[House Report 116-194]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


116th Congress    }                                    {        Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session      }                                    {       116-194

======================================================================



 
       JOINT TASK FORCE TO COMBAT OPIOID TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2019

                                _______
                                

August 30, 2019.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, from the Committee on Homeland Security, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 3722]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 3722) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
to authorize a Joint Task Force to enhance integration of the 
Department of Homeland Security's border security operations to 
detect, interdict, disrupt, and prevent narcotics, such as 
fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, from entering the United 
States, 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..........................................     3
Committee Votes..................................................     3
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................     3
C.B.O. Estimate, New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and 
  Tax Expenditures...............................................     3
Federal Mandates Statement.......................................     4
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
Duplicative Federal Programs.....................................     4
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff 
  Benefits
Advisory Committee Statement
Applicability to Legislative Branch
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation...................     5
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............     6

                          Purpose and Summary

    H.R. 3722, the ``Joint Task Force to Combat Opioid 
Trafficking Act of 2019'' provides the Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS) with authorization to establish a Joint Task 
Force (JTF) to enhance the integration of DHS's border security 
operations to detect, interdict, disrupt, and prevent 
narcotics, such as fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, from 
entering the United States.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    In 2014, the Department of Homeland Security created three 
pilot JTFs to address challenges along the southern border. On 
December 8, 2016, Congress passed the ``National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017'' (S. 2943; Pub. L. 114-
328), which authorized JTFs within DHS. The JTF structure is 
intended to foster greater coordination of assets and personnel 
of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Immigrations 
and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
Services (USCIS), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and other 
resources of the Department on targeted homeland security 
challenges.
    In 2017, approximately 47,600 people in the United States 
died due to opioid-related drug overdoses. A 2017 Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention report studied opioid overdoses 
in 10 states and found that more than half of the deaths were 
related to illicitly produced fentanyl. Ninety percent of 
illegally produced fentanyl is manufactured in China. The 
scourge of synthetic opioids being trafficked through our 
borders is just the type of homeland security challenge that 
the JTF structure was intended to address.
    H.R. 3722 authorizes DHS to establish a JTF dedicated to 
detecting, interdicting, disrupting, and preventing narcotics, 
such as fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, from entering the 
United States (known as JTF-O). The JTF-O would prioritize its 
resources on targeting the illicit flow of opioids across our 
borders. By leveraging the JTF structure to engage all DHS 
components in a unity of effort campaign, JTF-O will conduct 
integrated investigations and operations with the sole intent 
of countering narcotics, specifically synthetic opioids, from 
being trafficked into the United States. Additionally, the bill 
encourages DHS to collaborate with federal partners, such as 
the U.S. Postal Service, as well as private sector entities, 
such as parcel carriers, to carry out the task force's mission. 
The Committee believes leveraging the resources and expertise 
outside of the Department can help the JTF and DHS combat 
opioid trafficking more effectively.

                                Hearings

    For the purpose of section 103(i) of H. Res 6 of the 116th 
Congress the following related hearings were held:
    A hearing was held on May 9, 2019 entitled ``A Review of 
the FY 2020 Budget Request for U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services.''

                        Committee Consideration

    The Committee met on July 17, 2019, with a quorum being 
present, to consider H.R. 3722 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.

                      Committee Oversight Findings

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee advises that the 
findings and recommendations of the Committee, based on 
oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the 
descriptive portions of this report.

Congressional Budget Office Estimate New Budget Authority, Entitlement 
                    Authority, and Tax Expenditures

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect 
to requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, The Committee adopts as its 
own the cost estimate prepared by the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office.

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                     Washington, DC, July 30, 2019.
Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for Department of Homeland 
Security Legislation.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark 
Grabowicz.
            Sincerely,
                                         Phillip L. Swagel,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    

    On July 17, 2019, the House Committee on Homeland Security 
ordered reported the following bills:
           H.R. 3320, the Securing the Homeland 
        Security Supply Chain Act of 2019, which would 
        authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to 
        take certain actions to improve the security of 
        information and telecommunications systems acquired by 
        the department;
           H.R. 3413, DHS Acquisition Reform Act of 
        2019, which would specify which offices in DHS 
        headquarters have responsibility for acquisition 
        programs;
           H.R. 3526, the Counter Terrorist Network 
        Act, which would authorize Customs and Border 
        Protection to assign personnel to other agencies to 
        support partnerships for sharing global information to 
        enhance border security; and
           H.R. 3722, the Joint Task Force to Combat 
        Opioid Trafficking Act of 2019, which would confirm the 
        authority of DHS to establish a task force to disrupt 
        drug trafficking.
    DHS is currently carrying out activities similar to those 
required by the bills listed above, and any new activities 
required under the legislation would not require substantial 
action by the department. Thus, CBO estimates that implementing 
each bill would not have a significant cost; any spending would 
be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Mark Grabowicz. 
The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                       Federal Mandates Statement

    The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared 
by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.

                      Duplicative Federal Programs

    Pursuant to clause 3(c) of rule XIII, the Committee finds 
that H.R. 3722 does not contain any provision that establishes 
or reauthorizes a program known to be duplicative of another 
Federal program.

                    Performance Goals and Objectives

    The Committee states that pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
goals and objectives of H.R. 3722 are to establish a task force 
to enhance the internal integration of the Department's border 
security operations to detect, interdict, disrupt, and prevent 
narcotics, including fentanyl, from entering the United States.

                          Advisory on Earmarks

    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(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of the rule 
XXI.

             Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation


Section 1. Short title

    This section provides that this bill may be cited as the 
``Joint Task Force to Combat Opioid Trafficking Act of 2019.''

Sec. 2. Authorization of Joint Task Force to counter opioids

    This section authorizes the DHS Secretary to establish a 
JTF to enhance border security operations to detect, interdict, 
disrupt, and prevent narcotics, such as fentanyl and other 
synthetic opioids, from entering the United States (JTF-O). It 
also provides that the DHS Secretary, with agreement from the 
private sector organization, may arrange for the temporary 
assignment of an employee to a JTF and that the Secretary shall 
provide for a written agreement concerning the terms and 
conditions of the assignment between the Department, the 
private sector organization, and the employee. It provides that 
any agreement shall require the private sector organization to 
be responsible for all costs associated with the assignment of 
an employee. This section provides that any assignment under 
this section may, at any time and any reason, be terminated by 
the Secretary or the private sector organization and shall be 
for a total period of not more than two years. This section 
also provides that the Secretary of the Department of Homeland 
Security may enter into a memorandum of understanding with any 
other Federal, State, local, tribal, territorial, or 
international entity or task force by which a Joint Task Force 
established under this section may collaborate for the purpose 
of carrying out the mission of the Joint Task Force.

Sec. 3. Notification; reporting

    This section provides that, no later than 90 days after the 
enactment of this Act, the DHS Secretary make a determination 
whether to establish a Joint Task Force as specified in this 
section and submit written notification to Committee on 
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs of the 
Senate, including if such determination is in the negative and 
information on the basis for a negative determination.
    This section provides that if the Secretary of Homeland 
Security establishes a Joint Task Force under this Act, the 
Secretary shall include with respect such Task Force a gap 
analysis of funding, personnel, technology, or other resources 
needed in order to detect, interdict, disrupt, and prevent 
narcotics, such as fentanyl and other synthetic opioids from 
entering the United States and include a description of 
collaboration between such task force and any other Federal, 
State, local, tribal, territorial, or international entity or 
task force, including the United States Postal Service and the 
United States Postal Inspection Service. This section provides 
that each review include an assessment of the activities of the 
Joint Task Force, including an evaluation of whether the Task 
Force has enhanced integration of the Department of Homeland 
Security's efforts, created any unique capabilities or 
otherwise enhanced operational effectiveness, coordination, or 
information sharing to detect interdict, disrupt, and prevent 
narcotics, such as fentanyl and other synthetic opioids from 
entering the United States.
    The Committee believes that the establishment of this JTF-O 
will help to better coordinate personnel, resources, and 
tactical operations and create a whole-of-government approach 
to combat the opioid epidemic. The Committee believes that the 
Department's ability to expand investigative and operational 
reach by leveraging domestic and international partners is a 
key to combatting the opioid epidemic.

         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 italic, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

                     HOMELAND SECURITY ACT OF 2002



           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
TITLE VII--MANAGEMENT

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 708. JOINT TASK FORCES.

  (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``situational 
awareness'' means knowledge and unified understanding of 
unlawful cross-border activity, including--
          (1) threats and trends concerning illicit trafficking 
        and unlawful crossings;
          (2) the ability to forecast future shifts in such 
        threats and trends;
          (3) the ability to evaluate such threats and trends 
        at a level sufficient to create actionable plans; and
          (4) the operational capability to conduct continuous 
        and integrated surveillance of the air, land, and 
        maritime borders of the United States.
  (b) Joint Task Forces.--
          (1) Establishment.--The Secretary may establish and 
        operate departmental Joint Task Forces to conduct joint 
        operations using personnel and capabilities of the 
        Department for the purposes specified in paragraph (2).
          (2) Purposes.--
                  (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), 
                the purposes referred to in paragraph (1) are 
                or relate to the following:
                          (i) Securing the land and maritime 
                        borders of the United States.
                          (ii) Homeland security crises.
                          (iii) Establishing regionally-based 
                        operations.
                          (iv) Enhancing the integration of the 
                        Department's border security operations 
                        to detect, interdict, disrupt, and 
                        prevent narcotics, such as fentanyl and 
                        other synthetic opioids, from entering 
                        the United States.
                  (B) Limitation.--
                          (i) In general.--The Secretary may 
                        not establish a Joint Task Force for 
                        any major disaster or emergency 
                        declared under the Robert T. Stafford 
                        Disaster Relief and Emergency 
                        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) 
                        or an incident for which the Federal 
                        Emergency Management Agency has primary 
                        responsibility for management of the 
                        response under title V of this Act, 
                        including section 504(a)(3)(A), unless 
                        the responsibilities of such a Joint 
                        Task Force--
                                  (I) do not include 
                                operational functions related 
                                to incident management, 
                                including coordination of 
                                operations; and
                                  (II) are consistent with the 
                                requirements of paragraphs (3) 
                                and (4)(A) of section 503(c) 
                                and section 509(c) of this Act, 
                                and section 302 of the Robert 
                                T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
                                Emergency Assistance Act (42 
                                U.S.C. 5143).
                          (ii) Responsibilities and functions 
                        not reduced.--Nothing in this section 
                        may be construed to reduce the 
                        responsibilities or functions of the 
                        Federal Emergency Management Agency or 
                        the Administrator of the Agency under 
                        title V of this Act or any other 
                        provision of law, including the 
                        diversion of any asset, function, or 
                        mission from the Agency or the 
                        Administrator of the Agency pursuant to 
                        section 506.
          (3) Joint task force directors.--
                  (A) Director.--Each Joint Task Force 
                established and operated pursuant to paragraph 
                (1) shall be headed by a Director, appointed by 
                the President, for a term of not more than two 
                years. The Secretary shall submit to the 
                President recommendations for such appointments 
                after consulting with the heads of the 
                components of the Department with membership on 
                any such Joint Task Force. Any Director 
                appointed by the President shall be--
                          (i) a current senior official of the 
                        Department with not less than one year 
                        of significant leadership experience at 
                        the Department; or
                          (ii) if no suitable candidate is 
                        available at the Department, an 
                        individual with--
                                  (I) not less than one year of 
                                significant leadership 
                                experience in a Federal agency 
                                since the establishment of the 
                                Department; and
                                  (II) a demonstrated ability 
                                in, knowledge of, and 
                                significant experience working 
                                on the issues to be addressed 
                                by any such Joint Task Force.
                  (B) Extension.--The Secretary may extend the 
                appointment of a Director of a Joint Task Force 
                under subparagraph (A) for not more than two 
                years if the Secretary determines that such an 
                extension is in the best interest of the 
                Department.
          (4) Joint task force deputy directors.--For each 
        Joint Task Force, the Secretary shall appoint a Deputy 
        Director who shall be an official of a different 
        component or office of the Department than the Director 
        of such Joint Task Force.
          (5) Responsibilities.--The Director of a Joint Task 
        Force, subject to the oversight, direction, and 
        guidance of the Secretary, shall--
                  (A) when established for the purpose referred 
                to in paragraph (2)(A)(i), maintain situational 
                awareness within the areas of responsibility of 
                the Joint Task Force, as determined by the 
                Secretary;
                  (B) provide operational plans and 
                requirements for standard operating procedures 
                and contingency operations within the areas of 
                responsibility of the Joint Task Force, as 
                determined by the Secretary;
                  (C) plan and execute joint task force 
                activities within the areas of responsibility 
                of the Joint Task Force, as determined by the 
                Secretary;
                  (D) set and accomplish strategic objectives 
                through integrated operational planning and 
                execution;
                  (E) exercise operational direction over 
                personnel and equipment from components and 
                offices of the Department allocated to the 
                Joint Task Force to accomplish the objectives 
                of the Joint Task Force;
                  (F) when established for the purpose referred 
                to in paragraph (2)(A)(i), establish 
                operational and investigative priorities within 
                the areas of responsibility of the Joint Task 
                Force, as determined by the Secretary;
                  (G) coordinate with foreign governments and 
                other Federal, State, and local agencies, as 
                appropriate, to carry out the mission of the 
                Joint Task Force; and
                  (H) carry out other duties and powers the 
                Secretary determines appropriate.
          (6) Personnel and resources.--
                  (A) In general.--The Secretary may, upon 
                request of the Director of a Joint Task Force, 
                and giving appropriate consideration of risk to 
                the other primary missions of the Department, 
                allocate to such Joint Task Force on a 
                temporary basis personnel and equipment of 
                components and offices of the Department.
                  (B) Cost neutrality.--A Joint Task Force may 
                not require more resources than would have 
                otherwise been required by the Department to 
                carry out the duties assigned to such Joint 
                Task Force if such Joint Task Force had not 
                been established.
                  (C) Location of operations.--In establishing 
                a location of operations for a Joint Task 
                Force, the Secretary shall, to the extent 
                practicable, use existing facilities that 
                integrate efforts of components of the 
                Department and State, local, tribal, or 
                territorial law enforcement or military 
                entities.
                  (D) Consideration of impact.--When reviewing 
                requests for allocation of component personnel 
                and equipment under subparagraph (A), the 
                Secretary shall consider the impact of such 
                allocation on the ability of the donating 
                component or office to carry out the primary 
                missions of the Department, and in the case of 
                the Coast Guard, the missions specified in 
                section 888.
                  (E) Limitation.--Personnel and equipment of 
                the Coast Guard allocated under this paragraph 
                may be used only to carry out operations and 
                investigations related to the missions 
                specified in section 888.
                  (F) Report.--The Secretary shall, at the time 
                the budget of the President is submitted to 
                Congress for a fiscal year under section 
                1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, submit 
                to the Committee on Homeland Security and the 
                Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
                of the House of Representatives and the 
                Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
                Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
                and Transportation of the Senate a report on 
                the total funding, personnel, and other 
                resources that each component or office of the 
                Department allocated under this paragraph to 
                each Joint Task Force to carry out the mission 
                of such Joint Task Force during the fiscal year 
                immediately preceding each such report, and a 
                description of the degree to which the 
                resources drawn from each component or office 
                impact the primary mission of such component or 
                office.
          (7) Component resource authority.--As directed by the 
        Secretary--
                  (A) each Director of a Joint Task Force shall 
                be provided sufficient resources from relevant 
                components and offices of the Department and 
                the authority necessary to carry out the 
                missions and responsibilities of such Joint 
                Task Force required under this section;
                  (B) the resources referred to in subparagraph 
                (A) shall be under the operational authority, 
                direction, and control of the Director of the 
                Joint Task Force to which such resources are 
                assigned; and
                  (C) the personnel and equipment of each Joint 
                Task Force shall remain under the 
                administrative direction of the head of the 
                component or office of the Department that 
                provided such personnel or equipment.
          (8) Joint task force staff.--Each Joint Task Force 
        shall have a staff, composed of officials from relevant 
        components and offices of the Department, to assist the 
        Director of such Joint Task Force in carrying out the 
        mission and responsibilities of such Joint Task Force.
          (9) Engagement with the private sector.--
                  (A) In general.--The Director of a Joint Task 
                Force may engage with representatives from a 
                private sector organization for the purpose of 
                carrying out the mission of such Joint Task 
                Force, and any such engagement shall not be 
                subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
                (5 U.S.C. App.).
                  (B) Assistance from private sector.--
                          (i) In general.--Notwithstanding 
                        subsection (b)(1), the Secretary, with 
                        the agreement of a private sector 
                        organization, may arrange for the 
                        temporary assignment of an employee of 
                        such organization to a Joint Task Force 
                        in accordance with this paragraph.
                          (ii) Agreement.--The Secretary shall 
                        provide for a written agreement between 
                        the Department, the private sector 
                        organization concerned, and the 
                        employee concerned regarding the terms 
                        and conditions of the assignment of 
                        such employee under this paragraph.
                  (C) No financial liability.--Any agreement 
                under this paragraph shall require the private 
                sector organization concerned to be responsible 
                for all costs associated with the assignment of 
                an employee under this paragraph.
                  (D) Duration.--An assignment under this 
                paragraph may, at any time and for any reason, 
                be terminated by the Secretary or the private 
                sector organization concerned and shall be for 
                a total period of not more than two years.
          (10) Collaboration with task forces outside dhs.--The 
        Secretary may enter into a memorandum of understanding 
        by which a Joint Task Force established under this 
        section to carry out any purpose specified in paragraph 
        (2)(A) and any other Federal, State, local, Tribal, 
        territorial, or international entity or task force 
        established for a similar purpose may collaborate for 
        the purpose of carrying out the mission of such Joint 
        Task Force.
          [(9)] (11) Establishment of performance metrics.--The 
        Secretary shall--
                  (A) establish outcome-based and other 
                appropriate performance metrics to evaluate the 
                effectiveness of each Joint Task Force;
                  (B) not later than 120 days after the date of 
                the enactment of this section and 120 days 
                after the establishment of a new Joint Task 
                Force, as appropriate, submit to the Committee 
                on Homeland Security and the Committee on 
                Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
                of Representatives and the Committee on 
                Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and 
                the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation of the Senate the metrics 
                established under subparagraph (A).
                  (C) not later than January 31 of each year 
                beginning in 2017, submit to each committee 
                specified in subparagraph (B) a report that 
                contains the evaluation described in 
                subparagraph (A).
          [(10)] (12) Joint duty training program.--
                  (A) In general.--The Secretary shall--
                          (i) establish a joint duty training 
                        program in the Department for the 
                        purposes of--
                                  (I) enhancing coordination 
                                within the Department; and
                                  (II) promoting workforce 
                                professional development; and
                          (ii) tailor such joint duty training 
                        program to improve joint operations as 
                        part of the Joint Task Forces.
                  (B) Elements.--The joint duty training 
                program established under subparagraph (A) 
                shall address, at a minimum, the following 
                topics:
                          (i) National security strategy.
                          (ii) Strategic and contingency 
                        planning.
                          (iii) Command and control of 
                        operations under joint command.
                          (iv) International engagement.
                          (v) The homeland security enterprise.
                          (vi) Interagency collaboration.
                          (vii) Leadership.
                          (viii) Specific subject matters 
                        relevant to the Joint Task Force, 
                        including matters relating to the 
                        missions specified in section 888, to 
                        which the joint duty training program 
                        is assigned.
                  (C) Training required.--
                          (i) Directors and deputy directors.--
                        Except as provided in clauses (iii) and 
                        (iv), an individual shall complete the 
                        joint duty training program before 
                        being appointed Director or Deputy 
                        Director of a Joint Task Force.
                          (ii) Joint task force staff.--Each 
                        official serving on the staff of a 
                        Joint Task Force shall complete the 
                        joint duty training program within the 
                        first year of assignment to such Joint 
                        Task Force.
                          (iii) Exception.--Clause (i) shall 
                        not apply to the first Director or 
                        Deputy Director appointed to a Joint 
                        Task Force on or after the date of the 
                        enactment of this section.
                          (iv) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive 
                        the application of clause (i) if the 
                        Secretary determines that such a waiver 
                        is in the interest of homeland security 
                        or necessary to carry out the mission 
                        for which a Joint Task Force was 
                        established.
          [(11)] (13) Notification of joint task force 
        formation.--
                  (A) In general.--Not later than 90 days 
                before establishing a Joint Task Force under 
                this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to 
                the majority leader of the Senate, the minority 
                leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House 
                of Representatives, the majority leader of the 
                House of Representatives, the minority leader 
                of the House of Representatives, and the 
                Committee on Homeland Security and the 
                Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
                of the House of Representatives and the 
                Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
                Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
                and Transportation of the Senate a notification 
                regarding such establishment.
                  (B) Waiver authority.--The Secretary may 
                waive the requirement under subparagraph (A) in 
                the event of an emergency circumstance that 
                imminently threatens the protection of human 
                life or property.
          [(12)] (14) Review.--
                  (A) In general.--Not later than January 31, 
                2018, and January 31, 2021, the Inspector 
                General of the Department shall submit to the 
                Committee on Homeland Security and the 
                Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
                of the House of Representatives and the 
                Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
                Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
                and Transportation of the Senate a review of 
                the Joint Task Forces established under this 
                subsection.
                  (B) Contents.--The reviews required under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include--
                          (i) an assessment of the 
                        effectiveness of the structure of each 
                        Joint Task Force; and
                          (ii) recommendations for enhancements 
                        to such structure to strengthen the 
                        effectiveness of each Joint Task Force.
          [(13)] (15) Sunset.--This section expires on 
        September 30, 2022.
  (c) Joint Duty Assignment Program.--After establishing the 
joint duty training program under subsection (b)(10), the 
Secretary shall establish a joint duty assignment program 
within the Department for the purposes of enhancing 
coordination in the Department and promoting workforce 
professional development.

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