerous situation even more dire.
  These challenges are precisely why terrorists may view extreme 
weather as an opportunity to exploit vulnerabilities and magnify the 
impact of an attack.
  My legislation directs the Department of Homeland Security to conduct 
a terrorist preparedness exercise focused on the effects of an attack 
on critical infrastructure during an extreme cold weather event.
  It also requires DHS report to Congress on successes and potential 
pitfalls of the preparedness analysis, ensuring that we understand 
where existing security gaps remain.
  The insights and expertise gained from this exercise will strengthen 
coordination among emergency managers, State officials, and community 
partners, helping to better anticipate and mitigate the consequences of 
such an attack.
  By identifying security gaps before a disaster strikes, we can 
enhance our resilience and be better prepared to withstand and respond 
to increasingly sophisticated acts of terrorism.
  We cannot control when the next severe winter storm will strike, and 
we cannot predict when terrorists will look to exploit our 
vulnerabilities. But we can ensure that our Homeland Security 
enterprise is prepared for both. That is exactly what this legislation 
will help us do.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman of the committee, 
Representative Garbarino, for his support. I especially thank 
Representative and Ranking Member Bennie Thompson for his partnership 
on this bill. I urge all of my colleagues to support this vital 
legislation.
  Mr. WALKINSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud Representative Kennedy's leadership on this 
bill, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3106.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GARBARINO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to 
close.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Kennedy and congratulate him on 
his hard work. Nobody knows how to remove snow quite like those Buffalo 
Bills fans, especially on game day.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3106, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Garbarino) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3106.
  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. GARBARINO. 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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