[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4737 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4737
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 11, 2020
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Under
Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland
Security to research and evaluate existing Federal research regarding
approaches to mitigate climate change on homeland security to identify
areas for further research within the Department, research and develop
approaches to mitigate the consequences of climate change on homeland
security, and for other purposes.
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 ``Department of Homeland Security
Climate Change Research Act''.
SEC. 2. CLIMATE CHANGE PLANNING, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND
PROTECTION AND PREPAREDNESS.
(a) In General.--Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 321. CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
``(a) In General.--The Under Secretary for Science and Technology--
``(1) shall evaluate existing Federal research regarding
approaches to mitigate the consequence of climate change on
homeland security to identify areas for additional research and
development pursuant to paragraph (2) with respect to--
``(A) any connection between climate change and
homeland security, including how the resulting
competition for resources, economic distress, and
social discontent has contributed to, among other
outcomes, acts of terrorism;
``(B) the degree to which climate change is
reflected in terrorism preparedness and emergency
planning and policies, including with respect to
preparedness, response to, and recovery from natural
disasters; and
``(C) the degree to which the Federal funding
structure to respond to major disaster declarations and
emergency declarations is adequately structured to meet
the demands of responding to and recovering from acts
of terrorism and natural disasters that are aggravated
by climate change; and
``(2) shall, to the extent practicable, conduct research
and development on approaches to mitigate the consequences of
climate change on homeland security in response to finding
pursuant to paragraph (1).
``(b) Scope.--The scope of the research and development under
subsection (a)(2) shall include the following:
``(1) Any connection between climate change and homeland
security, including how the resulting competition for
resources, economic distress, and social discontent can
contribute to, among other outcomes, acts of terrorism.
``(2) The degree to which climate change is reflected in
terrorism preparedness and emergency planning and policies,
including with respect to preparedness, response to, and
recovery from natural disasters.
``(3) The degree to which the Federal funding structure to
respond to major disaster declarations and emergency
declarations is adequately structured to meet the demands of
responding to and recovering from acts of terrorism and natural
disasters that are aggravated by climate change.
``(c) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the Under
Secretary for Science and Technology shall consult with the heads of
other relevant agencies and departments of the Federal Government,
first responders, and relevant owners and operators of critical
infrastructure.
``(d) Climate Change Defined.--The term `climate change' refers to
detectable changes in one or more climate system components that is
directly or indirectly attributed to--
``(1) human activity; and
``(2) altering the composition of the global atmosphere.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 320 the following new item:
``Sec. 321. Climate change research and development.''.
SEC. 3. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act
and annually thereafter for 3 years, the Under Secretary for Science
and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security shall submit to
the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on
any research and development activities carried out pursuant to section
321 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by this Act.
Passed the House of Representatives February 10, 2020.
Attest:
CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
Clerk.
By Robert F. Reeves,
Deputy Clerk.