[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8015 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8015
To ensure the Department of Homeland Security is appropriately
measuring the scope of certain border security matters, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 16, 2024
Mr. Stanton (for himself and Mr. Ciscomani) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To ensure the Department of Homeland Security is appropriately
measuring the scope of certain border security matters, 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 ``Data for a Secured Border Act''.
SEC. 2. MATTERS RELATING TO BORDER SECURITY.
(a) Border Security Metrics.--
(1) Annual reports.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in
coordination with the Executive Director of the Office of
Homeland Security Statistics, shall submit to the Committee on
Homeland Security, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate an annual report that--
(A) assesses the usefulness of the border security
metrics described in section 1092 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public
Law 114-328; 6 U.S.C. 223) that are utilized in
preparing the reports required under such section; and
(B) makes recommendations for any updates to such
border security metrics.
(2) Timing.--Each report under this subsection shall be
submitted at the same time as each report required under such
section 1092.
(b) Joint Capabilities.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in
cooperation and collaboration with the Under Secretary for Management
of the Department of Homeland Security and the Deputy's Management
Action Group (DMAG) of the Department, shall submit to the Committee on
Homeland Security, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on the
Judiciary, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a
report that includes the following:
(1) An assessment of the workforce, authorities, and
responsibilities of the Joint Requirements Council (JRC) of the
Department.
(2) A determination regarding whether the JRC is meeting
its intent, including whether the JRC implements a joint
requirements process or any additional responsibility that the
Secretary has assigned to it, including relating to the
following:
(A) The validation of any evaluation, as
appropriate, by a component, support component, or
office, of the Department that--
(i) identifies any capability gaps,
redundancies, or overlaps; and
(ii) provides recommendations for either
materiel or nonmateriel solutions to address
any such capability gap, redundancy, or
overlap.
(B) The submission of such validation to department
leadership for consideration in investment decisions.
(3) An identification of the position within the Department
responsible for implementing a joint requirements process that
validates an evaluation by a component of the Department that
identifies any capability gaps, redundancies, or overlaps
pursuant to paragraph (2)(A).
(4) An identification of the officer or official of the
Department who oversees the JRC's activities and
responsibilities, including the JRC's reporting
responsibilities to the DMAG.
(5) A description of how the JRC is assisting the
Department's efforts in performing border security-related
missions and assisting incorporation of technological advances
into border management based on available resources, such as
the flow of fentanyl across the border and the backlog of
migrant processing.
(6) A review of the progress of the Department's engagement
with the JRC to carry out the following:
(A) Review the JRC's recommendations.
(B) Approve or direct related follow-on activities.
(C) Provide direction and guidance to the JRC.
(7) A review of the JRC's recommendations, the approval and
direct related follow-on activities, and the direction and
guidance to the JRC from the Secretary or the Secretary's
designee.
(8) A description of how Department senior leadership makes
use of JRC analyses and associated products.
(9) An evaluation of the placement of the JRC within the
Management Directorate of the Department to ensure such
placement aligns fully with the JRC's mission and maintains the
JRC's independence.
(10) An evaluation of the role of the JRC and broader
Department internal communications of needs and requirements,
and how the processes for communicating and documenting such
needs and requirements can be improved at the Department.
(c) Other Administrative Needs.--The reports required under
subsections (a) and (b) shall also be submitted to the following:
(1) Homeland Security Investigations of U.S. Immigrations
and Customs Enforcement, with any illicit drug highlights.
(2) The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP),
with any illicit drug highlights.
(3) The Drug Enforcement Administration, with any illicit
drug highlights.
(4) The Federal Emergency Management Agency, with any
migrant crossing surges that would cross the threshold into
emergency situations.
(5) The Department of Justice, including law enforcement
agencies of the Department, regarding such Department's and
agencies' related border metrics.
(d) Definition.--The terms ``Joint Requirements Council'' and
``JRC'' include any successor entity.
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