[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16151-16153]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    SECURING THE CITIES ACT OF 2015

  Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3493) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to 
establish the Securing the Cities program to enhance the ability of the 
United States to detect and prevent terrorist attacks and other high 
consequence events utilizing nuclear or other radiological materials 
that pose a high risk to homeland security in high-risk urban areas, 
and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3493

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Securing the Cities Act of 
     2015''.

     SEC. 2. SECURING THE CITIES PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Title XIX of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 591 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new section:

     ``SEC. 1908. SECURING THE CITIES PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Establishment.--The Director for Domestic Nuclear 
     Detection shall establish the `Securing the Cities' (`STC') 
     program to enhance the ability of the United States to detect 
     and prevent terrorist attacks and other high consequence 
     events utilizing nuclear or other radiological materials that 
     pose a high risk to homeland security in high-risk urban 
     areas. Through such program the Director shall--

[[Page 16152]]

       ``(1) assist State, local, tribal, and territorial 
     governments in designing and implementing, or enhancing 
     existing, architectures for coordinated and integrated 
     detection and interdiction of nuclear or other radiological 
     materials that are out of regulatory control;
       ``(2) support the development of a region-wide operating 
     capability to detect and report on nuclear and other 
     radioactive materials out of operational control;
       ``(3) provide resources to enhance detection, analysis, 
     communication, and coordination to better integrate State, 
     local, tribal, and territorial assets into Federal 
     operations;
       ``(4) facilitate alarm adjudication and provide subject 
     matter expertise and technical assistance on concepts of 
     operations, training, exercises, and alarm response 
     protocols;
       ``(5) communicate with, and promote sharing of information 
     about the presence or detection of nuclear or other 
     radiological materials among appropriate Federal, State, 
     local, tribal, and territorial governments, in a manner that 
     ensures transparency with the jurisdictions served by such 
     program; and
       ``(6) provide any other assistance the Director determines 
     appropriate.
       ``(b) Designation of Jurisdictions.--In carrying out the 
     program under subsection (a), the Director shall designate 
     jurisdictions from among high-risk urban areas under section 
     2003, and other cities and regions, as appropriate.
       ``(c) Congressional Notification.--The Director shall 
     notify the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee 
     on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and 
     the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate not later than 
     three days before the designation of new jurisdictions under 
     subsection (b) or other changes to participating 
     jurisdictions.
       ``(d) GAO Report.--Not later than one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of 
     the United States shall submit to the congressional 
     committees specified in subsection (c) an assessment, 
     including an evaluation of the effectiveness, of the STC 
     program under this section.
       ``(e) Prohibition on Additional Funding.--No funds are 
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section. This 
     section shall be carried out using amounts otherwise 
     appropriated or made available for such purpose.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by 
     inserting after the item relating to section 1907 the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 1908. Securing the Cities program.''.

     SEC. 3. MODEL EXERCISES.

       Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection of the 
     Department of Homeland Security shall report to the Committee 
     on Homeland Security and the Committee on Appropriations of 
     the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate on the feasibility of the 
     Director developing model exercises to test the preparedness 
     of jurisdictions participating in the Securing the Cities 
     program under section 1908 of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (as added by section 2 of this Act) in meeting the 
     challenges that may be posed by a range of nuclear and 
     radiological threats.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 3493, the Securing the Cities Act of 
2015.
  In April 2010, the President stated: ``The single biggest threat to 
U.S. security, both short-term, mid-term and long-term, would be the 
possibility of a terrorist organization obtaining a nuclear weapon.''
  Since that time, the threat to our cities from nuclear terrorism has 
not abated. The rise of ISIS and the resurgence of al Qaeda have only 
increased the likelihood that radiological material will fall into the 
hands of those who wish to harm America.
  Just last week, the Associated Press reported that the FBI foiled an 
attempt by smugglers in Eastern Europe to sell nuclear material to 
Middle Eastern extremist groups. That report stated that, in the past 5 
years, the FBI has disrupted four other attempts by smugglers from the 
former Soviet Union to sell nuclear materials to criminal 
organizations.
  These events only reinforce the testimony delivered before the House 
Committee on Homeland Security last month by Commissioner William 
Bratton of the New York City Police Department. In that testimony, the 
commissioner described the current terrorist threat to Manhattan as the 
highest it has ever been, and he specifically referenced the danger of 
illicit nuclear material entering the city.
  Thankfully, since the attacks of September 11, 2001, this Congress, 
successive administrations, and local law enforcement have partnered to 
build the capability to guard against this risk.
  In particular, the Department of Homeland Security initiated the 
Securing the Cities program within the Domestic Nuclear Detection 
Office. The Securing the Cities program provided training, equipment, 
and other resources to State and local law enforcement in high-risk 
urban areas to prevent a terrorist group from carrying out an attack 
using a radiological or nuclear device.
  The Securing the Cities program began in 2006 as a pilot program in 
the New York City region, which included Jersey City and Newark. Since 
2007, the New York City region has purchased nearly 14,000 radiation 
detectors and has trained nearly 20,000 personnel.
  The pilot program has been so successful, it was expanded to the Los 
Angeles-Long Beach region in fiscal year 2012, the national capital 
region in fiscal year 2014, and just last week the cities of Houston 
and Chicago were announced as the fiscal year 2015 and 2016 recipients.
  H.R. 3493 would authorize the Securing the Cities program, which has 
proven its utility as a pilot program. With continued authorization, we 
can assure that the extraordinary capability built by local law 
enforcement in conjunction with DHS does not become a hollow 
capability, unable to be effectively used at the critical moment.
  I would like to thank my colleagues who have helped bring this 
authorization to the floor, especially Chairman McCaul of the Homeland 
Security Committee, and my good friend Pete King, and also my friend 
from Texas Representative Jackson Lee.
  I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and rise in support of H.R. 3493, Securing the Cities Act of 2015.
  Mr. Speaker, the Securing the Cities program is a grant and technical 
assistance program administered by the Department of Homeland 
Security's Domestic Nuclear Detection Office. Since its inception 
nearly a decade ago, the Securing the Cities program has provided 
thousands of first responders with the tools they need to detect 
radiological and nuclear threats.
  Started as a pilot project in 2006 in the New York City, Newark, and 
New Jersey metropolitan areas, the program has grown to include Los 
Angeles and Long Beach in 2012, and the Washington, D.C., Federal 
district in 2014. This year, the program has identified Houston and 
Chicago as high-priority areas for expanding the program.
  Under the program, the initial grant award is generally used for 
planning and analysis at a regional level, with subsequent grants going 
towards equipment, training, and exercises. Importantly, through the 
Securing the Cities program, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office is 
able to channel subject-matter expertise, training coordination, and 
technical support to all the identified high-risk metropolitan areas.
  H.R. 3493, like the bill I introduced that will be next to be 
considered, is targeted at bolstering the security of our communities 
from the threat of a nuclear attack. As such, Mr. Speaker, I urge 
support of H.R. 3493.
  We have an opportunity today to take action to bolster our defense 
against rogue actors and terrorists who would seek to detonate a 
nuclear device on U.S. soil. The disclosure in recent weeks of a 
thwarted plot by

[[Page 16153]]

Moldovan operatives to provide smuggled nuclear materials to terrorist 
organizations with ambition to attack the United States has 
crystallized the need for action. Today, we can take such action. By 
approving H.R. 3493 and authorizing the Securing the Cities program, we 
will be enhancing the Nation's ability to detect and prevent a 
radiological and nuclear attack in cities facing the highest risk.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3493, 
the Securing the Cities Act of 2015.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Homeland 
Security Committee, and Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee's 
Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and 
Investigations, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3493, the ``Securing 
the Cities Act of 2015,'' which will require the Director for Domestic 
Nuclear Detection to create a Securing the Cities program.
  The codification of the Securing the Cities Program under H.R. 3493, 
will:
  1. Assist state, local, tribal, and territorial governments in 
creating and implementing, or perfecting existing structures for 
coordinated and integrated detection and interdiction of nuclear or 
other radiological materials that are out of regulatory control;
  2. Support the creation of a region-wide operating capability to 
identify and report on nuclear and other radioactive materials out of 
operational control;
  3. Provide resources to improve detection, analysis, communication, 
and organization to better integrate state, local, tribal, and 
territorial property into federal operations;
  4. Facilitate the establishment of protocol and processes to 
effectively respond to threats posed by nuclear or radiological 
materials being acquired or used by terrorists; and
  5. Designate participating jurisdictions from among high-risk urban 
areas and other cities and regions, as appropriate, and notify Congress 
at least three days before designating or changing such jurisdictions.
  H.R. 3493 would also require the Comptroller General to investigate 
and assess the effectiveness of the ``Securing the Cities Program.''
  The potential for a terrorist attack using nuclear or radiological 
material is low, but should it occur the consequences would be 
catastrophic, and for this reason we cannot be lax in our efforts to 
deter, detect and defeat attempts by terrorists to perpetrate such a 
heinous act of terrorism.
  I represent the 18th Congressional District of Texas, which is 
located in the Houston area, which is the 4th largest city in the 
United States and home to over 2 million residents.
  Earlier this year the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced 
that the city of Houston would receive $30 million dollars over 5 years 
under the Securing the Cities Program.
  The funding, came from DHS's Domestic Nuclear Office and, will be 
used to work with partners in the Houston area to build a robust, 
regional nuclear detection capability for law enforcement and first 
responder organizations.
  This is an important federal effort to increase the ability of major 
urban cities to detect and protect against radiological and nuclear 
threats.
  The Securing Cities Program began in 2006 as a pilot project for the 
New York City region.
  The cities and regions that are participating include Washington DC/
National Capital Region, New York City, Los Angeles/Long Beach area, 
and now Houston Texas.
  The DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office provides equipment and 
assistance to regional partners in conducting training and exercises to 
further their nuclear detection capabilities and coordinate with 
federal operations.
  Unfortunately, the age of terrorism makes this a more dangerous and 
uncertain time than the decades following World War II when nation/
state nuclear arsenals were being created.
  I am pleased that Houston is at the forefront of nuclear safety in 
our country, and it is time to make the Securing the Cities Program 
vital for all of our major cities to catch up.
  Nuclear threats are more perilous than what our nation faced during 
the Cold War because these threats come from non-state actors who often 
do not have the same level of concern for the wellbeing of their people 
who may face the consequences of a nuclear attack against the United 
States.
  I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this important resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Donovan) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3493, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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