[House Report 114-491]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


114th Congress    }                                     {       Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session       }                                     {      114-491

======================================================================
 
            STATE AND HIGH-RISK URBAN AREA WORKING GROUP ACT

                                _______
                                

 April 13, 2016.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. McCaul, from the Committee on Homeland Security, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 4509]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 4509) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
to clarify membership of State planning committees or urban 
area working groups for the Homeland Security Grant Program, 
and for other purposes, having considered the same, report 
favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill 
do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Purpose and Summary..............................................     2
Background and Need for Legislation..............................     2
Hearings.........................................................     2
Committee Consideration..........................................     2
Committee Votes..................................................     2
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................     2
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures     2
Congressional Budget Office Estimate.............................     3
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............     3
Duplicative Federal Programs.....................................     3
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff 
  Benefits.......................................................     3
Federal Mandates Statement.......................................     3
Preemption Clarification.........................................     3
Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings..............................     4
Advisory Committee Statement.....................................     4
Applicability to Legislative Branch..............................     4
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation...................     4
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............     4

                          Purpose and Summary

    The purpose of H.R. 4509 is amend the Homeland Security Act 
of 2002 to clarify membership of State planning committees or 
urban area working groups for the Homeland Security Grant 
Program, and for other purposes.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    Section 2021(b) of the Homeland Security Act (Pub. L. 107-
296) requires States and high-risk urban areas receiving State 
Homeland Security Grant Program and Urban Area Security 
Initiative funding, respectively, to establish multi-
disciplinary planning committees through which projects are 
coordinated. These planning committees assist in the 
preparation and revision of the State, regional, or local 
homeland security plan and assist in determining effective 
funding priorities for grants. H.R. 4509 focuses on enhancing 
this multi-disciplinary coordination by adding additional 
stakeholders representing public health, educational 
institutions, state and regional interoperable communications 
coordinators, and fusion centers, as appropriate. Previously, 
the Committee on Homeland Security learned that some of these 
stakeholders were not included in the working groups regularly. 
This legislation further ensures relevant stakeholders have an 
opportunity to participate in and coordinate preparedness grant 
planning.

                                Hearings

    No hearings were held on H.R. 4509.

                        Committee Consideration

    The Committee met on March 23, 2016, to consider H.R. 4509, 
and ordered the measure to be reported to the House with a 
favorable recommendation, without amendment, by unanimous 
consent.

                            Committee Votes

    Clause 3(b) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires the Committee to list the recorded 
votes on the motion to report legislation and amendments 
thereto.
    No recorded votes were requested during consideration of 
H.R. 4509.

                      Committee Oversight Findings

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee has held oversight 
hearings and made findings that are reflected in this report.

   New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of Rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee finds that H.R. 
4509, the State and High-Risk Urban Area Working Group Act, 
would result in no new or increased budget authority, 
entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or revenues.

                  Congressional Budget Office Estimate

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, a cost estimate provided by the 
Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 was not made available to the 
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chairman 
of the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the 
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee.

         Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, H.R. 4509 contains the following 
general performance goals and objectives, including outcome 
related goals and objectives authorized.
    States and high-risk urban areas receiving State Homeland 
Security Grant Program and Urban Area Security Initiative 
funding, respectively, are required to include relevant 
stakeholders in their statutorily required multi-disciplinary 
planning committees. This bill expands the stakeholders 
required to be included, as appropriate, and will enhance the 
abilities of the multi-disciplinary planning committees to 
prioritize funding for these respective grant programs.

                      Duplicative Federal Programs

    Pursuant to clause 3(c) of Rule XIII, the Committee finds 
that H.R. 4509 does not contain any provision that establishes 
or reauthorizes a program known to be duplicative of another 
Federal program.

   Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff 
                                Benefits

    In compliance with Rule XXI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no 
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of the Rule 
XXI.

                       Federal Mandates Statement

    An estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the 
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chairman 
of the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the 
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee.

                        Preemption Clarification

    In compliance with section 423 of the Congressional Budget 
Act of 1974, requiring the report of any Committee on a bill or 
joint resolution to include a statement on the extent to which 
the bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt State, 
local, or Tribal law, the Committee finds that H.R. 4509 does 
not preempt any State, local, or Tribal law.

                  Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings

    The Committee estimates that H.R. 4509 would require no 
directed rule makings.

                      Advisory Committee Statement

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this 
legislation.

                  Applicability to Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.

             Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation


Section 1.   Short Title.

    This section provides that this bill may be cited as the 
``State and High-Risk Urban Area Working Group Act''.

Sec. 2.   Administration and Coordination of Certain DHS Grants.

    Section 2021(b) of the Homeland Security Act requires 
States and high-risk urban areas receiving State Homeland 
Security Grant Program and Urban Area Security Initiative 
funding respectively to establish multi-disciplinary planning 
committees through which projects are coordinated.
    This section further delineates the stakeholders, such as 
public health officials and fusion centers, as appropriate, 
which should be included in such committees. Such membership 
should include stakeholders representing local and tribal 
government officials, emergency response providers, public 
health, educational institutions, state and regional 
interoperable communications coordinators, and fusion centers, 
as appropriate.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

HOMELAND SECURITY ACT OF 2002

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TITLE XX--HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS

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                   Subtitle B--Grants Administration

SEC. 2021. ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION.

  (a) Regional Coordination.--The Administrator shall ensure 
that--
          (1) all recipients of grants administered by the 
        Department to prevent, prepare for, protect against, or 
        respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or 
        other man-made disasters (excluding assistance provided 
        under section 203, title IV, or title V of the Robert 
        T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 5133, 5170 et seq., and 5191 et seq.)) 
        coordinate, as appropriate, their prevention, 
        preparedness, and protection efforts with neighboring 
        State, local, and tribal governments; and
          (2) all high-risk urban areas and other recipients of 
        grants administered by the Department to prevent, 
        prepare for, protect against, or respond to natural 
        disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made 
        disasters (excluding assistance provided under section 
        203, title IV, or title V of the Robert T. Stafford 
        Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
        5133, 5170 et seq., and 5191 et seq.)) that include or 
        substantially affect parts or all of more than 1 State 
        coordinate, as appropriate, across State boundaries, 
        including, where appropriate, through the use of 
        regional working groups and requirements for regional 
        plans.
  [(b) Planning Committees.--
          [(1) In general.--Any State or high-risk urban area 
        receiving a grant under section 2003 or 2004 shall 
        establish a planning committee to assist in preparation 
        and revision of the State, regional, or local homeland 
        security plan and to assist in determining effective 
        funding priorities for grants under sections 2003 and 
        2004.
          [(2) Composition.--
                  [(A) In general.--The planning committee 
                shall include representatives of significant 
                stakeholders, including--
                          [(i) local and tribal government 
                        officials; and
                          [(ii) emergency response providers, 
                        which shall include representatives of 
                        the fire service, law enforcement, 
                        emergency medical response, and 
                        emergency managers.
                  [(B) Geographic representation.--The members 
                of the planning committee shall be a 
                representative group of individuals from the 
                counties, cities, towns, and Indian tribes 
                within the State or high-risk urban area, 
                including, as appropriate, representatives of 
                rural, high-population, and high-threat 
                jurisdictions.
          [(3) Existing planning committees.--Nothing in this 
        subsection may be construed to require that any State 
        or high-risk urban area create a planning committee if 
        that State or high-risk urban area has established and 
        uses a multijurisdictional planning committee or 
        commission that meets the requirements of this 
        subsection.]
  (b) Planning Committees.--
          (1) In general.--Any State or high-risk urban area 
        receiving a grant under section 2003 or 2004 shall 
        establish a State planning committee or urban area 
        working group to assist in preparation and revision of 
        the State, regional, or local homeland security plan or 
        the threat and hazard identification and risk 
        assessment, as the case may be, and to assist in 
        determining effective funding priorities for grants 
        under such sections.
          (2) Composition.--
                  (A) In general.--The State planning 
                committees and urban area working groups 
                referred to in paragraph (1) shall include at 
                least one representative of significant 
                stakeholders, including the following:
                          (i) Local or tribal government 
                        officials.
                          (ii) Emergency response providers, 
                        which shall include representatives of 
                        the fire service, law enforcement, 
                        emergency medical services, and 
                        emergency managers.
                          (iii) Public health officials and 
                        other appropriate medical 
                        practitioners.
                          (iv) Individuals representing 
                        educational institutions, including 
                        elementary schools, community colleges, 
                        and other institutions of higher 
                        education.
                          (v) State and regional interoperable 
                        communications coordinators, as 
                        appropriate.
                          (vi) State and major urban area 
                        fusion centers, as appropriate.
                  (B) Geographic representation.--The members 
                of the State planning committee or urban area 
                working group, as the case may be, shall be a 
                representative group of individuals from the 
                counties, cities, towns, and Indian tribes 
                within the State or high-risk urban area, 
                including, as appropriate, representatives of 
                rural, high-population, and high-threat 
                jurisdictions.
          (3) Existing planning committees.--Nothing in this 
        subsection may be construed to require that any State 
        or high-risk urban area create a State planning 
        committee or urban area working group, as the case may 
        be, if that State or high-risk urban area has 
        established and uses a multijurisdictional planning 
        committee or commission that meets the requirements of 
        this subsection.
  (c) Interagency Coordination.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than 12 months after the 
        date of enactment of the Implementing Recommendations 
        of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, the Secretary 
        (acting through the Administrator), the Attorney 
        General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
        and the heads of other agencies providing assistance to 
        State, local, and tribal governments for preventing, 
        preparing for, protecting against, and responding to 
        natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-
        made disasters, shall jointly--
                  (A) compile a comprehensive list of Federal 
                grant programs for State, local, and tribal 
                governments for preventing, preparing for, 
                protecting against, and responding to natural 
                disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-
                made disasters;
                  (B) compile the planning, reporting, 
                application, and other requirements and 
                guidance for the grant programs described in 
                subparagraph (A);
                  (C) develop recommendations, as appropriate, 
                to--
                          (i) eliminate redundant and 
                        duplicative requirements for State, 
                        local, and tribal governments, 
                        including onerous application and 
                        ongoing reporting requirements;
                          (ii) ensure accountability of the 
                        programs to the intended purposes of 
                        such programs;
                          (iii) coordinate allocation of grant 
                        funds to avoid duplicative or 
                        inconsistent purchases by the 
                        recipients;
                          (iv) make the programs more 
                        accessible and user friendly to 
                        applicants; and
                          (v) ensure the programs are 
                        coordinated to enhance the overall 
                        preparedness of the Nation;
                  (D) submit the information and 
                recommendations under subparagraphs (A), (B), 
                and (C) to the appropriate committees of 
                Congress; and
                  (E) provide the appropriate committees of 
                Congress, the Comptroller General, and any 
                officer or employee of the Government 
                Accountability Office with full access to any 
                information collected or reviewed in preparing 
                the submission under subparagraph (D).
          (2) Scope of task.--Nothing in this subsection shall 
        authorize the elimination, or the alteration of the 
        purposes, as delineated by statute, regulation, or 
        guidance, of any grant program that exists on the date 
        of the enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of 
        the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, nor authorize the 
        review or preparation of proposals on the elimination, 
        or the alteration of such purposes, of any such grant 
        program.
  (d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, in 
order to ensure that the Nation is most effectively able to 
prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to all 
hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and 
other man-made disasters--
          (1) the Department should administer a coherent and 
        coordinated system of both terrorism-focused and all-
        hazards grants;
          (2) there should be a continuing and appropriate 
        balance between funding for terrorism-focused and all-
        hazards preparedness, as reflected in the 
        authorizations of appropriations for grants under the 
        amendments made by titles I and II, as applicable, of 
        the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission 
        Act of 2007; and
          (3) with respect to terrorism-focused grants, it is 
        necessary to ensure both that the target capabilities 
        of the highest risk areas are achieved quickly and that 
        basic levels of preparedness, as measured by the 
        attainment of target capabilities, are achieved 
        nationwide.

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