[House Report 118-688]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
118th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 118-688
======================================================================
DHS JOINT TASK FORCES REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF
2024
_______
September 18, 2024.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Green of Tennessee, from the Committee on Homeland
Security, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 9460]
The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 9460) to authorize the Joint Task Forces of the
Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, having
considered the same, reports favorably thereon without
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 1
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Hearings......................................................... 3
Committee Consideration.......................................... 3
Committee Votes.................................................. 3
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 3
C.B.O. Estimate, New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and
Tax Expenditures............................................... 4
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 4
Duplicative Federal Programs..................................... 4
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 4
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff
Benefits....................................................... 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............ 5
Purpose and Summary
H.R. 9460, the ``DHS Joint Task Force Reauthorization Act
of 2024,'' reauthorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security's
authority to establish and operate Joint Task Forces through
September 30, 2026. This bill expands existing accountability
measures, including by requiring the Secretary of Homeland
Security to establish staffing plans for each Joint Task Force
and to provide annual reports to Congress regarding the
progress implementing outcome-based performance metrics,
staffing plans, and any modifications to the mission and goals
of each Joint Task Force. The bill would also require annual
Congressional briefings regarding the latest staffing and
resource assessments at Joint Task Force-East. Finally, the
bill would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to
provide a report to Congress on the cost and effectiveness of
hosting Joint Task Force-East headquarters in an alternate
location.
Background and Need for Legislation
The ``DHS Joint Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2024''
preserves the Secretary of Homeland Security's existing
authority to co-locate agency personnel and resources from
across the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to improve
coordination and tackle threats to the homeland. Joint Task
Force authority originates from pilot programs in the Obama
administration, when former Secretary Jeh Johnson stood up
several Joint Task Forces, including Joint Task Force-
Investigations (JTF-I), Joint Task Force-East, (JTF-E), and
Joint Task Force-West (JTF-W).\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Dep't of Homeland Sec., Office of Inspector General, OIG-17-100,
DHS' Joint Task Forces (Aug. 10, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Congress codified Joint Task Force authority for a five-
year period in the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense
Authorization Act.\2\ Congress reauthorized Joint Task Force
authority for a two-year period in the James M. Inhofe National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.\3\ Absent
congressional action, this authority will expire on September
30, 2024.\4\ JTF-West and JTF-I were officially dissolved on
October 1, 2020. DHS currently operates one Joint Task Force,
JTF-East.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\Pub. L. No. 114-328, div. A, title XIX, Sec. 1901(b), 130 Stat.
2000, 2665-70 (2016).
\3\Pub. L. No. 117 263, div. G, title LXXI, subtitle B,
Sec. 7111(b), 136 Stat. 2395, 3625-28 (2022).
\4\6 U.S.C. Sec. 348(b)(13).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
JTF-East focuses on threats along the U.S. Southern
maritime border and coordinates DHS operations that target the
smuggling of illicit drugs, terrorism threats, and maritime
mass migration incidents. The Task Force is comprised of the
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and
other DHS components. The Task Force also taps into a
connective framework that leverages the broader capabilities
and authorities of the interagency including the Departments of
Defense, Justice, and State, as well as a myriad of
international law enforcement partners.
JTF-East has had many successes. In 2019, JTF-East was an
essential contributor to an ICE Homeland Security
Investigations operation in which 20 tons of cocaine valued, at
$1 billion, was seized. That operation, designated ``Operation
VELAS NEGRAS,'' was the largest drug seizure in U.S. history.
JTF-East also works closely with the Homeland Security Task
Force-Southeast: a standing Federal interdepartmental task
force responsible for deterring, preventing, and responding to
illegal maritime migration and the illicit smuggling of
narcotics in the maritime domain. In 2023, JTF-East increased
resources to prepare and respond to maritime mass migration
incidents and to support Operation Vigilant Sentry.\5\ In 2024,
coalition efforts under Joint Task Force-East resulted in the
interdiction of more than 350 migrants, over 55,600 kilograms
of illicit cocaine valued at almost $1.7 billion, illegally
harvested fish valued at over $900,000, over 350 illegal
firearms, and over 26,000 rounds of ammunition.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\``In January 2023, Joint Task Force-East established an incident
management team to support Operation Vigilant Sentry. As part of this
team, task force officials stated they briefed DHS senior leaders on
situational data and incident forecasts using a risk assessment model
that the task force developed to assess the risk of an escalation of
maritime mass migration.'' U.S. GOV'T ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE, DEPARTMENT
OF HOMELAND SECURITY: ADDITIONAL ACTIONS NEEDED TO IMPROVE OVERSIGHT OF
JOINT TASK FORCES, GAO-24-106855, at 10 (Feb. 7, 2024).
\6\DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, DHS Joint Task Force-East:
Eastern Caribbean Operational Successes, July 2024.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enactment of H.R. 9460 will ensure that JTF-East continues
to function and will preserve the Secretary's authority to
establish and operate other Joint Task Forces to enhance
operational coordination among DHS components to tackle complex
threats to the homeland.
Hearings
The Committee held the following hearings in the 118th
Congress that informed H.R. 9460:
On April 19, 2023, the Committee on Homeland Security
held a hearing entitled ``A Review of the Fiscal Year
2024 Budget Request for the Department of Homeland
Security'' and received testimony from the Honorable
Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary, U.S. Department of
Homeland Security.
On April 16, 2024, the Committee on Homeland Security
held a hearing entitled ``A Review of the Fiscal Year
2025 Budget Request for the Department of Homeland
Security'' and received testimony from the Honorable
Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary, U.S. Department of
Homeland Security.
Committee Consideration
The Committee met on Wednesday September 11, 2024. a quorum
being present, to consider H.R. 9460 and ordered the measure to
be favorably reported to the House by voice vote.
Committee Votes
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII 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. 9460.
Committee Oversight Findings
In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII, the
Committee advises that the findings and recommendations of the
Committee, based on oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1)
of rule X, 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 and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974, and with respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(3) of
rule XIII and section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974, the Committee has requested but not received from the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office a statement as to
whether this bill contains any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
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.
Duplicative Federal Programs
Pursuant to clause 3(c) of rule XIII, the Committee finds
that H.R. 9460 does not contain any provision that establishes
or reauthorizes a program known to be duplicative of another
Federal program.
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the objective of
H.R. 9460 is to reauthorize the Secretary of Homeland
Security's authority to establish and operate Joint Task Forces
(JTFs) through 2026.
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited
Tariff Benefits
In compliance with rule XXI, 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 rule XXI.
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 the Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that H.R. 9460 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 states that the Act may be cited as the ``DHS
Joint Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2024.''
Section 2. Amendment to Section 708 of the Homeland Security Act of
2002
Subsection (a) amends the September 30, 2024, sunset for
the Joint Task Force authority, reauthorizing the authority
through September 30, 2026. This subsection also requires the
Department of Homeland Security to establish a staffing plan
for each Joint Task Force and to provide an annual report to
Congress regarding the staffing plans and any modification to
the mission, strategic goals, and objectives of each Joint Task
Force.
Subsection (b) requires the Secretary of Homeland Security
to provide annual briefings to the House Committee on Homeland
Security, the House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs, and the Senate Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation regarding the latest staffing and
resource assessments at Joint Task Force-East.
Subsection (c) requires the Secretary of Homeland Security,
in consultation with other Department of Homeland Security
components, to provide a report to Congress regarding the cost
and effectiveness of hosting JTF-East headquarters in an
alternative location.
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
* * * * * * *
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.
(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.--
(A) In general.--Each Joint Task Force shall
have a staff, composed of personnel 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.
(B) Report.--The Secretary shall include in
the report submitted under paragraph (6)(F)--
(i) the number of personnel of each
component or office permanently
assigned to each Joint Task Force; and
(ii) the number of personnel of each
component or office assigned on a
temporary basis to each Joint Task
Force.
(9) Mission; establishment of performance metrics.--
The Secretary shall--
(A) using leading practices in performance
management and lessons learned by other law
enforcement task forces and joint operations,
establish--
(i) the mission, strategic goals, and
objectives of each Joint Task Force;
(ii) the criteria for terminating
each Joint Task Force; [and]
(iii) outcome-based and other
appropriate performance metrics for
evaluating the effectiveness of each
Joint Task Force with respect to the
mission, strategic goals, and
objectives established pursuant to
clause (i), including--
(I) targets for each Joint
Task Force to achieve by not
later than one and three years
after such establishment; and
(II) a description of the
methodology used to establish
such metrics; and
(iv) a staffing plan for each Joint
Task Force;
(B) not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of the DHS Joint Task Forces
Reauthorization Act of 2022 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 mission,
strategic goals, objectives, and metrics
established under subparagraph (A); and
[(C) not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of the DHS Joint Task Forces
Reauthorization Act of 2022 and annually
thereafter, submit to the committees specified
in subparagraph (B) a report that contains
information on the progress in implementing the
outcome-based and other appropriate performance
metrics established pursuant to subparagraph
(A)(iii).]
(C) not later than December 23, 2024, and
annually thereafter, submit to the committees
specified in subparagraph (B) a report
containing information regarding--
(i) the progress in implementing the
outcome-based and other appropriate
performance metrics established
pursuant to subparagraph (A)(iii);
(ii) the staffing plan developed for
each Joint Task Force pursuant to
subparagraph (A)(iv); and
(iii) any modification to the
mission, strategic goals, and
objectives of each Joint Task Force,
and a description of, and rationale
for, any such modifications.
(10) 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) Notification of joint task force formation or
termination.--
(A) In general.--Not later than seven days
after establishing or terminating 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 or termination, as
the case may be. The contents of any such
notification shall include the following:
(i) The criteria and conditions
required to establish or terminate the
Joint Task Force at issue.
(ii) The primary mission, strategic
goals, objectives, and plan of
operations of such Joint Task Force.
(iii) If such notification is a
notification of termination,
information on the effectiveness of
such Joint Task Force as measured by
the outcome-based performance metrics
and other appropriate performance
metrics established pursuant to
paragraph (9)(A)(iii).
(iv) The funding and resources
required to establish or terminate such
Joint Task Force.
(v) The number of personnel of each
component or office permanently
assigned to such Joint Task Force.
(vi) The number of personnel of each
component and office assigned on a
temporary basis to such Joint Task
Force.
(vii) If such notification is a
notification of establishment, the
anticipated costs of establishing and
operating such Joint Task Force.
(viii) If such notification is a
notification of termination, funding
allocated in the immediately preceding
fiscal year to such Joint Task Force
for--
(I) operations,
notwithstanding such
termination; and
(II) activities associated
with such termination.
(ix) The anticipated establishment or
actual termination date of such Joint
Task Force, as the case may be.
(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) Review.--
(A) In general.--Not later than one year
after the date of the enactment of the DHS
Joint Task Forces Reauthorization Act of 2022,
the Comptroller General of the United States
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 an assessment of
the effectiveness of the Secretary's
utilization of the authority provided under
this section for the purposes specified in
subsection (b)(2) as among the range of options
available to the Secretary to conduct joint
operations among departmental components and
offices and a review of the Joint Task Forces
established under this subsection.
(B) Contents.--The review required under
subparagraph (A) shall include--
(i) an assessment of methodology
utilized to determine whether to
establish or terminate each Joint Task
Force; and
(ii) an assessment of the
effectiveness of oversight over each
Joint Task Force, with specificity
regarding the Secretary's utilization
of outcome-based or other appropriate
performance metrics (established
pursuant to paragraph (9)(A)(iii)) to
evaluate the effectiveness of each
Joint Task Force in measuring progress
with respect to the mission, strategic
goals, and objectives (established
pursuant to paragraph (9)(A)(i)) of
such Joint Task Force.
(13) Sunset.--This section expires on September 30,
[2024] 2026 .
(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.
* * * * * * *
[all]