[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 14685-14688]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     UNITED STATES-ISRAEL ADVANCED RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP ACT OF 2016

  Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5877) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the 
United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 to promote 
cooperative homeland security research and antiterrorism programs 
relating to cybersecurity, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5877

       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 ``United States-Israel 
     Advanced Research Partnership Act of 2016''.

     SEC. 2. COOPERATIVE HOMELAND SECURITY RESEARCH AND 
                   ANTITERRORISM PROGRAMS RELATING TO 
                   CYBERSECURITY.

       (a) Homeland Security Act of 2002.--Section 317 of the 
     Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 195c) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (e)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new 
     paragraphs:
       ``(3) for international cooperative activities identified 
     in the previous reporting period, a status update on the 
     progress of such activities, including whether goals were 
     realized, explaining any lessons learned, and evaluating 
     overall success; and
       ``(4) a discussion of obstacles encountered in the course 
     of forming, executing, or implementing agreements for 
     international cooperative activities, including 
     administrative, legal, or diplomatic challenges or resource 
     constraints.'';
       (2) by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections 
     (h) and (i), respectively; and
       (3) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(g) Cybersecurity.--As part of the international 
     cooperative activities authorized in this section, the Under 
     Secretary, in coordination with the Department of State and 
     appropriate Federal officials, may enter into cooperative 
     research activities with Israel to strengthen preparedness 
     against cyber threats and enhance capabilities in 
     cybersecurity.''.
       (b) United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 
     2014.--Subsection (c) of section 7 of the United States-
     Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-296; 
     22 U.S.C. 8606) is amended--
       (1) in the heading, by striking ``Pilot'';
       (2) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
     ``pilot'';
       (3) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (4) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (5) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) cybersecurity.''.

     SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

       No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this Act or the amendments made by this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Ratcliffe) and the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. 
Langevin) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include any extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that today the House is considering 
H.R. 5877, the United States-Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act 
of 2016.
  Israel is our strongest and most trusted ally in the Middle East, and 
I am grateful to join with the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. 
Langevin), my friend, in working to expand and strengthen this bond 
through long-term collaboration on cybersecurity efforts between our 
countries. H.R. 5877 builds on decades of partnership with the State of 
Israel by amending current law to authorize the Under Secretary of the 
Science and Technology Directorate at the Department of Homeland 
Security, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to enter into 
cooperative research activities with Israel.

[[Page 14686]]

  H.R. 5877 also amends the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 
2014 by further formalizing the program and by adding cybersecurity to 
the list of research areas authorized under the act. The U.S.-Israel 
Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 currently authorizes the Secretary of 
Homeland Security to conduct cooperative research programs to enhance 
Israel's capabilities in border security, explosives detection, and 
emergency services. My bill now adds cybersecurity to that important 
list.
  Mr. Speaker, violence and instability in the Middle East present 
significant challenges for Israel as our major strategic partner in 
that region of the world, and enhancing collaboration between our 
countries is, therefore, essential to ensuring Israel's continued 
ability to defend herself.
  Mr. Speaker, I introduced this legislation following an in-depth 
congressional delegation that I led to Israel earlier this year, along 
with my colleague, Mr. Langevin. While there, we were able to meet with 
Israel's top
national security figures, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 
to discuss homeland security and cybersecurity threats to the United 
States and Israel, and to develop strategies for better cooperation in 
defending against these threats.
  Mr. Langevin and I also met with Israel's cybersecurity firms to 
learn about their efforts and to discuss the potential application of 
these innovative technologies to U.S. homeland security. In recent 
years, Israel's tech sector has been booming with cybersecurity and 
technology startups, and many United States tech companies now have a 
presence in Israel. Much of Israel's success in the tech sector results 
from its development of a very robust cyber workforce, and we discussed 
ways to apply these lessons here in the United States.
  The United States and Israel share a joint recognition that 
cybersecurity is national security, and that our two nations must 
closely partner to combat these growing threats. This is exactly why I 
was so pleased to be able to introduce H.R. 5877, the United States-
Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act of 2016, and why I also 
express my strong support for Mr. Langevin's bill, H.R. 5843, the 
United States-Israel Cybersecurity Cooperation Enhancement Act of 2016.
  I thank my friend and colleague, Mr. Langevin, for his bipartisan 
partnership on these very important bills. As the co-founder and 
cochairman of the bipartisan Cybersecurity Caucus, he has long been a 
leader on cybersecurity issues here in Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I also thank Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Thompson, 
and subcommittee Ranking Member Richmond for their help in getting this 
legislation across the finish line today. I also thank Chairman Royce 
and the staff of the Foreign Affairs Committee for their assistance in 
moving the legislation to the floor today.
  I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                Washington, DC, November 14, 2016.
     Hon. Michael McCaul,
     Chairman, House Committee on Homeland Security.
       Dear Chairman McCaul: Thank you for consulting with the 
     Foreign Affairs Committee regarding H.R. 5877, the United 
     States-Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act of 2016. I 
     agree that the Foreign Affairs Committee may be discharged 
     from further consideration of that measure, so that it may 
     proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
       I am writing to confirm our mutual understanding that 
     forgoing further action on this measure does not in any way 
     diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives 
     on this bill or similar legislation in the future. I also 
     request your support for the appointment of Foreign Affairs 
     conferees to any House-Senate conference on this legislation.
       I ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter 
     be included in your committee report, and also in the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Edward R. Royce,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Homeland Security,

                                Washington, DC, November 15, 2016.
     Hon. Ed Royce,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs.
       Dear Chairman Royce: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 5877, the ``United States-Israel Advanced Research 
     Partnership Act of 2016.'' I appreciate your support in 
     bringing this legislation before the House of 
     Representatives, and accordingly, understand that the 
     Committee on Foreign Affairs will forego further action on 
     the bill.
       The Committee on Homeland Security concurs with the mutual 
     understanding that by foregoing further action on this bill 
     at this time, the Committee on Foreign Affairs does not waive 
     any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this 
     bill or similar legislation in the future. In addition, 
     should a conference on this bill be necessary, I would 
     support your request to have the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
     represented on the conference committee.
       I will insert copies of this exchange in the report on the 
     bill and in the Congressional Record during consideration of 
     this bill on the House floor. I thank you for your 
     cooperation in this matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                Michael T. McCaul,
                         Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security.

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of H.R. 5877, the United States-Israel 
Advanced Research Partnership Act of 2016.
  Mr. Speaker, both this bill and the subsequent measure that we will 
consider today are connected, as the chairman mentioned, to a 
congressional delegation trip that Chairman Ratcliffe and I took to 
Israel earlier this year. I thank Chairman Ratcliffe for his leadership 
on cybersecurity and other homeland security related issues.
  The focus of our trip was cybersecurity, and we learned a great deal 
about the innovative work the Israelis are doing in this space, both 
within government and in the private sector.
  Israel was one of the first countries to recognize the potential 
threat posed by interconnected computer systems, and they have been 
leaders in cybersecurity now for decades. For instance, the first 
stateful firewall technology was developed by an Israeli firm. Today, 
these firewalls are ubiquitous across the information security 
landscape.

                              {time}  1615

  In fact, despite its size, Israel is the second largest exporter of 
cybersecurity goods and services behind only the United States.
  In addition to being a fertile source of public and private sector 
innovation in the domain, Israel is also the United States' critical 
strategic partner in the Middle East. In recognizing this confluence of 
strategic and research interests, the Department of Homeland Security 
established a memorandum of agreement with the Israeli Ministry of 
Public Security that was focused on joint homeland security research 
and development efforts, including cybersecurity. As a founding member 
of the Homeland Security Committee, I remember when this MOA was first 
reached, and I think it is a very positive thing that we are working 
together on these types of issues with Israel.
  This MOA provides an excellent foundation for cooperation between our 
two nations; but one of the common themes we heard during our trip was: 
Can we be doing even more? After all, it is my firm belief that 
cybersecurity is the most significant national security challenge of 
the information age in which we live.
  It has certainly been a pleasure working with Mr. Ratcliffe, who, 
very quickly during his time here in Congress, has recognized the 
significance of the challenge that is in front of us.
  This national security challenge, of course, is not confined to any 
nation. On the contrary, our adversaries in cyberspace--most notably 
Iran--are infiltrating the networks in both of our countries. What is 
more, the interconnected nature of our information systems leads to a 
blurring of geography. A cyber threat against Israel could easily 
migrate to the United States or vice versa, and there is no Internet 
border patrol, if you will, that will preemptively stop it from 
spreading.
  Some of these challenges can be addressed through collective cyber 
defense, particularly information sharing, which is why I am grateful 
that

[[Page 14687]]

then-Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas 
negotiated an enhanced cybersecurity cooperative agreement with Israel 
earlier this year that will promote engagement and collaboration by our 
respective computer emergency readiness teams, or CERTs.
  One of the things that I have learned in my near decade as co-chair 
of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus is that the landscape evolves 
at a dizzying pace. While we must work with our allies to jointly use 
existing capabilities, it is only through the development of innovative 
new techniques and technologies that we have any hope of stemming the 
tide of the cyber attacks that we face.
  With that background in mind, Mr. Speaker, I offer my full-throated 
support for the bill under consideration. H.R. 5877 expands an existing 
pilot program at the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects 
Agency, or HSARPA, to further collaboration on cybersecurity capability 
development. This program is particularly important because it 
addresses specific needs from the homeland security community which may 
not be present in other sectors and which may not be addressed by 
existing commercial, off-the-shelf products.
  Cybersecurity is subject to the same valley of death, if you will, 
between early applied research and viable commercial product as other 
cutting-edge fields, and this bill helps ensure that innovative 
technologies will make it to market that are responsive to the needs of 
our DHS cybersecurity professionals. This last point, of course, is 
worth reemphasizing. While we face similar challenges on government 
networks as other entities, small businesses and government agencies 
all run Windows on their PCs.
  We also face problems that, of course, are unique to nation-states. 
It is incumbent upon nations that believe in a free and open Internet 
to work together to preserve its immense benefit and to facilitate 
collaboration between our countries' innovators. It is natural for us 
to expand other areas of similar homeland security interests--
explosives detection, border security, and emergency services--to 
include cybersecurity.
  I am grateful for Mr. Ratcliffe's leadership in bringing forth a bill 
that both cements existing relationships and expands them to the 
leading threat facing our Nation. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 
5877.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I again thank Congressman Langevin for 
his kind words and for his leadership in connection with this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time I have 
remaining on my side?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Rhode Island has 14 
minutes remaining.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend Mr. Ratcliffe and Mr. 
Langevin for their leadership on this issue, and I rise in support of 
H.R. 5877, which speaks to the crucialness of cybersecurity as does the 
following bill by Mr. Langevin.
  It is interesting that, some years ago, as the chairperson of the 
Transportation Security Subcommittee, infrastructure was included, and 
cybersecurity was a part of that. During that tenure, we looked at the 
vast impact that cyber and security would have on the lives of 
Americans and on the people around the world. From water systems to 
sewer systems, an attack on the cyber system could clearly undermine 
the quality of life of people around the world. Obviously, Israel fully 
comprehended this in its enhanced level of innovative work when dealing 
with cybersecurity and particularly, as Mr. Langevin said, in the 
importance of creating firewalls, which we have been able to see.
  I congratulate the sponsors of this legislation and will say that we 
need to have cybersecurity issues clearly in our eyes' view. I 
acknowledge the bipartisan work of the Committee on Homeland Security 
under the leadership of Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson, 
and I acknowledge the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and 
Security Technologies Subcommittee that has Mr. Richmond as the ranking 
member.
  I also add my support for H.R. 5843, sponsored by Mr. Langevin, which 
provides a pilot cybersecurity research program that will require the 
Department of Homeland Security to establish a grant program to support 
cybersecurity research and development and the demonstration and 
commercialization of cybersecurity technology in accordance with the 
agreement between the Government of the United States and the 
Government of Israel.
  I cannot think of two more important steps that are being made. I 
hope this legislation will pass before this Congress ends because, if 
there is any threat that is great to this Nation, it is the unintended 
impact of cybersecurity.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 15 seconds.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. I thank the gentleman.
  Mr. Speaker, in the backdrop of seeing technology impact the recent 
election, I think that we clearly know that we have to be studious, 
that we have to be thorough, and that we have to make sure that systems 
work and that systems are protected.
  I ask my colleagues to support the underlying bill and also H.R. 
5843.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5843, United States-Israel 
Cybersecurity Cooperation Enhancement Act, because it will establish a 
pilot cybersecurity research program between our nation and our 
strongest friends in the region for the purpose of strengthening 
cybersecurity.
  I support this bill because the bill requires the Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a grant program to support 
cybersecurity research and development, and the demonstration and 
commercialization of cybersecurity technology, in accordance with the 
Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and 
the Government of the State of Israel on Cooperation in Science and 
Technology for Homeland Security Matters.
  This bill will codifies and makes available funding for an existing 
mutual cooperation agreement between the United States and Israel on 
matters related to cybersecurity.
  Grants provided under this bill may be awarded for social science 
research and technology intended to identify, protect against, respond 
to, and recover from cybersecurity threats.
  To be eligible for a grant, a project must be a joint venture 
between:
  (1) for-profit, nonprofit, or academic entities including U.S. 
national laboratories in the United States and Israel; or
  (2) the governments of the United States and Israel.
  Grants shall be awarded only for projects considered unclassified by 
both the United States and Israel.
  Under the terms of this bill DHS must require cost sharing of at 
least 50% from nonfederal sources for grant activities, but it may 
reduce the nonfederal percentage if necessary on a case-by-case basis.
  DHS will also establish an advisory board to monitor the impartial 
scientific and technical merit method by which grants are awarded and 
provide periodic reviews of the actions taken to carry out the program.
  The grant program terminates seven years after this bill's enactment.
  The Science and Technology Homeland Security International 
Cooperative Programs Office will produce a report every five years by 
the Science and Technology must contain:
  (1) a status update on the progress of such international cooperative 
activities identified in the previous reporting period; and
  (2) a discussion of obstacles encountered in forming, executing, or 
implementing agreements for such activities.
  As a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security since its 
establishment, and current Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee 
on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security this bill is of importance to 
me.
  I introduced H.R. 85, the Terrorism Prevention and Critical 
Infrastructure Protection Act of 2015 out of well-founded concerns 
regarding the security of critical infrastructure of our nation from 
terrorists attack.
  H.R. 85, directs the Secretary DHS to:

[[Page 14688]]

  (1) work with critical infrastructure owners and operators and state, 
local, tribal, and territorial entities to take proactive steps to 
manage risk and strengthen the security and resilience of the nation's 
critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks;
  (2) establish terrorism prevention policy to engage with 
international partners to strengthen the security and resilience of 
domestic critical infrastructure and critical infrastructure located 
outside of the United States;
  (4) establish the Strategic Research Imperatives Program to lead 
DHS's federal civilian agency approach to strengthen critical 
infrastructure security and resilience; and
  (5) make available research findings and guidance to federal civilian 
agencies for the identification, prioritization, assessment, 
remediation, and security of their internal critical infrastructure to 
assist in the prevention, mediation, and recovery from terrorism 
events.
  H.R. 85, also directs the Secretary of DHS to: (1) appoint a research 
working group that shall study how best to achieve national unity of 
effort to protect against terrorism threats and investigate the 
security and resilience of the nation's information assurance 
components that provide such protection; and (2) establish a research 
program to provide strategic guidance, promote a national unity of 
effort, and coordinate the overall federal effort to promote the 
security and resilience of the nation's critical infrastructure from 
terrorist threats.
  As we have worked to define and support the mission of the Department 
of Homeland Security we have worked to keep the efforts of the agency 
focused not only on the threats we have faced, but also the new ones 
that may come.
  Collaborative agreements that can bolster the ability of DHS to be 
able to effectively respond to cyber threats is in the best interest of 
the United States.
  It is the responsibility of Congress not only to provide DHS with new 
guidelines, but also to provide the agency with the funding it needs to 
do the work of protecting this great nation.
  For several Congresses DHS has faced a government shutdown and 
sequestration that has depleted its resources and stranded its efforts 
to do all of the work members of this body demands.
  As I urge my colleagues to support this bill, I also remind them that 
the passage of new laws that require more of the agency should also 
mean that we should require more of ourselves as members of Congress.
  We should support the work of the men and women of DHS as they stand 
to defend this nation from all threats including those that come from 
cyberspace.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5843.
  Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  This bill will meaningfully improve our homeland security 
professionals' ability to manage cybersecurity risk. It will do so in a 
way that also increases the capacity of our Israeli allies to operate 
securely despite the many and varied threats they face on a daily 
basis.
  Again, I thank Mr. Ratcliffe for his leadership in bringing this 
legislation to the floor. It was a pleasure to travel with him to 
Israel on this factfinding mission, and we both learned a great deal.
  I also thank Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson, as well as 
Ranking Member Richmond of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, 
Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies, for their 
assistance in support of this. I also, of course, thank the staffs on 
both the Homeland Security Committee, Mr. Ratcliffe's personal staff, 
and my personal staff for their hard work in bringing this to the 
floor. We could not do what we do without their invaluable assistance 
and due diligence. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, once again, I thank Congressman Langevin, 
and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5877.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ratcliffe) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 5877, 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.

                          ____________________