[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 13423-13440]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HOMELAND SECURITY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2010

  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4842) to authorize appropriations for the Directorate of 
Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security for 
fiscal years 2011 and 2012, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4842

       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 ``Homeland Security Science 
     and Technology Authorization Act of 2010''.

     SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. References.

                TITLE I--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations.

                TITLE II--MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 201. Research prioritization and requirements; professional 
              development; milestones and feedback.
Sec. 202. Testing, evaluation, and standards.
Sec. 203. External review.
Sec. 204. Office of Public-Private Partnerships.

                           TITLE III--REPORTS

Sec. 301. Directorate of Science and Technology strategic plan.
Sec. 302. Report on technology requirements.
Sec. 303. Report on venture capital organization.

        TITLE IV--DIRECTORATE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS

Sec. 401. Limitations on research.
Sec. 402. University-based centers.
Sec. 403. Review of university-based centers.
Sec. 404. Cybersecurity research and development.
Sec. 405. National Research Council study of cybersecurity incentives.
Sec. 406. Research on cyber compromise of infrastructure.
Sec. 407. Dual-use terrorist risks from synthetic genomics.
Sec. 408. Underwater tunnel security demonstration project.
Sec. 409. Threats research and development.
Sec. 410. Maritime domain awareness and maritime security technology 
              test, evaluation, and transition capabilities.
Sec. 411. Rapid biological threat detection and identification.
Sec. 412. Educating the public about radiological threats.
Sec. 413. Rural resilience initiative.
Sec. 414. Sense of Congress regarding the need for interoperability 
              standards for Internet protocol video surveillance 
              technology.
Sec. 415. Homeland Security Science and Technology Fellows Program.
Sec. 416. Biological threat agent assay equivalency.
Sec. 417. Study of feasibility and benefit of expanding or establishing 
              program to create a new cybersecurity capacity building 
              track at certain institutions of higher education.
Sec. 418. Sense of Congress regarding centers of excellence.
Sec. 419. Assessment, research, testing, and evaluation of technologies 
              to mitigate the threat of small vessel attack.
Sec. 420. Research and development projects.

[[Page 13424]]

Sec. 421. National Urban Security Technology Laboratory.
Sec. 422. Homeland security science and technology advisory committee.

               TITLE V--DOMESTIC NUCLEAR DETECTION OFFICE

Sec. 501. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 502. Domestic Nuclear Detection Office oversight.
Sec. 503. Strategic plan and funding allocations for global nuclear 
              detection architecture.
Sec. 504. Radiation portal monitor alternatives.
Sec. 505. Authorization of Securing the Cities Initiative.

                    TITLE VI--CLARIFYING AMENDMENTS

Sec. 601. Federally funded research and development centers.
Sec. 602. Elimination of Homeland Security Institute.
Sec. 603. GAO study of the implementation of the statutory relationship 
              between the Department and the Department of Energy 
              national laboratories.
Sec. 604. Technical changes.

   TITLE VII--COMMISSION ON THE PROTECTION OF CRITICAL ELECTRIC AND 
                       ELECTRONIC INFRASTRUCTURES

Sec. 701. Commission on the Protection of Critical Electric and 
              Electronic Infrastructures.

           TITLE VIII--BORDER SECURITY TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION

Sec. 801. Ensuring research activities of the Department of Homeland 
              Security include appropriate concepts of operation.
Sec. 802. Report on basic research needs for border and maritime 
              security.
Sec. 803. Incorporating unmanned aerial vehicles into border and 
              maritime airspace.
Sec. 804. Establishing a research program in tunnel detection.
Sec. 805. Research in document security and authentication 
              technologies.
Sec. 806. Study on global positioning system technologies.
Sec. 807. Study of mobile biometric technologies at the border.
Sec. 808. Authorization of appropriations.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Appropriate congressional committee.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committee'' means the Committee 
     on Homeland Security and the Committee on Science and 
     Technology of the House of Representatives and any committee 
     of the House of Representatives or the Senate having 
     legislative jurisdiction under the rules of the House of 
     Representatives or Senate, respectively, over the matter 
     concerned.
       (2) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
     Department of Homeland Security.
       (3) Directorate.--The term ``Directorate'' means the 
     Directorate of Science and Technology of the Department.
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Homeland Security.
       (5) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means 
     the Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the 
     Department.

     SEC. 4. REFERENCES.

       Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in this 
     Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an 
     amendment to, or repeal of, a provision, the reference shall 
     be considered to be made to a provision of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.).

                TITLE I--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

     SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the Under 
     Secretary $1,121,664,000 for fiscal year 2011 and 
     $1,155,313,920 for fiscal year 2012 for the necessary 
     expenses of the Directorate.

                TITLE II--MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

     SEC. 201. RESEARCH PRIORITIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS; 
                   PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT; MILESTONES AND 
                   FEEDBACK.

       (a) In General.--Title III (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new sections:

     ``SEC. 318. RESEARCH PRIORITIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS.

       ``(a) Requirements.--The Secretary shall--
       ``(1) by not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this section, establish requirements for how 
     basic and applied homeland security research shall be 
     identified, prioritized, funded, tasked, and evaluated by the 
     Directorate of Science and Technology, including the roles 
     and responsibilities of the Under Secretary for Science and 
     Technology, the Under Secretary for Policy, the Under 
     Secretary for Management, the Director of the Office of Risk 
     Management and Analysis, the Director of the Domestic Nuclear 
     Detection Office, and the heads of operational components of 
     the Department; and
       ``(2) to the greatest extent possible, seek to publicize 
     the requirements for the purpose of informing the Federal, 
     State, and local governments, first responders, and the 
     private sector.
       ``(b) Contents.--In the requirements, the Secretary shall--
       ``(1) identify the Directorate of Science and Technology's 
     customers within and outside of the Department;
       ``(2) describe the risk formula and risk assessment tools, 
     including the risk assessment required under subsection 
     (e)(1) that the Department considers to identify, prioritize, 
     and fund homeland security research projects;
       ``(3) describe the considerations to be used by the 
     Directorate to task projects to research entities, including 
     the national laboratories, federally funded research and 
     development centers, and university-based centers;
       ``(4) describe the protocols to be used to assess off-the-
     shelf technology to determine if an identified homeland 
     security capability gap can be addressed through the 
     acquisition process instead of commencing research and 
     development of technology to address that capability gap;
       ``(5) describe the processes to be used by the Directorate 
     to strengthen first responder participation in identifying 
     and prioritizing homeland security technological gaps, 
     including by--
       ``(A) soliciting feedback from appropriate national 
     associations and advisory groups representing the first 
     responder community and first responders within the 
     components of the Department; and
       ``(B) establishing and promoting a publicly accessible 
     portal to allow the first responder community to help the 
     Directorate develop homeland security research and 
     development goals;
       ``(6) describe a mechanism to publicize the Department's 
     funded and unfunded homeland security technology priorities; 
     and
       ``(7) include such other requirements, policies, and 
     practices as the Secretary considers necessary.
       ``(c) Activities in Support of the Research Prioritization 
     and Requirements.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the issuance of the requirements, the Secretary shall--
       ``(1) carry out the requirements of subsection (a);
       ``(2) establish, through the Under Secretary for Science 
     and Technology and Under Secretary for Management, a 
     mandatory workforce program for the Directorate's customers 
     in the Department to better identify and prioritize homeland 
     security capability gaps that may be addressed by a 
     technological solution based on the assessment required under 
     section 319(a)(2);
       ``(3) establish a system to collect feedback from customers 
     of the Directorate on the performance of the Directorate; and
       ``(4) any other activities that the Secretary considers to 
     be necessary to implement the requirements.
       ``(d) Biannual Updates on Implementation.--One hundred and 
     eighty days after the date of enactment of this section, and 
     on a biannually basis thereafter, the Inspector General of 
     the Department shall submit a biannually update to the 
     appropriate congressional committees on the status of 
     implementation of the research prioritization and 
     requirements and activities in support of such requirements.
       ``(e) Risk Assessment.--The Secretary shall--
       ``(1) submit to the appropriate congressional committees by 
     not later than one year after the date of enactment of this 
     subsection and annually thereafter--
       ``(A) a national-level risk assessment carried out by the 
     Secretary, describing and prioritizing the greatest risks to 
     the homeland, that includes vulnerability studies, asset 
     values (including asset values for intangible assets), 
     estimated rates of occurrence, countermeasures employed, loss 
     expectancy, cost/benefit analyses, and other practices 
     generally associated with producing a comprehensive risk 
     assessment;
       ``(B) an analysis of the Directorate's approach to 
     mitigating the homeland security risks identified under 
     subparagraph (A) through basic and applied research, 
     development, demonstration, testing, and evaluation 
     activities, as appropriate;
       ``(C) an analysis, based on statistics and metrics, of the 
     effectiveness of the Directorate in reducing the homeland 
     security risks identified under subparagraph (A) through the 
     deployment of homeland security technologies researched or 
     developed by the Directorate, as appropriate;
       ``(D) a description of how the analysis required under 
     subparagraph (A) shall be used to inform, guide, and 
     prioritize the Department's homeland security research and 
     development activities, including recommendations for how the 
     Directorate should modify or amend its existing research and 
     development activities, including for purposes of reducing 
     the risks to the homeland identified under subparagraph (A); 
     and
       ``(E) a description of input from other relevant Federal, 
     State, or local agencies and relevant private sector entities 
     in conducting the risk assessment required by subparagraph 
     (A); and
       ``(2) conduct research and development on ways to most 
     effectively communicate information regarding the risks 
     identified under

[[Page 13425]]

     paragraph (1)(A) to the media as well as directly to the 
     public, both on an ongoing basis and during a terrorist 
     attack or other incident.
       ``(f) Report on HSARPA Activities.--
       ``(1) In general.--Consistent with the Federal Acquisition 
     Regulation and any other relevant Federal requirements, not 
     later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this 
     subsection and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall 
     submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees 
     containing the research, development, testing, evaluation, 
     prototyping, and deployment activities undertaken by the 
     Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency during 
     the previous fiscal year, including funds expended for such 
     activities in the previous fiscal year.
       ``(2) Contents.--For each activity undertaken, the report 
     shall--
       ``(A) describe, as appropriate, the corresponding risk 
     identified in subsection (e)(1)(A) that supports the decision 
     to undertake that activity; and
       ``(B) describe any efforts made to transition that activity 
     into a Federal, State, or local acquisition program.
       ``(3) Additional activities.--The Secretary shall include 
     in each report a description of each proposal that was 
     reviewed in the period covered by the report by the Director 
     of the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency 
     under section 313(d)(3), including a statement of whether the 
     proposal received a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract 
     from the Director.

     ``SEC. 319. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

       ``(a) Reporting Requirement.--Sixty days before 
     establishing the mandatory workforce program as required by 
     section 318(c)(2), the Secretary shall report to the 
     appropriate congressional committees on the following:
       ``(1) A description of how homeland security technological 
     requirements are developed by the Directorate of Science and 
     Technology's customers within the Department.
       ``(2) A description of the training that should be provided 
     to the Directorate's customers in the Department under the 
     mandatory workforce program to allow them to identify, 
     express, and prioritize homeland security capability gaps.
       ``(3) A plan for how the Directorate, in coordination with 
     the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office and other Department 
     components, can enhance and improve technology requirements 
     development and the technology acquisition process, to 
     accelerate the delivery of effective, suitable technologies 
     that meet performance requirements and appropriately address 
     an identified homeland security capability gap.
       ``(4) An assessment of whether Congress should authorize, 
     in addition to the program required under section 318(c)(2), 
     a training program for Department employees to be trained in 
     requirements writing and acquisition, that--
       ``(A) is prepared in consultation with the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Acquisition Academy and the Defense 
     Acquisition University; and
       ``(B) if the Secretary determines that such additional 
     training should be authorized by Congress, includes 
     specification about--
       ``(i) the type, skill set, and job series of Department 
     employees who would benefit from such training, including an 
     estimate of the number of such employees;
       ``(ii) a suggested curriculum for the training;
       ``(iii) the type and skill set of educators who could most 
     effectively teach those skills;
       ``(iv) the length and duration of the training;
       ``(v) the advantages and disadvantages of training 
     employees in a live classroom, or virtual classroom, or both;
       ``(vi) cost estimates for the training; and
       ``(vii) the role of the Directorate in supporting the 
     training.
       ``(b) Use of Research and Development Center.--The 
     Secretary is encouraged to use a federally funded research 
     and development center to assist the Secretary in carrying 
     out the requirements of this section.

     ``SEC. 320. CUSTOMER FEEDBACK.

       ``In establishing a system to collect feedback under 
     section 318(c)(3), the Secretary shall--
       ``(1) create a formal process for collecting feedback from 
     customers on the effectiveness of the technology or services 
     delivered by Directorate of Science and Technology, including 
     through randomized sampling, focus groups, and other methods 
     as appropriate;
       ``(2) develop metrics for measuring customer satisfaction 
     and the usefulness of any technology or service provided by 
     the Directorate; and
       ``(3) establish standards and performance measures to be 
     met by the Directorate in order to provide high-quality 
     customer service.

     ``SEC. 321. RESEARCH PROGRESS.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a system 
     to monitor the progress of Directorate for Science and 
     Technology research, development, testing, and evaluation 
     activities, including the establishment of initial and 
     subsequent research milestones.
       ``(b) System.--The system established under subsection (a) 
     shall--
       ``(1) identify and monitor the progress toward research 
     milestones;
       ``(2) allow the Directorate to provide regular reports to 
     its customers regarding the status and progress of research 
     efforts of the Directorate;
       ``(3) allow the Secretary to evaluate how a technology or 
     service produced as a result of the Directorate's programs 
     has affected homeland security capability gaps; and
       ``(4) allow the Secretary to report the number of products 
     and services developed by the Directorate that have been 
     transitioned into acquisition programs.
       ``(c) Guidance.--The Under Secretary for Science and 
     Technology shall publicize and implement guidance on setting 
     valid initial and subsequent research milestones for homeland 
     security research funded by the Directorate.

     ``SEC. 322. REPORT.

       ``(a) In General.--The Under Secretary shall submit a 
     report to the appropriate congressional committees--
       ``(1) by not later than one year after the date of 
     enactment of sections 320 and 321 identifying what actions 
     have been taken to carry out the requirements of these 
     sections; and
       ``(2) annually thereafter describing--
       ``(A) research milestones for each large project with a 
     Federal cost share greater than $80,000,000 that have been 
     successfully met and missed, including for each missed 
     milestone, an explanation of why the milestone was missed; 
     and
       ``(B) customer feedback collected and the success of the 
     Directorate in meeting the customer service performance 
     measures and standards, including an evaluation of the 
     effectiveness of the technology or services delivered by the 
     Directorate.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) is amended in the items relating to subtitle D of title 
     II--
       (1) in the item relating to the heading for the subtitle, 
     by striking ``Office of'';
       (2) in the item relating to section 231, by striking 
     ``office'' and inserting ``Office of Science and 
     Technology''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new items:

``Sec. 318. Research prioritization and requirements.
``Sec. 319. Professional development.
``Sec. 320. Customer feedback.
``Sec. 321. Research progress.
``Sec. 322. Report.

     SEC. 202. TESTING, EVALUATION, AND STANDARDS.

       Section 308 (6 U.S.C. 188) is amended by adding at the end 
     of the following new subsection:
       ``(d) Test, Evaluation, and Standards Division.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--There is established in the 
     Directorate of Science and Technology a Test, Evaluation, and 
     Standards Division.
       ``(2) Director.--The Test, Evaluation, and Standards 
     Division shall be headed by a Director of Test, Evaluation, 
     and Standards, who shall be appointed by the Secretary and 
     report to the Under Secretary for Science and Technology.
       ``(3) Responsibilities, authorities, and functions.--The 
     Director of Test, Evaluation, and Standards--
       ``(A) is the principal adviser to the Secretary, the Under 
     Secretary of Management, and the Under Secretary for Science 
     and Technology on all test and evaluation or standards 
     activities in the Department; and
       ``(B) shall--
       ``(i) prescribe test and evaluation policies for the 
     Department, which shall include policies to ensure that 
     operational testing is done at facilities that already have 
     relevant and appropriate safety and material certifications 
     to the extent such facilities are available;
       ``(ii) oversee and ensure that adequate test and evaluation 
     activities are planned and conducted by or on behalf of 
     components of the Department in major acquisition programs of 
     the Department, as designated by the Secretary, based on 
     risk, acquisition level, novelty, complexity, and size of the 
     acquisition program, or as otherwise established in statute;
       ``(iii) review major acquisition program test reports and 
     test data to assess the adequacy of test and evaluation 
     activities conducted by or on behalf of components of the 
     Department; and
       ``(iv) review available test and evaluation infrastructure 
     to determine whether the Department has adequate resources to 
     carry out its testing and evaluation responsibilities, as 
     established under this title.
       ``(4) Deputy director of operational test and evaluation.--
     Within the Division there shall be a Deputy Director of 
     Operational Test and Evaluation, who--
       ``(A) is the principal operational test and evaluation 
     official for the Department; and
       ``(B) shall--
       ``(i) monitor and review the operational testing and 
     evaluation activities conducted by or on behalf of components 
     of the Department in major acquisition programs of the 
     Department, as designated by the Secretary, based on risk, 
     acquisition level, novelty, complexity, and size of the 
     acquisition program, or as otherwise established in statute;

[[Page 13426]]

       ``(ii) provide the Department with assessments of the 
     adequacy of testing and evaluation activities conducted in 
     support of major acquisitions programs; and
       ``(iii) have prompt and full access to test and evaluation 
     documents, data, and test results of the Department that the 
     Deputy Director considers necessary to review in order to 
     carry out the duties of the Deputy Director under this 
     section.
       ``(5) Standards executive.--Within this Division, there 
     shall be a Standards Executive as described in Office of 
     Management and Budget Circular A-119. The Standards Executive 
     shall--
       ``(A) implement the Department's standards policy as 
     described in section 102(g); and
       ``(B) support the Department's use of technical standards 
     that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus 
     standards bodies in accordance with section 12(d) of the 
     National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 
     U.S.C. 272 note).
       ``(6) Limitation.--The Division is not required to carry 
     out operational testing.
       ``(7) Evaluation of department of defense technologies.--
     The Director of Test, Evaluation, and Standards may evaluate 
     technologies currently in use or being developed by the 
     Department of Defense to assess whether they can be leveraged 
     to address homeland security capability gaps.''.

     SEC. 203. EXTERNAL REVIEW.

       (a) Responsibilities and Authorities of the Under 
     Secretary.--Section 302 (6 U.S.C. 183) is amended by striking 
     ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of paragraph (13), by 
     striking the period at the end of paragraph (14) and 
     inserting ``; and'', and by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(15) developing and overseeing the administration of 
     guidelines for periodic external review of research and 
     development programs or activities, including through--
       ``(A) consultation with experts, including scientists and 
     practitioners, about the research and development activities 
     conducted by the Directorate of Science and Technology; and
       ``(B) ongoing independent, external review--
       ``(i) initially at the division level; or
       ``(ii) when divisions conduct multiple programs focused on 
     significantly different subjects, at the program level.''.
       (b) Report.--The Secretary shall report to Congress not 
     later than 60 days after the completion of the first review 
     under section 302(15)(B) of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002, as amended by subsection (a) of this section on--
       (1) the findings of the review; and
       (2) any future efforts to ensure that the Department's 
     research programs or activities are subject to external 
     review, as appropriate.

     SEC. 204. OFFICE OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.

       (a) Establishment.--Section 313 (6 U.S.C. 193) is amended 
     to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 313. OFFICE OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.

       ``(a) Establishment of Office.--There is established an 
     Office of Public-Private Partnerships in the Directorate of 
     Science and Technology.
       ``(b) Director.--The Office shall be headed by a Director, 
     who shall be appointed by the Secretary. The Director shall 
     report to the Under Secretary for Science and Technology.
       ``(c) Responsibilities.--The Director, in coordination with 
     the Private Sector Office of the Department, shall--
       ``(1) engage and initiate proactive outreach efforts and 
     provide guidance on how to pursue proposals to develop or 
     deploy homeland security technologies (including regarding 
     Federal funding, regulation, or acquisition), including to 
     persons associated with small businesses (as that term is 
     defined in the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.));
       ``(2) coordinate with components of the Department to issue 
     announcements seeking unique and innovative homeland security 
     technologies to address homeland security capability gaps;
       ``(3) promote interaction between homeland security 
     researchers and private sector companies in order to 
     accelerate transition research or a prototype into a 
     commercial product and streamline the handling of 
     intellectual property; and
       ``(4) conduct technology research assessment and 
     marketplace analysis for the purpose of identifying, 
     leveraging, and integrating best-of-breed technologies and 
     capabilities from industry, academia, and other Federal 
     Government agencies, and disseminate research and findings to 
     Federal, State, and local governments.
       ``(d) Rapid Review Division.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--There is established the Rapid Review 
     Division within the Office of Public-Private Partnerships.
       ``(2) Purpose and duties.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Division--
       ``(i) is responsible for maintaining a capability to 
     perform business and technical reviews to assist in screening 
     unsolicited homeland security technology proposals submitted 
     to the Secretary; and
       ``(ii) shall assess the feasibility, scientific and 
     technical merits, and estimated cost of such proposals.
       ``(B) Specific duties.--In carrying out those duties, the 
     Division shall--
       ``(i) maintain awareness of the technological requirements 
     of the Directorate's customers;
       ``(ii) establish and publicize accessible, streamlined 
     procedures allowing a participant to have their technology 
     assessed by the Division;
       ``(iii) make knowledgeable assessments of a participant's 
     technology after receiving a business plan, a technology 
     proposal, and a list of corporate officers, directors, and 
     employees with technical knowledge of the proposal, within 60 
     days after such a submission;
       ``(iv) review proposals submitted by components of the 
     Department to the Division, subject to subsection (e); and
       ``(v) in reviewing proposals submitted to the Secretary, 
     give priority to any proposal submitted by a small business 
     concern as defined under section 3 of the Small Business Act 
     (15 U.S.C. 632).
       ``(3) Coordination.--The Director shall submit for 
     consideration promising homeland security technology 
     research, development, testing, and evaluation proposals, 
     along with any business and technical reviews, to the 
     appropriate subcomponents of the Directorate and the 
     appropriate operational components of the Department for 
     consideration for support.
       ``(e) Limitation on Consideration or Evaluation of 
     Proposals.--The Office may not consider or evaluate homeland 
     security technology proposals submitted in response to a 
     solicitation for offers for a pending procurement or for a 
     specific agency requirement.
       ``(f) Satellite Offices.--The Under Secretary, acting 
     through the Director, may establish up to 3 satellite offices 
     across the country to enhance the Department's outreach 
     efforts. The Secretary shall notify the appropriate 
     congressional committees in writing within 30 days after 
     establishing any satellite office.
       ``(g) Personnel.--The Secretary shall establish rules to 
     prevent the Director or any other employee of the Office from 
     acting on matters where a conflict of interest may exist.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) is amended by striking the item relating to such section 
     and inserting the following:

``Sec. 313. Office of Public-Private Partnerships.''.

       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amount 
     authorized by section 101, there is authorized to be 
     appropriated $30,000,000 for the Office of Public-Private 
     Partnerships for each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012.

                           TITLE III--REPORTS

     SEC. 301. DIRECTORATE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIC 
                   PLAN.

       (a) In General.--Title III (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), as 
     amended by section 201, is further amended by adding at the 
     end the following new section:

     ``SEC. 323. STRATEGIC PLAN.

       ``(a) Requirement for Strategic Plan.--Not later than 1 
     year after the date of enactment of this section and every 
     other year thereafter, the Under Secretary for Science and 
     Technology shall prepare a strategic plan for the activities 
     of the Directorate.
       ``(b) Contents.--The strategic plan required by subsection 
     (a) shall be prepared in accordance with applicable Federal 
     requirements, and shall include the following matters:
       ``(1) The long-term strategic goals of the Directorate.
       ``(2) Identification of the research programs of the 
     Directorate that support achievement of those strategic 
     goals.
       ``(3) The connection of the activities and programs of the 
     Directorate to requirements or homeland security capability 
     gaps identified by customers within the Department and 
     outside of the Department, including the first responder 
     community.
       ``(4) The role of the Department's risk analysis in the 
     activities and programs of the Directorate.
       ``(5) A technology transition strategy for the programs of 
     the Directorate.
       ``(6) A description of the policies of the Directorate on 
     the management, organization, and personnel of the 
     Directorate.
       ``(c) Submission of Plan to Congress.--The Secretary shall 
     submit to Congress any update to the strategic plan most 
     recently prepared under subsection (a) at the same time that 
     the President submits to Congress the budget for each even-
     numbered fiscal year.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b), as amended by section 201, is further amended by adding 
     at the end of the items relating to title III the following 
     new item:

``Sec. 323. Strategic plan.''.

     SEC. 302. REPORT ON TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS.

       Section 302 (6 U.S.C. 182) is amended by inserting ``(a) In 
     General.--'' before the first sentence, and by adding at the 
     end the following new subsection:
       ``(b) Report on Technology Requirements.--
       ``(1) In general.--Within 90 days after the date of 
     enactment, the Under Secretary shall, for each current 
     project conducted by the Directorate and having a Federal 
     cost share greater than $80,000,000, and on an ongoing basis 
     thereafter for any new project

[[Page 13427]]

     conducted by the Directorate and having a Federal cost share 
     greater than $80,000,000, provide to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a description of--
       ``(A) the Department components and customers consulted 
     during the development of the operational and technical 
     requirements associated with the project; and
       ``(B) the extent to which the requirements incorporate the 
     input of those components or customers.
       ``(2) Large projects.--Within 90 days after the date of 
     enactment, the Secretary shall, for each current project 
     conducted by a component of the Department besides the 
     Directorate, and having a life-cycle cost greater than 
     $1,000,000,000, and on an ongoing basis thereafter for any 
     new project conducted by a component of the Department 
     besides the Directorate, and having a life-cycle cost greater 
     than $1,000,000,000, provide to the appropriate congressional 
     committees detailed operational and technical requirements 
     that are associated with the project.''.

     SEC. 303. REPORT ON VENTURE CAPITAL ORGANIZATION.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to 
     the appropriate congressional committees--
       (1) assessing the current role of the venture capital 
     community in funding advanced homeland security technologies, 
     including technologies proposed by small business concerns as 
     defined under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
     632); and
       (2) providing recommendations about creating a nonprofit 
     organization for the purposes of delivering advanced homeland 
     security technologies to the homeland security community to 
     further its missions.
       (b) Contents.--The report shall include the following:
       (1) An assessment of the current awareness and insight that 
     the Department has regarding advanced private sector homeland 
     security innovation, and the Department's ability to quickly 
     transition innovative products into acquisitions.
       (2) A description of how the Department currently finds and 
     works with emerging companies, particularly firms that have 
     never done business with the Federal Government, small 
     business concerns, small business concerns that are owned and 
     operated by women, small business concerns that are owned and 
     operated by veterans, and minority-owned and operated small 
     business concerns.
       (3) An assessment and analysis of the current role that 
     venture capitalists play in the development of homeland 
     security technologies, including an assessment of how the 
     venture capital community could be leveraged to accelerate 
     technology, foster development, and introduce new 
     technologies needed by the homeland security community.
       (4) An assessment of whether the Department could help 
     nascent commercial technologies mature into commercial-off-
     the-shelf products the homeland security community could 
     acquire.
       (5) An analysis of whether the Central Intelligence 
     Agency's In-Q-Tel organization or the Department of Defense's 
     OnPoint Technologies organization could serve as a model for 
     the development of homeland security technology at the 
     Department.
       (6) Recommendations of the Secretary regarding how Congress 
     could authorize the establishment of a private, independent, 
     not-for-profit organization to bridge the gap between the 
     technology needs of the homeland security community and new 
     advances in commercial technology, including specifics on 
     potential funding levels, activities for the organization, 
     including the provision of technical assistance, and whether 
     to establish set-asides for small businesses that are 
     minority-owned and operated or located in socially and 
     economically disadvantaged areas.
       (c) Use of Research and Development Center.--The Secretary 
     is encouraged to use a federally funded research and 
     development center to produce the report under this section.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amount 
     authorized by section 101, there is authorized to be 
     appropriated $500,000 for the report under this section.

        TITLE IV--DIRECTORATE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS

     SEC. 401. LIMITATIONS ON RESEARCH.

       Section 302(a)(4), as designated by section 302, is further 
     amended by inserting after ``extramural programs,'' the 
     following: ``that, to the greatest extent possible, addresses 
     a prioritized risk to the homeland as identified by a risk 
     analysis under section 226(e) of this Act''.

     SEC. 402. UNIVERSITY-BASED CENTERS.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amount 
     authorized by section 101, there is authorized to be 
     appropriated $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2011 and $41,200,000 
     for fiscal year 2012 to the Secretary to carry out the 
     university-based centers program of the Department.
       (b) Criteria for Designation.--Section 308(b)(2)(B)(iii) (6 
     U.S.C. 188(b)(2)(B)(iii)) is amended by inserting before the 
     period at the end the following: ``, including medical 
     readiness training and research, and community resiliency for 
     public health and healthcare critical infrastructure''.
       (c) Explosive Countermeasures or Detection.--Section 
     308(b)(2)(B)(iv) (6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)(B)(iv)) is amended by 
     striking ``and nuclear'' and inserting ``nuclear, and 
     explosive''.

     SEC. 403. REVIEW OF UNIVERSITY-BASED CENTERS.

       (a) GAO Study of University-Based Centers.--Not later than 
     120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
     Comptroller General of the United States shall initiate a 
     study to assess the university-based centers for homeland 
     security program authorized by section 308(b)(2) of the 
     Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)), and 
     provide recommendations to the appropriate congressional 
     committees for appropriate improvements.
       (b) Subject Matters.--The study under subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) A review of the Department's efforts to identify key 
     areas of study needed to support the homeland security 
     mission, and criteria that the Department utilized to 
     determine those key areas for which the Department should 
     maintain, establish, or eliminate university-based centers.
       (2) A review of the method by which university-based 
     centers, federally funded research and development centers, 
     and Department of Energy national laboratories receive 
     tasking from the Department, including a review of how 
     university-based research is identified, prioritized, and 
     funded.
       (3) A review of selection criteria for designating 
     university-based centers and a weighting of such criteria.
       (4) An examination of best practices from other agencies 
     efforts to organize and use university-based research to 
     support their missions.
       (5) A review of the Department's criteria and metrics to 
     measure demonstrable progress achieved by university-based 
     centers in fulfilling Department taskings, and mechanisms for 
     delivering and disseminating the research results of 
     designated university-based centers within the Department and 
     to other Federal, State, and local agencies.
       (6) An examination of the means by which academic 
     institutions that are not designated or associated with the 
     designated university-based centers can optimally contribute 
     to the research mission of the Directorate.
       (7) An assessment of the interrelationship between the 
     different university-based centers.
       (8) A review of any other essential elements of the 
     programs determined in the conduct of the study.
       (c) Moratorium on New University-Based Centers.--The 
     Secretary may not designate any new university-based centers 
     to research new areas in homeland security prior to the 
     completion of the Comptroller General's review.

     SEC. 404. CYBERSECURITY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) In General.--The Under Secretary shall support 
     research, development, testing, evaluation, and transition of 
     cybersecurity technology, including fundamental, long-term 
     research to improve the ability of the United States to 
     prevent, protect against, detect, respond to, and recover 
     from acts of terrorism and cyber attacks, with an emphasis on 
     research and development relevant to large-scale, high-impact 
     attacks.
       (b) Activities.--The research and development supported 
     under subsection (a) shall include work to--
       (1) advance the development and accelerate the deployment 
     of more secure versions of fundamental Internet protocols and 
     architectures, including for the domain name system and 
     routing protocols;
       (2) improve and create technologies for detecting attacks 
     or intrusions, including real-time monitoring and real-time 
     analytic technologies;
       (3) improve and create mitigation and recovery 
     methodologies, including techniques and policies for real-
     time containment of attacks, and development of resilient 
     networks and systems that degrade gracefully;
       (4) develop and support infrastructure and tools to support 
     cybersecurity research and development efforts, including 
     modeling, testbeds, and data sets for assessment of new 
     cybersecurity technologies;
       (5) assist the development and support of technologies to 
     reduce vulnerabilities in process control systems;
       (6) develop and support cyber forensics and attack 
     attribution; and
       (7) test, evaluate, and facilitate the transfer of 
     technologies associated with the engineering of less 
     vulnerable software and securing the information technology 
     software development lifecycle.
       (c) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the Under 
     Secretary shall coordinate activities with--
       (1) the Under Secretary for National Protection and 
     Programs; and
       (2) the heads of other relevant Federal departments and 
     agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the 
     Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Information 
     Assurance Directorate of the National Security Agency, the 
     National Institute of Standards and Technology, the 
     Department of Commerce, and other appropriate working groups 
     established by the

[[Page 13428]]

     President to identify unmet needs and cooperatively support 
     activities, as appropriate.
       (d) Authorization of Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium 
     and Training Center.--
       (1) Cybersecurity preparedness consortium.--Subtitle C of 
     title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121 
     et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 226. CYBERSECURITY PREPAREDNESS CONSORTIUM.

       ``(a) In General.--To assist the Secretary in carrying out 
     the requirements of section 404(a) of the Homeland Security 
     Science and Technology Authorization Act of 2010, the 
     Secretary may establish a consortium to be known as the 
     `Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium'.
       ``(b) Functions.--The Consortium shall--
       ``(1) provide training to State and local first responders 
     and officials specifically for preparing and responding to 
     cybersecurity attacks;
       ``(2) develop and update a curriculum and training model 
     for State and local first responders and officials;
       ``(3) provide technical assistance services to build and 
     sustain capabilities in support of cybersecurity preparedness 
     and response;
       ``(4) conduct cybersecurity training and simulation 
     exercises to defend from and respond to cyber attacks; and
       ``(5) coordinate all cybersecurity preparedness training 
     activities conducted by the Department.
       ``(c) Members.--The Consortium shall consist of academic, 
     nonprofit, and government partners that--
       ``(1) have demonstrated expertise in developing and 
     delivering cybersecurity training in support of homeland 
     security;
       ``(2) have demonstrated ability to utilize existing courses 
     and expertise developed by the Department;
       ``(3) have demonstrated ability to coordinate with the 
     National Domestic Preparedness Consortium and other training 
     programs within the Department; and
       ``(4) include at least 3 academic institutions that are any 
     combination of historically Black colleges and universities, 
     Hispanic-serving institutions, or tribal colleges and 
     universities, that fulfill the criteria of paragraphs (1), 
     (2) and (3) of this subsection.
       ``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Historically black college or university.--The term 
     `historically Black college or university' has the meaning 
     given the term `part B institution' in section 322(2) of the 
     Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)).
       ``(2) Hispanic-serving institution.--The term `Hispanic-
     serving institution' has the meaning given that term in 
     section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1101(a)).
       ``(3) Tribal college or university.--The term `tribal 
     college or university' has the meaning given that term in 
     section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1059c(b)).''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--Section 1(b) of such Act is 
     further amended by adding at the end of the items relating to 
     such subtitle the following new item:

``Sec. 226. Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium.''.

       (3) Cybersecurity training center.--Subtitle C of title II 
     of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121 et seq.) 
     is further amended by adding at the end the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 227. CYBERSECURITY TRAINING CENTER.

       ``The Secretary may establish where appropriate a 
     Cybersecurity Training Center to provide training courses and 
     other resources for State and local first responders and 
     officials to improve preparedness and response 
     capabilities.''.
       (4) Clerical amendment.--Section 1(b) of such Act is 
     further amended by adding at the end of the items relating to 
     such subtitle the following new item:

``Sec. 227. Cybersecurity Training Center.''.

       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amount 
     authorized by section 101, there is authorized to be 
     appropriated $75,000,000 to the Department for each of fiscal 
     years 2011 and 2012 for the cybersecurity research and 
     development activities of the Directorate to prevent, detect, 
     and respond to acts of terrorism and other large-scale 
     disruptions to information infrastructure.

     SEC. 405. NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL STUDY OF CYBERSECURITY 
                   INCENTIVES.

       (a) Study.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary and the Under 
     Secretary for National Protection and Programs of the 
     Department shall seek to enter into an agreement with the 
     National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences 
     to conduct a study to assess methods that might be used to 
     promote market mechanisms that further cybersecurity and make 
     recommendations for appropriate improvements thereto.
       (b) Subject Matters.--The study required under subsection 
     (a) shall include the following:
       (1) Liability that subjects software and system vendors and 
     system operators to potential damages for system breaches.
       (2) Mandated reporting of security breaches that could 
     threaten critical functions, including provision of 
     electricity and resiliency of the financial sector.
       (3) Regulation that under threat of civil penalty, imposes 
     best practices on system operators of critical 
     infrastructure.
       (4) Certification from standards bodies about conformance 
     to relevant cybersecurity standards that can be used as a 
     marketplace differentiation.
       (5) Accounting practices that require companies to report 
     their cybersecurity practices and postures and the results of 
     independently conducted red team simulated attacks or 
     exercises.
       (6) Cybersecurity risk insurance, including analysis of the 
     current marketplace and recommendations to promote 
     cybersecurity insurance.
       (c) Submission to Congress.--Not later than two years after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
     to the appropriate congressional committees the results of 
     the study required under subsection (a), together with any 
     recommendations of the Secretary related thereto.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amount 
     authorized by section 101, there is authorized to be 
     appropriated $500,000 to the Department for fiscal year 2011 
     to carry out this section.

     SEC. 406. RESEARCH ON CYBER COMPROMISE OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

       (a) In General.--Pursuant to section 201 of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121) and in furtherance of 
     domestic preparedness for and collective response to a cyber 
     attack by a terrorist or other person, the Secretary, working 
     with the heads of other national security and intelligence 
     agencies, shall periodically conduct research to determine if 
     the security of federally owned programmable electronic 
     devices and communication networks, including hardware, 
     software, and data, essential to the reliable operation of 
     critical electric infrastructure has been compromised.
       (b) Scope of Research.--The scope of the research required 
     under subsection (a) shall include the following:
       (1) The extent of any compromise.
       (2) An identification of any attackers, including any 
     affiliations with terrorists, terrorist organizations, state 
     entities, and non-state entities.
       (3) The method of penetration.
       (4) Ramifications of any such compromise on future 
     operations of critical electric infrastructure.
       (5) Secondary ramifications of any such compromise on other 
     critical infrastructure sectors and the functioning of civil 
     society.
       (6) Ramifications of any such compromise on national 
     security, including war fighting capability.
       (7) Recommended mitigation activities.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date a 
     determination has been made under subsection (a), the 
     Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a report on the findings of such determination. 
     The report may contain a classified annex if the Secretary 
     determines it to be appropriate.

     SEC. 407. DUAL-USE TERRORIST RISKS FROM SYNTHETIC GENOMICS.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     the field of synthetic genomics has the potential to 
     facilitate enormous gains in fundamental discovery and 
     biotechnological applications, but it also has inherent dual-
     use homeland security risks that must be managed.
       (b) Requirement.--The Under Secretary shall examine and 
     report to the appropriate congressional committees by not 
     later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act 
     on the homeland security implications of the dual-use nature 
     of synthetic genomics and, if the Under Secretary determines 
     that such research is appropriate, may conduct research in 
     that area, including--
       (1) determining the current capability of synthetic nucleic 
     acid providers to effectively differentiate a legitimate 
     customer from a potential terrorist or other malicious actor;
       (2) determining the current capability of synthetic nucleic 
     acid providers to effectively screen orders for sequences of 
     homeland security concern; and
       (3) making recommendations regarding screening software, 
     protocols, and other remaining capability gaps uncovered by 
     the study.

     SEC. 408. UNDERWATER TUNNEL SECURITY DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.

       (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in consultation with 
     the Assistant Secretary of the Transportation Security 
     Administration, shall conduct a demonstration project to test 
     and assess the feasibility and effectiveness of certain 
     technologies to enhance the security of underwater public 
     transportation tunnels against terrorist attacks involving 
     the use of improvised explosive devices.
       (b) Inflatable Plugs.--At least one of the technologies 
     tested under subsection (a) shall be inflatable plugs that 
     may be rapidly deployed to prevent flooding of an underwater 
     public transportation tunnel.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the completion 
     of the demonstration project under subsection (a), the Under 
     Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a report on the results of the demonstration 
     project.

[[Page 13429]]



     SEC. 409. THREATS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in carrying out 
     responsibilities under section 302 of the Homeland Security 
     Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 182), may support research, 
     development, testing, evaluation, and transition of 
     technology that increases the Nation's preparedness against 
     chemical and biological threats and strengthens the Nation's 
     preparedness and collective response against those threats 
     through improved threat awareness and advanced surveillance, 
     detection, and protective countermeasures, and to enhance the 
     development of border security technology.
       (b) Biological Security.--To carry out subsection (a), the 
     Under Secretary may conduct research to develop 
     understanding, technologies, and systems needed to protect 
     against biological attacks on the Nation's population or 
     infrastructure, including--
       (1) providing advanced planning tools, concepts of 
     operations (including alarm resolution protocols), and 
     training exercises for responding to and recovering from 
     biological attacks;
       (2) developing biological assays and improved detection 
     technology that will operate with faster detection times, 
     lower costs, and the potential for increased geographical 
     coverage to the Nation when compared to existing homeland 
     security technologies;
       (3) characterizing threats posed by biological weapons, 
     anticipating future threats, conducting comprehensive threat 
     and risk assessments to guide prioritization of the Nation's 
     biodefense investments, and developing population threat 
     assessments that inform the issuance of material threat 
     determinations;
       (4) conducting bioforensics research in support of criminal 
     investigations to aid attribution, apprehension, and 
     prosecution of a terrorist or other perpetrator of a 
     biological attack, and providing tools and facilities that 
     Federal law enforcement investigators need to analyze 
     biological threat evidence recovered, including operation of 
     the National Bioforensic Analysis Center; and
       (5) conducting appropriate research and studies that will 
     increase our understanding of and uncertainties associated 
     with risk and threats posed by biological agents through the 
     Biological Threat Characterization Center and other means as 
     determined by the Secretary.
       (c) Agricultural Security.--The Under Secretary may conduct 
     research and development to enhance the protection of the 
     Nation's agriculture and food system against terrorist 
     attacks, and other emergency events through enhancement of 
     current agricultural countermeasures, development of new 
     agricultural countermeasures, and provision of safe, secure, 
     state-of-the-art biocontainment laboratories for researching 
     foreign animal and zoonotic diseases, including--
       (1) developing technologies to defend the Nation against 
     the natural and intentional introduction of selected foreign 
     animal diseases, developing next-generation vaccines and 
     diagnostics in coordination with the Department of 
     Agriculture, and modeling the spread of foreign animal 
     diseases and their economic impact to evaluate strategies for 
     controlling outbreaks; and
       (2) leading the Department effort to enhance interagency 
     coordination of research and development of agricultural 
     disease countermeasures.
       (d) Chemical Security.--The Under Secretary may develop 
     technology to reduce the Nation's vulnerability to chemical 
     warfare agents and commonly used toxic industrial chemicals, 
     including--
       (1) developing a robust and enduring analytical capability 
     in support of chemical countermeasures development, including 
     developing and validating forensic methodologies and 
     analytical tools, conducting risk and vulnerability 
     assessments based on chemical threat properties, and 
     maintaining infrastructure including the Chemical Security 
     Analysis Center;
       (2) developing technology to detect a chemical threat 
     release; and
       (3) developing technologies and guidance documents to 
     foster a coordinated approach to returning a chemically 
     contaminated area to a normal condition, and to foster 
     analysis of contaminated areas both before and after the 
     restoration process.
       (e) Risk Assessments.--
       (1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall produce risk 
     assessments for biological and chemical threats, and shall 
     coordinate with the Director of the Domestic Nuclear 
     Detection Office of the Department, the Assistant Secretary 
     of the Office of Health Affairs of the Department, and the 
     Assistant Secretary of Infrastructure Protection of the 
     Department on an integrated risk assessment, including 
     regarding chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and 
     explosive threats.
       (2) Usage.--The assessments required under paragraph (1) 
     shall be used to inform and guide the threat assessments and 
     determinations by the Secretary regarding agents and toxins 
     pursuant to section 302(9) of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 182(9)), and to guide prioritization of other 
     homeland defense activities, as appropriate.
       (3) Task force.--The Under Secretary for Science and 
     Technology shall convene an interagency task force of 
     relevant subject matter experts to assess the proposed 
     methodology to be used for each assessment required under 
     paragraph (1), and to provide recommendations to the Under 
     Secretary as to the adequacy of such methodology.
       (f) Border Security.--The Under Secretary may develop 
     technology, in coordination with the Commissioner of Customs 
     and Border Protection, to gain effective control of the 
     international land borders of the United States within 5 
     years after the date of enactment of this Act. In carrying 
     out such development activities, the Under Secretary shall 
     ensure coordination and integration between new technologies 
     developed and those already utilized by U.S. Customs and 
     Border Protection.

     SEC. 410. MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS AND MARITIME SECURITY 
                   TECHNOLOGY TEST, EVALUATION, AND TRANSITION 
                   CAPABILITIES.

       (a) Global Maritime Domain Awareness and Maritime Security 
     Technology Test, Evaluation, and Transition Capabilities.--
       (1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish 
     capabilities for conducting global maritime domain awareness 
     and maritime security technology test, evaluation, and 
     transition, as provided in this subsection.
       (2) Purpose.--The purpose of such capabilities shall be 
     to--
       (A) direct technology test, evaluation, and transition 
     activities in furtherance of border and maritime security; 
     and
       (B) evaluate such technology in diverse environments 
     including coastal, seaport, and offshore locations.
       (b) Coordination.--The Secretary, acting through the Under 
     Secretary, shall ensure that--
       (1) technology test, evaluation, and transition efforts 
     funded by the Department in furtherance of border and 
     maritime security avoid duplication of efforts, reduce 
     unnecessary redundancies, streamline processes, increase 
     efficiencies, and otherwise complement existing Department 
     and other efforts in border and maritime security; and
       (2) the results of such efforts are shared with the 
     appropriate congressional committees and others as determined 
     appropriate by the Secretary.

     SEC. 411. RAPID BIOLOGICAL THREAT DETECTION AND 
                   IDENTIFICATION.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 302(4) of the 
     Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 182(4)), the 
     Secretary shall require the Under Secretary, in consultation 
     with other relevant operational components of the Department, 
     to assess whether the development of screening capabilities 
     for pandemic influenza and other infectious diseases should 
     be undertaken by the Directorate to support entry and exit 
     screening at ports of entry and for other purposes.
       (b) Development of Methods.--If the Under Secretary 
     determines that the development of such screening 
     capabilities should be undertaken, the Secretary shall, to 
     the extent possible, initiate development of safe and 
     effective methods to rapidly screen incoming travelers at 
     ports of entry for pandemic influenza and other infectious 
     diseases.
       (c) Collaboration.--In developing methods under subsection 
     (b), the Secretary may collaborate with other Federal 
     agencies, as appropriate.

     SEC. 412. EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT RADIOLOGICAL THREATS.

       (a) Public Awareness Campaign.--The Secretary shall develop 
     a public awareness campaign to enhance preparedness and 
     collective response to a radiological attack, including the 
     following:
       (1) A clear explanation of the dangers associated with 
     radioactive materials.
       (2) Possible effects of different levels of radiation 
     exposure, including a clear description of the how radiation 
     exposure occurs and the amount of exposure necessary to be of 
     concern.
       (3) Actions that members of the public should take 
     regarding evacuation, personal decontamination, and medical 
     treatment.
       (b) Recovery.--The Secretary shall develop a plan for 
     postevent recovery from a radiological attack. Such plan 
     shall include the following:
       (1) A definition of the demarcation between response and 
     recovery from a radiological attack.
       (2) Consideration of multiple attack scenarios, including a 
     worst-case scenario.
       (3) Consideration of multiple recovery strategies, 
     including decontamination, demolition and removal, and 
     relocation.
       (4) Consideration of economic, health, and psychological 
     effects.

     SEC. 413. RURAL RESILIENCE INITIATIVE.

       (a) In General.--The Under Secretary shall conduct research 
     intended to assist State, local, and tribal leaders and the 
     private sector in developing the tools and methods to enhance 
     preparation for, and response and resilience to, terrorist 
     events and other incidents.
       (b) Included Activities.--Activities under this section may 
     include--
       (1) research and implementation through outreach activities 
     with rural communities;
       (2) an examination of how communities employ resilience 
     capabilities and response assets;
       (3) a community resilience baseline template for 
     determining the resilience capacity of a rural community;

[[Page 13430]]

       (4) a plan to address community needs for resilience;
       (5) an education program for community leaders and first 
     responders about their resilience capacity and mechanisms for 
     mitigation, including via distance learning; and
       (6) a mechanism by which this research can serve as a model 
     for adoption by communities across the Nation.

     SEC. 414. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE NEED FOR 
                   INTEROPERABILITY STANDARDS FOR INTERNET 
                   PROTOCOL VIDEO SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) video surveillance systems that operate over the 
     Internet are an emerging homeland security technology that 
     has the potential of significantly improving homeland 
     security forensic and analytical capability;
       (2) to realize the full security benefits of such emerging 
     homeland security technology, there should be 
     interoperability standards for such technology;
       (3) the Directorate, working with the National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology and any other appropriate Federal 
     agencies, should encourage the private sector to develop 
     interoperability standards for such emerging homeland 
     security technology; and
       (4) such efforts will help the Federal Government, which is 
     one of the largest users of surveillance technology, in 
     detecting, deterring, preventing, and responding to terrorist 
     attacks.

     SEC. 415. HOMELAND SECURITY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FELLOWS 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) is further amended by adding at 
     the end the following new section:

     ``SEC. 324. HOMELAND SECURITY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FELLOWS 
                   PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting through the 
     Under Secretary for Science and Technology, shall establish a 
     fellows program, to be known as the Homeland Security Science 
     and Technology Fellows Program, under which the Under 
     Secretary shall facilitate the temporary placement of 
     scientists in relevant scientific or technological fields for 
     up to two years in components of the Department with a need 
     for scientific and technological expertise.
       ``(b) Utilization of Fellows.--
       ``(1) In general.--Under the Program, the Under Secretary 
     may employ fellows--
       ``(A) for the use of the Directorate of Science and 
     Technology; or
       ``(B) for the use of Department components outside the 
     Directorate, under an agreement with the head of such a 
     component under which the component will reimburse the 
     Directorate for the costs of such employment.
       ``(2) Responsibilities.--Under such an agreement--
       ``(A) the Under Secretary shall--
       ``(i) solicit and accept applications from individuals who 
     are currently enrolled in graduate programs, or have received 
     a graduate degree within 3 years prior to the time of 
     application in scientific and engineering fields related to 
     the promotion of securing the homeland, including--

       ``(I) biological, chemical, physical, behavioral, social, 
     health, medical, and computational sciences;
       ``(II) geosciences;
       ``(III) all fields of engineering; and
       ``(IV) such other disciplines as are determined relevant by 
     the Secretary;

       ``(ii) screen applicant candidates and interview them as 
     appropriate to ensure that they possess the appropriate level 
     of scientific and engineering expertise and qualifications;
       ``(iii) provide a list of qualified applicants to the heads 
     of Department components seeking to utilize qualified 
     fellows;
       ``(iv) pay financial compensation to such fellows;
       ``(v) coordinate with the Chief Security Officer to 
     facilitate and expedite provision of security clearances to 
     fellows, as appropriate; and
       ``(vi) otherwise administer all aspects of the fellows' 
     employment with the Department; and
       ``(B) the head of the component utilizing the fellow 
     shall--
       ``(i) select a fellow from the list of qualified applicants 
     provided by the Under Secretary;
       ``(ii) reimburse the Under Secretary for the costs of 
     employing the fellow selected; and
       ``(iii) be responsible for the day-to-day management of the 
     fellow.
       ``(c) Applications From Associations.--The Under Secretary 
     may accept applications under subsection (b)(2)(A) that are 
     submitted by science or policy associations on behalf of 
     individuals whom such an association has determined may be 
     qualified applicants under the program.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of such Act is further amended by adding at the end of 
     the items relating to title III the following new item:

``Sec. 324. Homeland Security Science and Technology Fellows 
              Program.''.

     SEC. 416. BIOLOGICAL THREAT AGENT ASSAY EQUIVALENCY.

       (a) In General.--Title III (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) is 
     further amended by adding at the end the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 325. BIOLOGICAL THREAT AGENT ASSAY EQUIVALENCY 
                   PROGRAM.

       ``(a) In General.--To facilitate equivalent biological 
     threat agent identification among federally operated 
     biomonitoring programs, the Under Secretary, in consultation 
     with other relevant Federal agencies, may implement an assay 
     equivalency program for biological threat assays.
       ``(b) Features.--In order to establish assay performance 
     equivalency to support homeland security and public health 
     security decisions, the program may--
       ``(1) evaluate biological threat detection assays, their 
     protocols for use, and their associated response algorithms 
     for confirmation of biological threat agents, taking 
     performance measures and concepts of operation into 
     consideration; and
       ``(2) develop assay equivalency standards based on the 
     findings of the evaluation under paragraph (1).
       ``(c) Update.--The Under Secretary shall update the program 
     as necessary.
       ``(d) Implementation.--The Secretary shall--
       ``(1) require implementation of the standards developed 
     under subsection (b)(2) for all Department biomonitoring 
     programs; and
       ``(2) make such standards available to support all other 
     Federal biomonitoring programs.
       ``(e) Assay Defined.--In this section the term `assay' 
     means any scientific test that is--
       ``(1) designed to detect the presence of a biological 
     threat agent; and
       ``(2) of a type selected under criteria established by the 
     Secretary.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) is further amended by adding at the end of the items 
     relating to title III the following new item:

``Sec. 325. Biological threat agent assay equivalency program.''.

     SEC. 417. STUDY OF FEASIBILITY AND BENEFIT OF EXPANDING OR 
                   ESTABLISHING PROGRAM TO CREATE A NEW 
                   CYBERSECURITY CAPACITY BUILDING TRACK AT 
                   CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

       (a) In General.--Within 90 days of enactment, the 
     Secretary, in coordination with the National Science 
     Foundation, shall commission a study by a nonprofit research 
     institution to determine the feasibility and potential 
     benefit of expanding the Federal Cyber Service Scholarship 
     for Service Program, or establishing a parallel program, as 
     methods to create a new cybersecurity or information 
     assurance capacity building track at institutions of higher 
     education that are not currently designated as a National 
     Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance 
     Education or a National Center of Academic Excellence in 
     Research.
       (b) Subject Matters.--The study under subsection (a) shall 
     include examinations of the following:
       (1) The feasibility and potential benefit of allowing the 
     following types of institutions into the existing Federal 
     Cyber Service program:
       (A) Community colleges.
       (B) Institutions offering an undergraduate degree, graduate 
     degree, or post-graduate degree, but do not qualify under the 
     existing program.
       (C) Institutions offering a certificate or industry-
     recognized credential.
       (2) The feasibility and potential benefit of establishing a 
     new program modeled after the Federal Cyber Service program 
     to build capacity at--
       (A) community colleges;
       (B) institutions offering an undergraduate degree, graduate 
     degree, or post-graduate degree, but do not qualify under the 
     existing program; or
       (C) institutions offering a certificate or industry-
     recognized credential.
       (3) The projected extent to which an expansion of the 
     existing Federal Cyber Service program as described in 
     paragraph (1) would--
       (A) expand the availability of qualified individuals to 
     work in information assurance and cybersecurity within the 
     Department and other Federal, State, local, and tribal 
     agencies, and the private sector;
       (B) encourage institutions of higher education to develop a 
     new information assurance or cybersecurity education 
     undergraduate degree programs, graduate degree programs, or 
     programs conferring a certificate or industry-recognized 
     credential;
       (C) increase the number of students graduating annually 
     from existing information assurance or cybersecurity 
     education undergraduate degree programs, graduate degree 
     programs, or programs conferring a certificate or industry-
     recognized credential; or
       (D) improve existing information assurance or cybersecurity 
     education undergraduate degree programs, graduate degree 
     programs, or programs conferring a certificate or industry-
     recognized credential.
       (4) The projected extent to which the establishment of a 
     new program modeled after the Federal Cyber Service program 
     as described in paragraph (2) would--
       (A) expand the availability of qualified individuals to 
     work in information assurance and cybersecurity within the 
     Department and other Federal, State, local, and tribal 
     agencies, and the private sector;
       (B) encourage institutions of higher education to develop a 
     new information assurance or cybersecurity education 
     undergraduate degree programs, graduate degree

[[Page 13431]]

     programs, or programs conferring a certificate or industry-
     recognized credential;
       (C) increase the number of students graduating annually 
     from existing information assurance or cybersecurity 
     education undergraduate degree programs, graduate degree 
     programs, or programs conferring a certificate or industry-
     recognized credential; or
       (D) improve existing information assurance or cybersecurity 
     education undergraduate degree programs, graduate degree 
     programs, or programs conferring a certificate or industry-
     recognized credential.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 30 days after receiving the 
     findings of the study, the Secretary shall transmit the 
     findings, together with any comments thereon by the 
     Secretary, to the appropriate congressional committees.

     SEC. 418. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

       It is the sense of Congress that centers of excellence have 
     the potential--
       (1) to be a very useful tool in developing defensive 
     countermeasures to secure critical infrastructure and prevent 
     terrorism; and
       (2) to play a key role in the Department's efforts to 
     research and develop new technologies to secure the homeland.

     SEC. 419. ASSESSMENT, RESEARCH, TESTING, AND EVALUATION OF 
                   TECHNOLOGIES TO MITIGATE THE THREAT OF SMALL 
                   VESSEL ATTACK.

       The Under Secretary may--
       (1) assess what technologies are available to mitigate the 
     threat of small vessel attack in secure zones of ports, 
     including the use of transponders or radio frequency 
     identification devices to track small vessels; and
       (2) conduct research, testing, and evaluation of new 
     technologies that might be capable of tracking small vessels.

     SEC. 420. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

       Section 831 (6 U.S.C. 391) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``2010,'' and inserting 
     ``2012,'';
       (2) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(3) Prior approval.--In any case in which the Under 
     Secretary for Science and Technology intends to exercise 
     other transaction authority, the Under Secretary must receive 
     prior approval from the Secretary after submitting to the 
     Secretary a proposal that includes the rationale for why a 
     grant or contract issued in accordance with the Federal 
     Acquisition Regulation is not feasible or appropriate and the 
     amount to be expended for such project. In such a case, the 
     authority for evaluating the proposal may not be delegated by 
     the Secretary to anyone other than the Under Secretary for 
     Management.''; and
       (3) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (i), and 
     by inserting after subsection (d) the following new 
     subsections:
       ``(e) Annual Report on Exercise of Other Transaction 
     Authority.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees an annual report on the 
     exercise of other transaction authority.
       ``(2) Content.--The report shall include the following:
       ``(A) The subject areas in which research projects were 
     conducted using other transaction authority.
       ``(B) The extent of cost-sharing for such projects among 
     Federal and non-Federal sources.
       ``(C) The extent to which use of other transaction 
     authority has addressed a homeland security capability gap 
     identified by the Department.
       ``(D) The total amount of payments, if any, that were 
     received by the Federal Government as a result of such 
     exercise of other transaction authority during the period 
     covered by the report.
       ``(E) The rationale for using other transaction authority, 
     including why grants or contracts issued in accordance with 
     the Federal Acquisition Regulation were not feasible or 
     appropriate.
       ``(F) the amount expended for each such project.
       ``(f) Training.--The Secretary shall develop a training 
     program for acquisitions staff in the use of other 
     transaction authority to help ensure the appropriate use of 
     such authority.
       ``(g) Review Authority.--The exercise of other transaction 
     authority shall be subject to review by the Comptroller 
     General of the United States to ensure that an agency is not 
     attempting to avoid the requirements of procurement statutes 
     and regulations.
       ``(h) Other Transaction Authority Defined.--In this section 
     the term `other transaction authority' means authority under 
     subsection (a).''.

     SEC. 421. NATIONAL URBAN SECURITY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY.

       (a) In General.--The National Urban Security Technology 
     Laboratory (formerly the Environmental Measurements 
     Laboratory) is authorized within the Directorate for fiscal 
     years 2011 and 2012.
       (b) Responsibilities.--The Under Secretary shall utilize 
     the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory to test, 
     evaluate, and analyze homeland security capabilities and 
     serve as a technical authority to first responders and State 
     and local entities, including by--
       (1) conducting test programs, pilots projects, 
     demonstrations, and other forms of evaluations of homeland 
     security technologies both in the field and in the 
     laboratory;
       (2) applying knowledge of operational end-user environments 
     and support for operational integration to technology 
     development, including--
       (A) training;
       (B) exercises;
       (C) equipment;
       (D) tactics;
       (E) techniques; and
       (F) procedures;
       (3) representing interests and requirements between 
     technology developers and operational end-users; and
       (4) supporting development and use of homeland security 
     equipment and operational standards.

     SEC. 422. HOMELAND SECURITY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY 
                   COMMITTEE.

       Section 301 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     191) is amended--
       (1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following 
     new subsection:
       ``(a) There is established within the Department a science 
     and technology advisory committee (in this section referred 
     to as the `advisory committee'). The advisory committee shall 
     make recommendations with respect to the activities of the 
     under secretary for science and technology, including--
       ``(1) identifying research areas of potential importance to 
     the security of the Nation; and
       ``(2) providing advice in developing and updating the 
     strategic plan required under section 318.''.
       (2) by striking subsection (j).

               TITLE V--DOMESTIC NUCLEAR DETECTION OFFICE

     SEC. 501. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated for the Domestic 
     Nuclear Detection Office of the Department--
       (1) $305,840,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
       (2) $315,005,000 for fiscal year 2012.

     SEC. 502. DOMESTIC NUCLEAR DETECTION OFFICE OVERSIGHT.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     the Directorate should conduct basic and innovative research 
     and nondevelopmental testing on behalf of the Domestic 
     Nuclear Detection Office (in this section referred to as 
     ``DNDO''), in order to advance next generation nuclear 
     detection technologies.
       (b) Internal Review of Project Selection and Evaluation 
     Methodology.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Director of the DNDO, the Under 
     Secretary, and the heads of all operational components of the 
     Department that own, operate, or maintain nuclear or 
     radiological detection equipment shall begin an internal 
     review of the methodology by which research, development, 
     testing, and evaluation is identified, prioritized, and 
     funded within the Department.
       (c) Contents of Review.--In carrying out the review under 
     subsection (b), the Director of the DNDO shall--
       (1) identify the process by which basic and applied 
     research and operational testing that should be conducted in 
     concert and under agreement with the Directorate;
       (2) describe the roles, responsibilities, common 
     definitions, standard operating procedures, and decision 
     process for research, development, testing, and evaluation 
     activities;
       (3) describe and implement a transparent system for 
     tracking research, development, testing, and evaluation 
     requirements;
       (4) describe and implement a mechanism to provide regular 
     updates to components of the Department on the progress of 
     such research;
       (5) evaluate the degree to which needs of the operational 
     components of the Department and State and local first 
     responders are being adequately addressed by the existing 
     project selection process, and if not, how such process can 
     be improved;
       (6) establish a method to collect and evaluate Department 
     component feedback;
       (7) utilize departmental matrices and systems to determine 
     if technologies produced by the Directorate have enhanced the 
     ability of Department components to perform their missions;
       (8) identify appropriate five-year levels of investment in 
     basic and applied research and development, in particular 
     among the Department laboratories, federally funded research 
     and development centers, university-based centers, Department 
     of Energy national laboratories, and other Federal 
     laboratories;
       (9) project balance of use of the entities referred to in 
     paragraph (8) among the Directorate and other Department 
     components; and
       (10) establish a formal merit review process, with external 
     peer review where appropriate.
       (d) Report.--Not later than one year after the completion 
     of the review required by subsection (b), the Director of the 
     DNDO shall submit to the Secretary and the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report containing the findings of 
     such review, together with information on the systems, 
     methods, and mechanisms established, and

[[Page 13432]]

     recommendations for additional improvements.
       (e) Updates on Implementation.--One hundred and twenty days 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually 
     thereafter, the Inspector General of the Department shall 
     submit to the appropriate congressional committees an update 
     on the status of implementation of this section and 
     activities in support of such implementation.

     SEC. 503. STRATEGIC PLAN AND FUNDING ALLOCATIONS FOR GLOBAL 
                   NUCLEAR DETECTION ARCHITECTURE.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report containing the following:
       (1) A strategic plan for the global nuclear detection 
     architecture to deter and detect the transport of nuclear or 
     radioactive materials by all means possible, with specific 
     focus on establishing the goals, objectives, and cost 
     projections for the next five years, including a discussion 
     of--
       (A) technological and nontechnological methods to increase 
     detection capabilities;
       (B) the preventive nature of the global nuclear detection 
     architecture, including projected impact on would-be 
     terrorists;
       (C) detection capability enhancements for the various 
     transportation modes, at ports of entry and between ports of 
     entry;
       (D) balanced risk-based deployment of detection assets 
     across all border and other pathways; and
       (E) any emerging threat vectors identified by the Director 
     of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.
       (2) In consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the 
     Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of State, the Nuclear 
     Regulatory Commission, the Intelligence Community, and the 
     Attorney General, an analysis of overall budget allocations 
     that determines whether Government wide nuclear detection 
     resources clearly align with identified priorities to 
     maximize results and minimize duplication of efforts.

     SEC. 504. RADIATION PORTAL MONITOR ALTERNATIVES.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that in 
     view of the Secretary's decision not to certify advanced 
     spectroscopic portal monitors for primary screening 
     applications because they do not offer a significant increase 
     in operational effectiveness over existing technology, the 
     Director must attempt to identify viable alternatives.
       (b) Analysis and Report.--The Director of the Domestic 
     Nuclear Detection Office shall analyze and report to the 
     appropriate congressional committees by not later than 90 
     days after the date of enactment of this Act on both existing 
     and developmental alternatives to existing radiation portal 
     monitors and advanced spectroscopic portal monitors that 
     would provide the Department with a significant increase in 
     operational effectiveness for primary screening for 
     radioactive materials.

     SEC. 505. AUTHORIZATION OF SECURING THE CITIES INITIATIVE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) The Securing the Cities Initiative of the Department 
     uses next generation radiation detection technology to detect 
     the transport of nuclear and radiological material in urban 
     areas by terrorists or other unauthorized individuals.
       (2) The technology used by partners in the Securing the 
     Cities Initiative leverages radiation detection technology 
     used at ports of entry.
       (3) The Securing the Cities Initiative has fostered 
     unprecedented collaboration and coordination among its 
     Federal, State, and local partners.
       (4) The Securing the Cities Initiative is a critical 
     national capability to detect the dangerous introduction of 
     nuclear and radiological material.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of amounts authorized 
     by section 501, there is authorized to be appropriated to the 
     Director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office of the 
     Department for the Securing the Cities Initiative such sums 
     as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012, 
     including--
       (1) for each city in which it has been implemented by 
     fiscal year 2009--
       (A) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
       (B) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and
       (2) for additional Securing the Cities initiatives to be 
     implemented in not fewer than 2 sites participating in the 
     Urban Area Security Initiative, such sums as may be necessary 
     each fiscal year to implement and sustain each additional 
     initiative.

                    TITLE VI--CLARIFYING AMENDMENTS

     SEC. 601. FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.

       Section 305 (6 U.S.C. 184) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(a) Establishment.--'' before the first 
     sentence; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
       ``(b) Congressional Tasking.--Upon a request of the 
     chairman and the ranking minority member of an appropriate 
     congressional committee, a federally funded research and 
     development center established under this section may perform 
     independent analysis of homeland security issues and report 
     its findings to the appropriate congressional committees and 
     the Secretary.
       ``(c) Congressional Oversight.--Federally funded research 
     and development centers established under this section are 
     encouraged, upon request of the chairman and the ranking 
     minority member of an appropriate congressional committee, to 
     provide to the committee a copy of any report it produces for 
     the Department or any of its components.
       ``(d) Conflicts of Interest.--The Secretary shall review 
     and revise, as appropriate, the policies of the Department 
     relating to personnel conflicts of interest to ensure that 
     such policies specifically address employees of federally 
     funded research and development centers established under 
     this section who are in a position to make or materially 
     influence research findings or agency decisionmaking.
       ``(e) Annual Reports.--Each federally funded research and 
     development center established under this section shall 
     transmit to the Secretary and appropriate congressional 
     committees an annual report on the activities of the 
     center.''.

     SEC. 602. ELIMINATION OF HOMELAND SECURITY INSTITUTE.

       (a) Repeal.--Section 312 (6 U.S.C. 192) is repealed.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) is amended by striking the item relating to such 
     section.

     SEC. 603. GAO STUDY OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STATUTORY 
                   RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT AND THE 
                   DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL LABORATORIES.

       (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
     United States shall--
       (1) conduct a study to assess the implementation of the 
     statutory relationship between the Department and the 
     Department of Energy national laboratories, as established by 
     section 309(a)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
     U.S.C. 189(a)(2)); and
       (2) submit recommendations to the appropriate congressional 
     committees for appropriate improvements to such relationship.
       (b) Study Subjects.--The study shall include the following:
       (1) Review of how the Department and the Department of 
     Energy national laboratories--
       (A) communicate needs and capabilities; and
       (B) select projects to be performed by the Department of 
     Energy national laboratories under such statutory 
     relationship.
       (2) Review of contracting mechanisms that the Department 
     and the Department of Energy national laboratories use to 
     initiate and track work under such statutory relationship.
       (3) Review of the fraction of Department of Energy national 
     laboratory work performed for the Department under such 
     statutory relationship, compared to other Department of 
     Energy national laboratory work performed for the Department 
     on a ``work for others'' basis.
       (4) Review the cost savings identified by the Department 
     and the Department of Energy achieved through use of such 
     statutory relationship, compared to other Department of 
     Energy national laboratory work performed for the Department 
     on a ``work for others'' basis.

     SEC. 604. TECHNICAL CHANGES.

       Section 1902 of the Homeland Security Act (6 U.S.C. 592) is 
     amended by--
       (1) striking paragraph (6); and
       (2) redesignating paragraphs (7) through (14) as paragraphs 
     (6) through (13), respectively.

   TITLE VII--COMMISSION ON THE PROTECTION OF CRITICAL ELECTRIC AND 
                       ELECTRONIC INFRASTRUCTURES

     SEC. 701. COMMISSION ON THE PROTECTION OF CRITICAL ELECTRIC 
                   AND ELECTRONIC INFRASTRUCTURES.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established the Commission on 
     the Protection of Critical Electric and Electronic 
     Infrastructures (in this section referred to as the 
     ``Commission'').
       (b) Purposes.--
       (1) In general.--The purposes of the Commission are to--
       (A) assess vulnerabilities of electric and electronic 
     infrastructures, including--
       (i) all components of the United States electric grid, 
     including electricity generation, transmission, distribution 
     and metering; and
       (ii) all computerized control systems used in all United 
     States critical infrastructure sectors;
       (B) provide a clear and comprehensive strategy and specific 
     recommendations for protecting these critical electric and 
     electronic infrastructures; and
       (C) test, evaluate, and report on specific mitigation 
     protection and recovery devices or methods.
       (2) In particular.--The Commission shall give particular 
     attention to threats that can disrupt or damage critical 
     electric and electronic infrastructures, including--
       (A) cyber attacks or unintentional cyber disruption;
       (B) electromagnetic phenomena such as geomagnetically 
     induced currents, intentional electromagnetic interference, 
     and electromagnetic pulses caused by nuclear weapons; and

[[Page 13433]]

       (C) other physical attack, act of nature, or accident.
       (c) Composition of Commission.--
       (1) Members.--The Commission shall be composed of 9 
     members, of whom--
       (A) 1 member shall be appointed by the Chairman of the 
     House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security;
       (B) 1 member shall be appointed by the ranking minority 
     member of the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland 
     Security;
       (C) 1 member shall be appointed by the Chairman of the 
     House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce;
       (D) 1 member shall be appointed by the ranking minority 
     member of the House of Representatives Committee on Energy 
     and Commerce;
       (E) 1 member shall be appointed by the Chairman of the 
     Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs;
       (F) 1 member shall be appointed by the ranking minority 
     member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs;
       (G) 1 member shall be appointed by the Chairman of the 
     Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources;
       (H) 1 member shall be appointed by the ranking minority 
     member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources; and
       (I) 1 member who shall serve as the Chairman of the 
     Commission, and who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives with the concurrence of the 
     President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
       (2) Qualifications.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     individuals appointed to the Commission should have 
     significant depth of experience in electric and electronic 
     infrastructures, their function, and their protection, as 
     well as the threats to these infrastructures as identified in 
     subsection (b)(2).
       (3) Deadline for appointment.--All members of the 
     Commission shall be appointed within 30 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act.
       (4) Initial meeting.--The Commission shall meet and begin 
     the operations of the Commission as soon as practicable.
       (5) Quorum; vacancies.--After its initial meeting, the 
     Commission shall meet upon the call of the Chairman or a 
     majority of its members. Six members of the Commission shall 
     constitute a quorum. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not 
     affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in 
     which the original appointment was made.
       (d) Responsibilities of Commission.--The Commission shall 
     address--
       (1) the quantification of the threats identified in 
     subsection (b)(2) to the United States electric and 
     electronic infrastructure, and a cost-benefit analysis of 
     possible protection and recovery strategies;
       (2) the roles, missions, and structure of all relevant 
     Federal, State, and local government departments and agencies 
     with responsibilities for ensuring protection and reliability 
     for electric and electronic infrastructures;
       (3) the roles, missions, and structure of all relevant 
     private sector entities with responsibilities for ensuring 
     protection and reliability for electric and electronic 
     infrastructures;
       (4) inter-agency coordination between and among the 
     entities identified in paragraphs (2) and (3); and
       (5) recommendations for protections and recovery devices 
     and measures.
       (e) Powers of Commission.--
       (1) Hearings and evidence.--The Commission or, on the 
     authority of the Commission, any subcommittee or member 
     thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out this section, 
     hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, 
     take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer 
     such oaths as the Commission or such designated subcommittee 
     or designated member may determine advisable.
       (2) Contracting.--The Commission may, to such extent and in 
     such amounts as are provided in appropriations Acts, enter 
     into contracts to enable the Commission to discharge its 
     duties under this subtitle.
       (3) Staff of commission.--
       (A) Appointment and compensation.--The Chairman of the 
     Commission, in accordance with rules agreed upon by the 
     Commission, may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff 
     director and such other personnel as may be necessary to 
     enable the Commission to carry out its functions, without 
     regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, 
     governing appointments in the competitive service, and 
     without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter 
     III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification 
     and General Schedule pay rates, except that no rate of pay 
     fixed under this subsection may exceed the equivalent of that 
     payable for a position at level I of the Executive Schedule 
     under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
       (B) Personnel as federal employees.--
       (i) In general.--The executive director and any employees 
     of the Commission shall be employees under section 2105 of 
     title 5, United States Code, for purposes of chapters 63, 81, 
     83, 84, 85, 87, 89, and 90 of that title.
       (ii) Members of commission.--Subparagraph (A) shall not be 
     construed to apply to members of the Commission.
       (C) Detailees.--Any Federal Government employee may be 
     detailed to the Commission without reimbursement from the 
     Commission, and such detailee shall retain the rights, 
     status, and privileges of his or her regular employment 
     without interruption.
       (D) Consultant services.--The Commission may procure the 
     services of experts and consultants in accordance with 
     section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at rates not 
     to exceed the daily rate paid a person occupying a position 
     at level I of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of 
     title 5, United States Code.
       (E) Security clearances.--The Chairman shall place an 
     emphasis on hiring and retaining employees, contractors, and 
     detailees with active security clearances. For employees who 
     do not have security clearances but are determined by the 
     Chairman to need them, the Central Intelligence Agency, 
     Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and any other 
     relevant agency shall expedite the necessary clearance 
     processes.
       (F) Former emp commission staff and resources.--The 
     Chairman may make use of any existing and viable staff and 
     resources previously employed by the Commission to Assess the 
     Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse Attack 
     established by section 1401 of Public Law 106-398 (114 Stat. 
     1654A-345).
       (4) Information from federal agencies.--
       (A) In general.--The Commission may secure directly from 
     any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, 
     office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the 
     Government, information, suggestions, estimates, and 
     statistics for the purposes of this section. Each department, 
     bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent 
     establishment, or instrumentality shall, to the extent 
     authorized by law, furnish such information, suggestions, 
     estimates, and statistics directly to the Commission, upon 
     request made by the Chairman, the chairman of any 
     subcommittee created by a majority of the Commission, or any 
     member designated by a majority of the Commission.
       (B) Receipt, handling, storage, and dissemination.--
     Information shall only be received, handled, stored, and 
     disseminated by members of the Commission and its staff 
     consistent with all applicable statutes, regulations, and 
     Executive orders.
       (5) Assistance from federal agencies.--
       (A) General services administration.--The Administrator of 
     General Services shall provide to the Commission on a 
     reimbursable basis and as necessary, administrative support 
     and other services for the performance of the Commission's 
     functions.
       (B) Other departments and agencies.--In addition to the 
     assistance prescribed in paragraph (1), departments and 
     agencies of the United States may provide to the Commission 
     such services, funds, facilities, staff, and other support 
     services as they may determine advisable and as may be 
     authorized by law.
       (6) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of 
     gifts or donations of services or property.
       (7) Postal services.--The Commission may use the United 
     States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions 
     as departments and agencies of the United States.
       (f) Public Meetings and Release of Public Versions of 
     Reports.--The Commission shall--
       (1) hold public hearings and meetings to the extent 
     appropriate;
       (2) release public versions of the report required under 
     subsection (g); and
       (3) conduct any public hearing in a manner consistent with 
     the protection of sensitive or classified information 
     provided to or developed for or by the Commission as required 
     by any applicable statute, regulation, or Executive order.
       (g) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the appointment 
     of the Commission, and annually thereafter, the Commission 
     shall submit to the President and Congress a report 
     containing such findings, conclusions, and recommendations 
     for protection and recovery measures for electric and 
     electronic infrastructures as have been agreed to by a 
     majority of Commission members.
       (h) Funding.--Of the amounts authorized by section 101, 
     there is authorized to be appropriated for the activities of 
     the Commission under this section--
       (1) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
       (2) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.

           TITLE VIII--BORDER SECURITY TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION

     SEC. 801. ENSURING RESEARCH ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                   HOMELAND SECURITY INCLUDE APPROPRIATE CONCEPTS 
                   OF OPERATION.

       The Under Secretary shall ensure that any Federal 
     Government interagency or intra-agency agreement entered into 
     by the Under Secretary to develop and transition new 
     technology explicitly characterizes the requirements, 
     expected use, and concept of operations for that technology, 
     including--
       (1) the manpower needed to effectively operate the 
     technology;
       (2) the expected training requirements; and
       (3) the expected operations and maintenance costs.

[[Page 13434]]



     SEC. 802. REPORT ON BASIC RESEARCH NEEDS FOR BORDER AND 
                   MARITIME SECURITY.

       Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Under Secretary shall enter into an arrangement with 
     the National Research Council for a one-year assessment of 
     the basic science research needs in the border and maritime 
     security domain. The assessment shall include consideration 
     of--
       (1) detection, tracking, and identification technologies 
     for cargo and people;
       (2) personal protective equipment;
       (3) document security and authentication technologies;
       (4) nonradiological advanced screening technologies at 
     ports of entry; and
       (5) technologies for real time tactical scene awareness.

     SEC. 803. INCORPORATING UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES INTO BORDER 
                   AND MARITIME AIRSPACE.

       (a) Research and Development.--The Secretary and the 
     Director of the Joint Planning and Development Office shall 
     research and develop technologies to permit routine operation 
     of unmanned aerial vehicles, including autonomously piloted 
     drones, within the national airspace for border and maritime 
     security missions without any degradation of existing levels 
     of safety for all national airspace system users.
       (b) Pilot Projects.--The Secretary shall coordinate with 
     the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and 
     the Director of the Joint Planning Office to enter into pilot 
     projects in sparsely populated, low-density Class G air 
     traffic airspace to conduct experiments and collect data in 
     order to accelerate the safe integration of unmanned aircraft 
     systems into the national airspace system as part of research 
     activities of the Joint Planning and Development Office.

     SEC. 804. ESTABLISHING A RESEARCH PROGRAM IN TUNNEL 
                   DETECTION.

       (a) Research and Development.--The Under Secretary shall 
     research and develop technologies to permit detection of near 
     surface voids, such as tunnels, with an emphasis on 
     technologies with real time capability.
       (b) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate with 
     other appropriate Federal agencies, including the Department 
     of Defense and the United States Geological Survey, and 
     ensure the integration of activities under subsection (a) 
     with relevant efforts of such other agencies and the 
     Department's Centers of Excellence Program.

     SEC. 805. RESEARCH IN DOCUMENT SECURITY AND AUTHENTICATION 
                   TECHNOLOGIES.

       (a) Establishment of Program.--The Under Secretary, in 
     coordination with the Director of the National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology, shall conduct a research and 
     development program on document security, validation, and 
     authentication technologies and standards. The program may 
     include assessment or development of imitation-resistant and 
     tamper-resistant documentation, imitation-resistant or 
     tamper-resistant devices, document validation and 
     authentication technologies, and document identification 
     standards.
       (b) Coordination.--In carrying out the program in 
     subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall coordinate with 
     other Federal agencies engaged in similar activities, 
     including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department 
     of State, the Department of Defense, the United States Coast 
     Guard, and the Department of Justice.
       (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 12 months after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary and the 
     Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
     Technology shall provide to the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and the Committee on Science and Technology of the 
     House of Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Government Affairs of the Senate, a report 
     detailing the actions taken by the Under Secretary and the 
     Director under this section.

     SEC. 806. STUDY ON GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES.

       (a) In General.--The Under Secretary shall conduct a study 
     of the need for next generation global positioning system 
     technology as it relates to border security, including--
       (1) conducting an analysis of the frequency of unintended 
     border crossings and the capability of global positioning 
     system technologies to address unintended border crossings by 
     government personnel;
       (2) undertaking an examination of the potential end user 
     requirements for global positioning system technologies, 
     including cost limitations, accessibility, and reliability; 
     and
       (3) developing recommendations for potential near-term and 
     long-term research, development, testing, and evaluation of 
     border security-focused global positioning technologies.
       (b) Consultation.--In conducting the study under subsection 
     (a), the Under Secretary shall consult with U.S. Customs and 
     Border Protection, the National Institute of Standards and 
     Technology and appropriate Federal, State, and local law 
     enforcement officials.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall report to 
     Congress the findings of the study conducted under this 
     section.

     SEC. 807. STUDY OF MOBILE BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGIES AT THE 
                   BORDER.

       (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in coordination with 
     the Commissioner of United States Customs and Border 
     Protection, shall establish a research program on the use of 
     mobile biometric technology at the Nation's borders between 
     the ports of entry, including--
       (1) conducting an analysis of existing mobile biometric 
     technologies and the extent to which they can be deployed in 
     Border Patrol agents' vehicles and used at the border, in 
     terms of operability, reliability, cost, and overall benefit 
     to border operations;
       (2) undertaking an examination of the potential end-user 
     requirements of mobile biometric technology by the Border 
     Patrol and other relevant end-users;
       (3) developing recommendations for addressing capability 
     gaps in mobile biometric technologies; and
       (4) examining the feasibility of implementing a pilot 
     program for use of mobile biometric technologies at the 
     border.
       (b) Consultation.--In conducting the research program under 
     subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall consult the 
     National Institute of Standards and Technology, other 
     appropriate Federal agencies, and appropriate Federal, State, 
     and local law enforcement officials.
       (c) Coordination.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
     research program is coordinated with other biometric 
     identification programs within the Department.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall transmit to 
     Congress a report on the findings of the research program 
     conducted under this section.

     SEC. 808. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Of the amount authorized by section 101 of this Act, such 
     sums as may be necessary are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this title.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Deutch). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke) and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
insert extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. CLARKE. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, there are hundreds of thousands of Americans who work 
day in and day out to protect our communities and our Nation. They 
perform a wide range of services for the country, responding to 
emergencies, screening bags and cargo, watching our borders. They are 
outstanding public servants, and we thank them for their service. We 
know that without them we are less secure. They know that without 
science and technology they can't accomplish their mission.
  So today we consider H.R. 4842, to acknowledge the importance of 
science and technology research, development, testing and evaluation, 
to ensuring the safety and security of the American people and our 
Nation.

                              {time}  1610

  H.R. 4842, the Homeland Security Science and Technology Authorization 
Act of 2010, reauthorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Science 
and Technology Directorate, and Domestic Nuclear Detection Office 
through fiscal year 2012. Since 2003, S&T has been responsible for 
developing technologies to address Homeland Security capability gaps as 
identified by DHS and its operational components, most notably Customs 
and Border Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Transportation 
Security Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 
DNDO was established in 2006 to develop detection technologies for 
nuclear and radiological devices, a high-consequence terrorist threat.
  This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the activities of S&T and 
DNDO and puts these two DHS components on a path to greater 
effectiveness and efficiency by requiring strategic plans, 
benchmarking, and accountability systems.
  For nearly a year, Mr. Lungren and I worked with my colleagues on the

[[Page 13435]]

committee to craft this bipartisan authorization bill, which would 
ensure that the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology 
Directorate has the right tools available to be successful. Success in 
this context means delivering products into the hands of our first 
responders, law enforcement officials, or critical infrastructure 
owners, to help them achieve their mission and make America more 
secure.
  In conducting our review, we examined the Homeland Security Act and 
the Department's use of the authorities the Congress has vested in it. 
We have also received insight and information from DHS leadership, 
stakeholders, the R&D community, private sector leaders, and 
independent analysts.
  I believe that by reaching out to key stakeholders, we developed a 
very good bill that will authorize important management functions and 
programs within the S&T Directorate while emphasizing efficiency and 
cost savings.
  Within this legislation, we institutionalize the process by which 
research and development is identified, prioritized, and funded within 
DHS. We emphasize the importance of strategic planning and require DHS 
S&T to do so every 2 years.
  We establish training programs for developing technology requirements 
at DHS. We authorize an Office of Testing and Evaluation designed to 
prevent problems that occurred in major acquisition programs like 
SBInet, the infamous virtual fence, which will help curb wasteful 
spending in the Department.
  We create an Office of Public-Private Partnerships and establish 
within S&T a streamlined review process for unsolicited proposals. We 
authorize twice the current amount of funding for cybersecurity R&D.
  We explore alternatives for ASP technologies for detecting nuclear 
and radiological materials, and we affirm the committee's support for 
university programs and small businesses.
  I look forward to discussing these and other matters with my 
colleagues today.
  Finally, I want to express my appreciation and thanks to our 
chairman, Mr. Thompson, and Ranking Member King for their support of 
this important legislation.
  Mr. Lungren was very instrumental in crafting the bill, and I thank 
him for working with me on it. I want to also thank the majority and 
minority committee and personal office staffs for their efforts.
  We often say that Homeland Security is not a partisan issue, and that 
is evidenced today by this bipartisan legislation.

     Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,
     Ford House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning the 
     jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Science and 
     Technology in H.R. 4842, the Homeland Security Science and 
     Technology Authorization Act of 2010.
       H.R. 4842 was favorably reported by the Committee on 
     Homeland Security on May 18, 2010. I recognize and appreciate 
     your desire to bring this legislation before the House in an 
     expeditious manner, and, accordingly, I will waive further 
     consideration of this bill in Committee. However, agreeing to 
     waive consideration of this bill should not be construed as 
     the Committee on Science and Technology waiving its 
     jurisdiction over H.R. 4842.
       Further, I request your support for the appointment of 
     Science and Technology Committee conferees during any House-
     Senate conference convened on this legislation. I also ask 
     that a copy of this letter and your response be placed in the 
     Congressional Record during consideration of this bill on the 
     House floor
       Thank you for your attention to this matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Bart Gordon,
                                                         Chairman.

     
                                  ____
                                                    June 25, 2010.
     Hon. Bart Gordon,
     Chairman, Committee on Science and Technology, House of 
         Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I write to you regarding H.R. 4842, the 
     ``Homeland Security Science and Technology Authorization Act 
     of 2010.''
       I agree that provisions in H.R. 4842 are of jurisdictional 
     interest to the Committee on Science and Technology. I 
     acknowledge that by forgoing further consideration, your 
     Committee is not relinquishing its jurisdiction and I will 
     fully support your request to be represented in a House-
     Senate conference on those provisions over which the 
     Committee on Science and Technology has jurisdiction in H.R. 
     4842.
       This exchange of letters will be inserted in the 
     Congressional Record as part of the consideration of this 
     legislation in the House.
       I look forward to working with you on this legislation and 
     other matters of great importance to this nation.
           Sincerely,
                                               Bennie G. Thompson,
                                                         Chairman.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4842, the Homeland Security 
Science and Technology Authorization Act of 2010. It gives me great 
pleasure to work with the gentlewoman in bringing forward this 
authorization bill to the floor.
  This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the Science and Technology 
Directorate and the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office for fiscal years 
2011 and 2012, and I want to thank the chairwoman for her bipartisan 
leadership on this legislation.
  This process started last summer with numerous stakeholder meetings, 
followed by meetings and recommendations from the Department of 
Homeland Security and concluding with the recent improvements and 
support of the House Science and Technology Committee. When it comes to 
homeland security, there is no room for partisanship. Chairwoman Clark 
and the chairman of our full committee, Chairman Thompson, working 
together with Mr. King from New York, the ranking Republican on the 
committee, all deserve a great deal of credit for reaching out across 
the aisle to craft a more effective bill, and, I must say, it does 
include provisions of importance to our Republican members.
  These provisions would include the establishment of research 
initiatives to bolster border and maritime security; the development of 
tools to enhance resilience to terrorist attacks and other incidents, 
especially in rural communities; research and testing of technologies 
to help secure the border and ensure the safety of our underground mass 
transit systems; as well as an assessment of how useful rapid screening 
tools for influenza and other biological threats would be at our border 
ports of entry.
  Our bill emphasizes management and administrative reforms that target 
the needs of the Science and Technology customers, those being the 
Border Patrol, TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA, and ICE, by most closely 
aligning the Directorate's research and development activities with 
identified homeland security risks so there will be a more rapid 
application of the technology to the true needs as identified by S&T's 
customers.
  It will improve our homeland security by establishing a more rigorous 
process within the S&T Directorate for identifying, prioritizing, and 
funding these important research opportunities.
  It recognizes the need to prioritize research around risk and 
authorizes the establishment of a Testing, Evaluation, and Standards 
Division within the S&T Directorate to help ensure that technology is 
properly evaluated.
  So, Mr. Speaker, in order to foster closer collaboration between the 
Science and Technology Directorate and commercial companies with 
promising Homeland Security technologies, our bill authorizes the 
Office of Public-Private Partnerships to be established within the S&T 
Directorate.
  Importantly, title VII of our legislation establishes a Commission on 
the Protection of Critical Electric and Electronic Infrastructures to 
assess the vulnerabilities of this infrastructure and make 
recommendations for better securing this critically important 
infrastructure in the future.
  While we rely on the cyberworld for much of our embedded command and 
control systems, perhaps it is no more important than in the area of 
critical electric and electronic infrastructure, and it is our hope 
that this commission will help us in the Congress to prioritize those 
needs with respect to

[[Page 13436]]

the vulnerabilities of the infrastructure and the protection of that 
infrastructure.
  We depend on the Science and Technology Directorate to develop state-
of-the-art technology to protect our citizens and critical 
infrastructure from terrorist attacks. Timely and accurate intelligence 
is always our best defense against the terror threat. However, when we 
have no actionable intelligence, we must rely on the skill of our 
personnel and the effectiveness of our technology in order to detect, 
deter, and defend against the terrorist enemy. The better technology we 
develop and deploy, the stronger, therefore, our homeland security. We 
believe this legislation will help provide the necessary technology 
tools to bolster our homeland defenses.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to highlight a very important 
provision in this bill that is critical to both Ranking Member King and 
the security of New York City, as well as to our Nation as a whole. It 
is the authorization and expansion of the Securing the Cities program.
  Securing the Cities is a vital Homeland Security program to help 
prevent terrorist attacks in major cities using nuclear radiological 
weapons such as a dirty bomb. The program has enabled the establishment 
of a network ring of radiological detectors on highways, toll plazas, 
bridges, tunnels, and waterways leading into and out of New York City, 
which, as we know, is perhaps the top terrorist target for al Qaeda and 
affiliated terrorist organizations.

                              {time}  1620

  The detonation of a nuclear or dirty bomb in the New York City Tri-
State area or any other major metropolitan area would inflict serious 
damage to our country's economy in addition to the terrible tragedy of 
the human lives involved, and it would be much like the 9/11 attacks.
  Securing the Cities is a successful program that can and should be 
replicated in other areas around the country. That's why language in 
this bill would expand the program to at least two additional high-risk 
cities where these capabilities are most needed, therefore leveraging 
what we already have learned about building defenses against nuclear 
and radiological weapons in New York City to erect similar security 
perimeters in and around other cities.
  I want to remind our colleagues that the threat of nuclear or 
radiological terrorism is real. It's not just an academic exercise. 
It's not just some fiction. It is real. The Weapons of Mass Destruction 
Commission, the WMD Commission, warned in 2008 that an attack using a 
weapon of mass destruction was likely to happen somewhere in the world 
by 2013. Commissioners Graham and Talent, appearing before our 
committee on April 21 of this year, repeated this warning.
  The President's National Security Strategy that was released earlier 
this year concluded this: ``The American people face no greater or more 
urgent danger than a terrorist attack with a nuclear weapon. The 
potential of nuclear or radiological terrorism is a nightmare scenario 
that we must guard against with every available capability and 
resource. We believe that authorizing and expanding Securing the Cities 
will help protect our country, not just New York City but the entire 
country, from such a danger.''
  Now, let me close, Mr. Speaker, by saying that while I'm pleased we 
are considering this bill today, I do believe that the House should be 
considering a comprehensive authorization bill for the Department of 
Homeland Security. This House has not done so since 2007, with one of 
the reasons being that we, frankly, have too many committees and 
subcommittees having jurisdiction over homeland security.
  The 9/11 Commission recommended, in 2004, that ``Congress should 
create a single, principal point of oversight review for homeland 
security.'' Unfortunately, the current jurisdictional web of 
congressional oversight under the Department of Homeland Security 
results in conflicting guidance to the Department and is a serious 
drain on its time and resources. And, Mr. Speaker, I don't say this as 
a Republican criticizing the majority in the House. This was true when 
the Republicans were in control. It is the remaining recommendation by 
the 9/11 Commission that has not been enacted into law here by this 
House.
  The chairman and the vice chairman of the 9/11 Commission, Governor 
Kean and Congressman Hamilton, testified that this jurisdictional maze 
is unworkable, and they said it could make our country less safe. Those 
are strong words, but they repeated them in their testimony before our 
committee.
  I hope that we can streamline congressional jurisdiction moving 
forward so that Congress can enact a comprehensive authorization bill 
for the Department, which, I say, has not happened since its creation 
in 2003. The failure to do so jeopardizes our ability to ensure that 
our Nation's homeland security policies are as robust as they need to 
be to meet the evolving nature of terrorism.
  I want to again thank Chairman Thompson, Chairwoman Clarke, and 
Ranking Member King for all their help in crafting a very good 
bipartisan bill that strengthens our homeland security capabilities, 
and I would, of course, urge all my colleagues to support passage of 
the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas, the subcommittee chairwoman of the Transportation Security and 
Infrastructure Protection Committee of Homeland Security, Ms. Jackson 
Lee.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. I thank the gentlelady who chairs the 
Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and has done an excellent job. I thank 
the ranking member that shares that responsibility with her, Mr. 
Lungren.
  I rise today to congratulate these members for the Homeland Security 
Science and Technology Authorization Act of 2010 and to make the point 
that under Chairman Thompson we have, in actuality, passed more 
authorization bills on our committee, and particularly those that 
relate to subcommittees. The Committee on Transportation Security has 
passed H.R. 2200 and is waiting for action in the Senate.
  I join my friend from California and indicate that homeland security 
is not a partisan issue; it is a bipartisan issue, as he has indicated. 
And I join him in wondering when we can adhere to the 9/11 Commission 
report and get a more single-focused review of homeland security in the 
Homeland Security Committee. I hope that maybe we will have the 
opportunity to work in a bipartisan manner, to work with the other 
body, and to really accomplish the idea of maintaining homeland 
security issues in the Homeland Security committees, both in the House 
and the Senate.
  This legislation shows what our committee can do under the leadership 
of Chairwoman Clarke and Ranking Member Lungren to be able to establish 
a roadmap for Science and Technology. After listening to the oversight 
findings of the Committee on Homeland Security, the GAO, and the DHS 
Inspector General, H.R. 4842 requires Science and Technology to 
establish requirements for how basic and applied homeland security 
research is identified, prioritized, funded, passed, and evaluated, and 
emphasizes the need to prioritize research around risk.
  We all know that Science and Technology really is the backbone of our 
homeland security efforts. It is to keep us ahead of the terrorists who 
want to do us harm. H.R. 4852 authorizes the establishment of a more 
quasi-autonomous Testing, Evaluations and Standards Division within S&T 
to help ensure that technology is properly evaluated.
  Additionally, in an effort to foster better collaboration between S&T 
and the private sector firms--most especially small firms--with 
promising homeland security technologies, H.R. 4842 authorizes the 
Office of Public-Private Partnerships. I want to congratulate the 
chairwoman and the ranking member on this issue.
  Before my committee, the Subcommittee on Transportation Security, 
many times small businesses will come before us and really act in angst 
about

[[Page 13437]]

the fact that their new technology is languishing at the Department of 
Homeland Security. Now we have, because of this legislation, the Rapid 
Review Division that is in charge of establishing an accessible, 
streamlined system to conduct timely reviews of unsolicited technology 
proposals in order to more effectively harness the ingenuity of the 
American private sector in an area where DHS continues to struggle. It 
is important that we do that.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Ms. CLARKE. I yield an additional 2 minutes to Ms. Jackson Lee.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. I thank the gentlelady for her courtesy.
  To be able to help our small businesses is a leap forward, and I 
congratulate them for this innovative division that will help move 
these technologies forward. I hope that small businesses are listening. 
They now have a rapid ear under Science and Technology to listen to 
them in the Department of Homeland Security.
  I am very excited about handheld detectors for the Department of 
Homeland Security to do rapid detection of biological threats at ports 
and airports and the dual-use terrorist risks of synthetic genomics.
  I think it is also important that we have enhancements to unmanned 
aerial surveillance technology for safe and effective deployment for 
border and maritime missions. We had a hearing on this just recently. 
Many of us questioned the safety or the results-oriented work of that 
unmanned aerial surveillance being used at the border. We need to have 
those results, and I believe that this legislation will help us do so.
  So this is a great step forward, in addition to the authorization of 
$20 million for the Securing the Cities program for fiscal year 2011 
and directs DNDO, in fiscal year 2012, to add at least two new cities, 
based on risk, to this radiation detection program in operation in New 
York City. We all know that the threat of nuclear attacks as a homeland 
security threat is evident, and radiation detection is crucial for us 
to be sure that we have a number of elements to assess the potential of 
that kind of threat.
  This legislation takes advantage of the concerns we all have of 
making sure our science and technology is an integral part of defending 
the homeland. I believe this legislation, H.R. 4842, takes a giant leap 
forward in being part of the work that we do for defending this Nation, 
the work that is done by this committee, led by Chairman Thompson and 
Ranking Member King, and of course the work of this subcommittee, 
Chairwoman Clarke and Ranking Member Lungren. I thank them for their 
work and ask my colleagues to support this legislation, H.R. 4842.
  H.R. 4842, the ``Homeland Security Science and Technology 
Authorization Act of 2010'' reauthorizes the Department of Homeland 
Security's (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Domestic 
Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) through 2012, and puts these two DHS 
components on a path to greater effectiveness and efficiency by 
requiring strategic plans, milestones, and accountability systems.
  This bipartisan legislation was introduced by the Committee on 
Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, 
Science and Technology Chairwoman Yvette Clarke and Ranking Member Dan 
Lungren.
  In advance of floor consideration, the Committees on Homeland 
Security and Science and Technology collaborated extensively on this 
legislation and worked together to deliver a bill with the bipartisan 
support of both committees.
  Since 2003, S&T has been responsible for developing technologies to 
address homeland security capability gaps, as identified by DHS and its 
operational components--Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the U.S. 
Coast Guard (USCG), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Infrastructure Protection 
(IP), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
  DNDO was established in 2006 to develop detection technologies for 
nuclear and radiological devices--a high-consequence terrorist threat.
  H.R. 4842 takes a two-layered approach to authorizing S&T and DNDO: 
an overarching approach aimed at creating more accountability and 
effective management of each component; and a more targeted approach 
focused on specific programs and activities.
  In response to oversight findings of the Committee on Homeland 
Security, the Government Accountability Office, and the DHS Inspector 
General, H.R. 4842 requires S&T to establish requirements for how basic 
and applied homeland security research is identified, prioritized, 
funded, tasked, and evaluated and emphasizes the need to prioritize 
research around risk.
  H.R. 4842 authorizes the establishment of a more quasi-autonomous 
Testing, Evaluations and Standards Division within S&T to help ensure 
that technology is properly evaluated.
  Additionally, in an effort to foster better collaboration between S&T 
and private sector firms--most especially small firms--with promising 
homeland security technologies, H.R. 4842 authorizes the Office of 
Public-Private Partnerships. Within this office, the Rapid Review 
Division is charge with establishing an accessible, streamlined system 
to conduct timely reviews of unsolicited technology proposals in order 
to more effectively harness the ingenuity of the American private 
sector, an area where DHS continues to struggle.
  With respect to specific programs, H.R. 4842 directs S&T to work 
towards giving DHS new tools to address the threat of terrorism and 
enhance homeland security by conducting researching and development 
regarding: Mobile biometric technologies for deployment at the border 
(Sec. 807), technology to enhance detection of border tunnels 
(Sec.804), and utilization of global positioning satellite systems for 
detection of unauthorized border crossings (Sec. 806);
  Hand-held detectors for DHS to do rapid detection of biological 
threats at ports and airports (Sec. 411) and the dual-use terrorist 
risks of synthetic genomics (Sec. 407);
  Maritime domain awareness enhancements (Sec. 410), technologies to 
improve the security of underwater public transportation tunnels 
against explosives (Sec. 408), and technologies to mitigate the threat 
of small vessel attack (Sec. 419);
  Cyber compromises to federally-owned networks and devices that are 
essential to the reliable operation of critical infrastructure (Sec. 
406);
  Enhancements to unmanned aerial surveillance technology for safe and 
effective deployment for border and maritime missions (Sec. 803); and
  Technologies to strengthen document security and authentication (Sec. 
805).
  H.R. 4842 requires S&T to give particular attention to the border 
security mission. Specifically, the Homeland Security Science and 
Technology Authorization Act of 2010 authorizes S&T, in coordination 
with CBP, to pursue research and development to improve effective 
control of the international land borders of the United States within 5 
years (Sec. 409).
  In addition to the S&T directorate, H.R. 4842 reauthorizes the DNDO.
  Important provisions regarding this vital agency include:
  Language to codify in statute the movement of basic and 
transformational nuclear and radiological research and development 
activities to S&T
  Requirements for strategic planning, milestones, and accountability 
in place at DNDO that are parallel to the requirements for S&T
  Authorization of $20 million for the Securing the Cities program for 
fiscal year 2011 and directs DNDO, in fiscal year 2012, to add at least 
two new cities, based on risk, to this radiation detection program in 
operation in New York City. (The House approved H.R. 2611, which 
authorized the Securing the Cities program on January 20, 2010.)


                    Authorization of Appropriations

  S&T--$1.12 billion for fiscal year 2011 ($12 million over the 
President's request to restore funding for the University Programs) and 
$1.15 billion for fiscal year 2012 (3% increase over the 2011 level).
  DNDO--$305.8 million for fiscal year 2011 (President's request) and 
$315 million for fiscal year 2012 (3% increase over 2011 level).
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. I continue to reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Wu), who is a leader on the Science and Technology 
Committee, who worked very closely with our committee to make this 
legislation a reality. We want to thank him for his leadership in that 
regard.

                              {time}  1630

  Mr. WU. I thank the gentlewoman for her kind comments.
  I rise in support of the Homeland Security Science and Technology 
Authorization Act of 2010, which reauthorizes

[[Page 13438]]

 the activities of the Science and Technology Directorate and the DNDO 
at the Department of Homeland Security.
  As the chair of the Science and Technology Committee's Subcommittee 
on Technology and Innovation, I very much appreciate the important role 
that technology plays in empowering DHS to carry out its very, very 
important mission. The Science and Technology Directorate is 
responsible for ensuring that those who are responsible for keeping us 
safe have the best tools and the most up-to-date technologies to get 
their job done.
  Over the last year and a half, my subcommittee, the Technology and 
Innovation Subcommittee, has held multiple hearings on the work being 
carried out by the Science and Technology Directorate and the DNDO. 
Through these hearings, we were able to identify critical areas where 
the directorate could use new tools or, in some cases, new direction to 
help it achieve its mission effectively and efficiently.
  I look forward to working with the Homeland Security Committee to 
address some of the issues that arose during my subcommittee's 
hearings, particularly those relating to the public's acceptance of new 
technologies.
  For example, I remain very concerned about TSA's decision to spend 
hundreds of millions of dollars to deploy full-body scanners in 
airports across the country without fully understanding the potential 
reluctance of the public to accept these technologies. This research 
into acceptance should be done before purchase to avoid wasting 
taxpayer money.
  I want to thank Chairman Thompson, Chairwoman Clarke, Ranking Member 
King, and Ranking Member Lungren for their work on this important 
legislation.
  I am pleased that our committees were able to work together over the 
last couple of months to craft this important bipartisan legislation, 
and I hope that this reauthorization bill will improve the way the 
Department sets priorities for its research and involves the end users 
of equipment to ensure that new technology is actually deployable and 
usable in the field. This has been a gaping shortfall to date.
  The reauthorization bill we are considering today takes important 
steps forward in improving the research and development conducted by 
DHS, and I look forward to having the Science and Technology Committee 
work with the chairwoman's subcommittee in exercising our oversight and 
in continuing to improve the vital research capacity at the Department 
of Homeland Security.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes 
to a very valuable member of our committee, the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Austria).
  Mr. AUSTRIA. I thank the gentleman from California for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4842, the Homeland Security 
Science and Technology Authorization Act of 2010. This bipartisan 
legislation is the first authorization bill for the Science and 
Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security since the 
Department was created in 2002.
  The Science and Technology Directorate is a critical component within 
the Department of Homeland Security as it works in collaboration with 
national laboratories, universities and other public and private 
entities to develop the technologies needed to address our Nation's 
security needs.
  The Homeland Security Committee included an important amendment to 
this bill. It would add ``medical readiness and community resiliency 
for health care critical infrastructure'' to the existing criteria for 
the university-based Homeland Security Centers of Excellence program. 
In bringing together leading experts and researchers in university-
based settings, the Centers of Excellence program has been successful 
in facilitating the development of homeland security solutions.
  While this program does a good job in strengthening the use of 
technology and the role of our first responders, such as law 
enforcement officers, firefighters and EMTs, when it comes to 
recovering from and responding to a man-made or natural disaster, it 
currently lacks a distinct focus on medical readiness and community 
resiliency for existing health care critical infrastructure.
  First responders and medical care providers are critical to our 
Nation's ability to recover from a terrorist attack or from a natural 
disaster, and they deserve our support and the support of the 
Department of Homeland Security. In adding medical readiness to the 
criteria for the university-based Homeland Security Centers of 
Excellence program, this gap will be addressed, further advancing our 
country's homeland security initiatives.
  Again, I strongly support this important and much needed piece of 
legislation.
  I would like to thank Chairwoman Clarke and Ranking Member Lungren 
for their hard work as well as Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member 
King.
  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I would just like 
to say in my remaining time that I hope that this is a unanimous vote 
in support of this legislation. It gives a framework to the S&T 
directorate, and it is an assertion of the proper jurisdiction of this 
committee and of this House, and I do believe this moves us in the 
right direction.
  I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Ms. CLARKE. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important Homeland 
Security legislation. This legislation authorizes a program that has 
been very instrumental in keeping the City of New York and its environs 
safe, and that is securing the city. This initiative has proven to be 
an effective tool, and we are looking forward to a whole range of other 
important R&D programs to come forth as a result of this 
reauthorization. Securing the city should be expanded and will be 
expanded through this authorization to other environs throughout this 
Nation that could use that level of security through our efforts, as 
has been the case with securing the cities.
  So I am urging my colleagues, once again, to make sure that this 
authorization passes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H.R. 4842, the ``Homeland Security Science and Technology 
Authorization Act of 2010.''
  This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security's Science 
and Technology Directorate, S&T, and Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, 
DNDO, through fiscal year 2012.
  Introduced by Representatives Yvette Clarke and Dan Lungren--the 
Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Committee's Emerging Threats, 
Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology Subcommittee--H.R. 4842 seeks 
to strengthen our homeland security by ensuring more effective 
research, development, testing, and evaluation activities.
  As Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, I strongly believe 
that recurring authorizations are important mechanisms to effectuate 
oversight findings and help steer an agency on the right course.
  This legislation represents the first reauthorization of S&T--which 
was authorized in 2002--and DNDO--which was established in 2006.
  Taking into account the Committee's extensive oversight findings as 
well as findings of GAO, the Inspector General, and the National 
Academy of Sciences, H.R. 4842 directs DHS to put robust management, 
administration, and programmatic systems in place at S&T and DNDO.
  Specifically, to foster greater alignment between S&T research and 
the needs of DHS' operational components--such as TSA, CBP, and the 
Coast Guard--H.R. 4842 directs the establishment of rigorous processes 
within S&T for identifying, prioritizing, and setting requirements for 
research opportunities.
  The bill also recognizes that, in order to conduct the best research, 
we need the best people.
  H.R. 4842 contains advanced professional development provisions and 
creates fellowship opportunities for new scientists and engineers to 
bring their skills to DHS.
  H.R. 4842 also takes into account that innovation is often fueled by 
the private sector and that the challenging and evolving nature of the 
terrorist threat demands closer collaboration between S&T and the 
private sector.

[[Page 13439]]

  Accordingly, in an effort to improve collaboration between S&T and 
the private sector, H.R. 4842 authorizes an office of Public-Private 
Partnerships and, within the office, establishes a ``Rapid Review 
Division'' to evaluate technological proposals and provide feedback 
within 60 days.
  A common concern that I hear from firms with novel homeland security 
technologies is that they do not know who to contact at S&T to pursue 
research opportunities and that they cannot seem to get anyone at S&T 
to look at their technologies.
  Establishment of this new review division will go a long way to 
improving collaboration and innovation.
  Further, H.R. 4842 directs DHS to evaluate whether establishing a 
venture capital program--modeled after the Defense Department's InQtel 
program--could facilitate swifter development of homeland security 
technologies.
  H.R. 4842 also authorizes several specific programmatic areas for 
research including: mobile biometric technologies for deployment at the 
border; enhanced detection of border tunnels; hand-held detectors for 
DHS to do rapid detection of biological threats at ports and airports; 
technologies to mitigate the threat of small vessel attack; research to 
assess the extent of cyber compromises to federally-owned networks and 
devices; and enhancements to unmanned aerial surveillance technology 
for safe and effective deployment for border and maritime missions.
  From the very beginning, H.R. 4842 was developed in an open, 
collegial, and bipartisan manner.
  The Full Committee favorably reported H.R. 4842--which authorizes 
$2.3 billion to S&T and $620 million to DNDO through 2012--by a 
unanimous vote of ``26 to 0''.
  H.R. 4842 also reflects collaboration between my Committee and the 
Committee on Science and Technology.
  I would like to thank Chairman Bart Gordon and Ranking Member Ralph 
Hall for their contributions to the bill and for working with us to get 
H.R. 4842 to the floor today.
  I think our process has proven that the barriers of partisanship and 
jurisdiction can be overcome when we put the good of the country first.
  Finally, I would like to thank Under Secretary for Science and 
Technology Tara O'Toole, and the Acting Director of the Domestic 
Nuclear Detection Office Bill Hagan, as well as the dozens of 
stakeholders who took the time to give their input, as we worked 
through the process of developing this bill.
  Again, I congratulate Representatives Clarke and Lungren on their 
solid work steering this important homeland security bill and urge my 
colleagues to support H.R. 4842.
  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4842, 
the Homeland Security Science and Technology Authorization Act, which 
will authorize needed funds for important activities and programs 
within the Department of Homeland Security to help make our country 
more secure.
  This bill is the product of extensive bipartisan work dating back to 
last summer, which includes input from numerous stakeholder meetings, 
the Department of Homeland Security, and the House Committee on Science 
and Technology.
  I want to recognize the work of Chairwoman Clarke--the author of the 
bill--and Ranking Member Lungren, whose Subcommittee on Emerging 
Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology marked up this bill 
on March 16 and reported the bill favorably by voice vote.
  The Full Committee then considered this bill and reported it 
unanimously by a vote of 26-0 on April 15, 2010.
  We appreciate the Majority working with us in a bipartisan way, and 
including a number of provisions of importance to Republican Members.
  These provisions include the establishment of research initiatives to 
bolster border and maritime security, development of tools to enhance 
resilience to terrorist attacks and other incidents, especially in 
rural communities, research and testing of technologies to help secure 
the border and ensure the safety of our underground mass transit 
systems, and an assessment of how useful rapid screening tools for 
influenza and other biological threats would be at our border ports of 
entry.
  I also want to highlight a very important provision in this bill that 
is critical both to the security of New York City and surrounding areas 
as well as to our Nation as a whole, which is the authorization and 
expansion of the Securing the Cities program.
  Securing the Cities is a vital homeland security program to help 
prevent terrorist attacks in major cities using nuclear or radiological 
weapons, like a dirty bomb. The program has enabled the establishment 
of a networked ring of radiological detectors on highways, toll plazas, 
bridges, tunnels, and waterways leading into and out of New York City, 
which as we have seen, is the top terror target for al-Qaeda and 
affiliated terrorist organizations.
  Securing the Cities is both a regional capability and a national 
asset. The program provides the operational capability to interdict a 
radiological or nuclear weapon in one city so that it cannot be 
delivered to and detonated in another.
  Recent attacks on New York City came from other regions: Najibullah 
Zazi traveled from Denver to New York City in a plot to possibly bomb 
the subway system and Faisal Shahzad traveled from Connecticut to New 
York and attempted to detonate a car bomb in Times Square.
  The detonation of a nuclear or dirty bomb in the New York tri-state 
area, or in any major metropolitan area, would inflict serious damages 
to our country's economy, much like the 9/11 attacks did.
  Securing the Cities is a successful program that can and should be 
replicated in other areas around the country. That is why language in 
this bill would expand the program to at least two additional high-risk 
cities where these capabilities are most needed, leveraging what we 
have already learned about building defenses against nuclear and 
radiological weapons in New York to erect similar security perimeters 
in and around other cities.
  Securing the Cities is an excellent example of the type of 
coordination between Federal, State, and local partners that Congress 
has demanded and the Department has worked to facilitate. We absolutely 
must enhance our nuclear detection architecture in a world where the 
threat of nuclear terrorism is on the rise.
  The House has voted in favor of the Securing the Cities program on 
four separate occasions. These include last year, when the full House 
supported similar language when it passed H.R. 2611 under Suspension of 
the Rules by voice vote on January 20, 2010. The House again voiced 
strong bipartisan support when it adopted an amendment Representative 
Clarke and I offered in June 2009 to H.R. 2892, the Fiscal Year 2010 
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, to restore funding 
for this vital program.
  House passage of this bill will reaffirm the continuing bipartisan 
support for this program in the House and send a strong signal to the 
United States Senate to pass legislation to authorize Securing the 
Cities prior to adjournment of the 111th Congress.
  I want to remind our colleagues that the threat of nuclear or 
radiological terrorism is real. The WMD Commission warned in 2008 that 
an attack using a weapon of mass destruction was likely to happen 
somewhere in the world by 2013. Commissioners Graham and Talent 
repeated this warning before the Committee on Homeland Security on 
April 21 of this year.
  The President's National Security Strategy that was released earlier 
this year concluded that ``the American People face no greater or more 
urgent danger than a terrorist attack with a nuclear weapon.''
  The potential of nuclear or radiological terrorism is a nightmare 
scenario that we must guard against with every available capability and 
resource. Authorizing and expanding Securing the Cities will help 
better protect our country from such danger.
  Let me close by saying while I am pleased we are considering this 
bill today, I believe the House should be considering a comprehensive 
authorization bill for the Department. The House has not done so since 
2007, with one of the reasons being too many committees and 
subcommittees have jurisdiction over homeland security issues.
  The 9/11 Commission recommended in 2004 that ``Congress should create 
a single, principal point of oversight and review for homeland 
security.'' The current jurisdictional web of congressional oversight 
of the Department of Homeland Security results in conflicting guidance 
to the Department and is a serious drain on its time and resources.
  The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the 
9/11 Commission--Governor Kean and Congressman Hamilton--have testified 
this jurisdictional maze is unworkable and could make our country less 
safe.
  I hope that we can streamline congressional jurisdiction moving 
forward so that Congress can enact a comprehensive authorization bill 
for the Department, which has not happened since its creation in 2003. 
The failure to do so jeopardizes our ability to ensure that our 
nation's homeland security policies are as robust as they need to be to 
meet the evolving nature of terrorist threats.
  I again want to thank Chairman Thompson, Congresswoman Clarke, and my 
friend from California, Mr. Lungren, for crafting a very good bill that 
will help improve our homeland security capabilities.

[[Page 13440]]

  I urge my colleagues to support passage of H.R. 4842.
  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4842, 
the Homeland Security Science and Technology Authorization Act of 2010, 
which authorizes important management functions and programs within the 
Department of Homeland Security Science &Technology (S&T) Directorate.
  I would like to acknowledge Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer 
for their leadership in bringing this important resolution to the 
floor. I would also like to thank my colleagues Chairman Thompson and 
Congresswoman Clarke, who authored this legislation, which represents a 
milestone for the S&T Directorate and the Homeland Security Committee. 
It is the first authorization bill for S&T since the Department was 
created in 2002.
  As Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency 
Communications, Preparedness, and Response, I have been concerned about 
these issues. Through the Committee's years of oversight work, I have a 
great appreciation for not only S&T's strengths and successes, but also 
its weaknesses, which include a lack of accessibility, transparency, 
and responsiveness.
  H.R. 4842 addresses those weaknesses and acknowledges the importance 
of science and technology research, development, testing, and 
evaluation in ensuring the safety and security of the American people 
and our nation. This bill ensures that the Science and Technology 
Directorate has the right tools available to be successful, such as 
delivering products into the hands of our first responders, law 
enforcement officials, or critical infrastructure owners to help them 
achieve their mission and make America more secure. This legislation 
also authorizes critical management functions and programs within S&T, 
including the Securing the Cities program.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation because we 
need the very best science and technology available to defend the 
threats against our homeland. I am pleased that Congress and the 
Committee on Homeland Security are taking action to promote these 
improvements and adequately fund the areas of government responsible 
for science and technology research.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4842.
  Ms. CLARKE. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4842, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________