May 14, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 80 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages H3761-H3762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 QUADRENNIAL HOMELAND SECURITY REVIEW TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT OF 2019

  Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1892) to amend the Homeland Security Act 
of 2002 to make technical corrections to the requirement that the 
Secretary of Homeland Security submit quadrennial homeland security 
reviews, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1892

       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 ``Quadrennial Homeland 
     Security Review Technical Corrections Act of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO QUADRENNIAL HOMELAND 
                   SECURITY REVIEW.

       (a) In General.--Section 707 of the Homeland Security Act 
     of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 347) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(3)--
       (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon at the end;
       (B) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); 
     and
       (C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(C) representatives from appropriate advisory committees 
     established pursuant to section 871, including the Homeland 
     Security Advisory Council and the Homeland Security Science 
     and Technology Advisory Committee, or otherwise established, 
     including the Aviation Security Advisory Committee 
     established pursuant to section 44946 of title 49, United 
     States Code; and'';
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (2), by inserting before the semicolon at 
     the end the following: ``based on the risk assessment 
     required pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(B)'';
       (B) in paragraph (3)--
       (i) by inserting ``, to the extent practicable,'' after 
     ``describe''; and
       (ii) by striking ``budget plan'' and inserting ``resources 
     required'';
       (C) in paragraph (4)--
       (i) by inserting ``, to the extent practicable,'' after 
     ``identify'';
       (ii) by striking ``budget plan required to provide 
     sufficient resources to successfully'' and inserting 
     ``resources required to''; and
       (iii) by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting 
     the following: ``, including any resources identified from 
     redundant, wasteful, or unnecessary capabilities or 
     capacities that may be redirected to better support other 
     existing capabilities or capacities, as the case may be; 
     and'';
       (D) in paragraph (5), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
     period; and
       (E) by striking paragraph (6);
       (3) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``December 31 of the 
     year'' and inserting ``60 days after the date of the 
     submission of the President's budget for the fiscal year 
     after the fiscal year'';
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``description of the 
     threats to'' and inserting ``risk assessment of'';
       (ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``, as required 
     under subsection (b)(2)'' before the semicolon at the end;
       (iii) in subparagraph (D)--

       (I) by inserting ``to the extent practicable,'' before ``a 
     description''; and
       (II) by striking ``budget plan'' and inserting ``resources 
     required'';

       (iv) in subparagraph (F)--

       (I) by inserting ``to the extent practicable,'' before ``a 
     discussion''; and
       (II) by striking ``the status of'';

       (v) in subparagraph (G)--

       (I) by inserting ``to the extent practicable,'' before ``a 
     discussion'';
       (II) by striking ``the status of'';
       (III) by inserting ``and risks'' before ``to national 
     homeland''; and
       (IV) by inserting ``and'' after the semicolon at the end;

       (vi) by striking subparagraph (H); and
       (vii) by redesignating subparagraph (I) as subparagraph 
     (H);
       (C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
       (D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(3) Documentation.--The Secretary shall retain and, upon 
     request, provide to Congress the following documentation 
     regarding each quadrennial homeland security review:
       ``(A) Records regarding the consultation carried out 
     pursuant to subsection (a)(3), including the following:
       ``(i) All written communications, including communications 
     sent out by the Secretary and feedback submitted to the 
     Secretary through technology, online communications tools, 
     in-person discussions, and the interagency process.
       ``(ii) Information on how feedback received by the 
     Secretary informed each such quadrennial homeland security 
     review.
       ``(B) Information regarding the risk assessment required 
     pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(B), including the following:
       ``(i) The risk model utilized to generate such risk 
     assessment.
       ``(ii) Information, including data used in the risk model, 
     utilized to generate such risk assessment.
       ``(iii) Sources of information, including other risk 
     assessments, utilized to generate such risk assessment.
       ``(iv) Information on assumptions, weighing factors, and 
     subjective judgments utilized to generate such risk 
     assessment, together with information on the rationale or 
     basis thereof.'';
       (4) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
       (5) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(d) Review.--Not later than 90 days after the submission 
     of each report required under subsection (c)(1), the 
     Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Homeland Security 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate information 
     on the degree to which the findings and recommendations 
     developed in the quadrennial homeland security review that is 
     the subject of such report were integrated into the 
     acquisition strategy and expenditure plans for the 
     Department.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall 
     apply with respect to a quadrennial homeland security review 
     conducted after December 31, 2021.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New Mexico (Ms. Torres Small) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Joyce) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Mexico.


                             General Leave

  Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New Mexico?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1829, the Quadrennial Homeland 
Security Review Technical Corrections Act. This bill, authored by Mrs. 
Watson Coleman of New Jersey, will ensure that the Quadrennial Homeland 
Security Review, or QHSR, is a driving vision for the Department of 
Homeland Security.
  Given the importance of DHS' mission, it is vital that the Department 
continually review its policy positions so that they, with Congress' 
help, can continue to stay ahead of the constantly changing threats 
facing our country.
  By enacting this legislation, Congress can see that DHS carries out 
its long-overdue third QHSR and stays focused on the mission.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1892, the Quadrennial 
Homeland Security Review Technical Corrections Act of 2019.

                              {time}  1645

  In the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 
2007, Congress required the Department of Homeland Security to conduct 
a security review every 4 years. As the threats to the United States 
change and evolve, it is more important than ever for DHS to produce a 
robust strategy to protect the American public.
  The Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, or QHSR, is intended to 
outline DHS' strategic outlook in its plan to successfully carry out 
its mission to protect our homeland. Thus far, DHS has produced two 
QHSRs since the requirement was established: one in 2010 and its most 
recent one in 2014. We are currently awaiting the release of the 2018 
QHSR, which is quite a bit behind schedule.
  The Government Accountability Office has reviewed both reports and 
made recommendations on how DHS could improve its efforts for future 
quadrennial reviews. In its 2016 review of the most recent QHSR, the 
GAO

[[Page H3762]]

made several recommendations to strengthen the QHSR process, which are 
the basis of this legislation.
  H.R. 1892 requires DHS to perform a risk assessment to shape the 
direction and the focus of QHSR. Second, the Department would be 
required to collect and maintain communications related to the QHSR to 
allow for better congressional oversight. Finally, DHS would be 
required to enhance its stakeholder engagement throughout the 
development of QHSR.
  The result of these changes would be a more robust strategy that 
provides a roadmap for DHS to address future threats as they emerge and 
allows Congress to better execute its oversight responsibilities.
  This language passed the House with wide support last Congress but, 
unfortunately, was not taken up by the Senate.
  I continue to believe that this is an important piece of legislation, 
and I thank the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman) for 
reintroducing it.
  I urge all Members to join me in supporting this commonsense bill, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman).
  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding.
  The Department of Homeland Security's mission is complex and diverse. 
Not only is DHS charged with preventing terrorism, but it is the lead 
Federal agency for emergency management, cybersecurity, and border, 
maritime, and transportation security.
  Given the breadth of DHS' responsibilities, it is essential that its 
limited resources be aligned with its missions to meet the ever-
challenging threat landscape. As such, the Quadrennial Homeland 
Security Review, or QHSR, which DHS is mandated to carry out every 4 
years, is critical to ensuring that the Department is positioned to 
effectively carry out its multifaceted mission.
  To date, DHS has issued two such reviews, as we have heard. 
Unfortunately, the Department's third is 16 months overdue. This 
legislation seeks to make refinements to the law to address weaknesses 
identified by the Government Accountability Office in the prior two 
reviews.
  GAO, for example, emphasized that documentation of the review process 
is essential to ensuring the repeatability of the review process. 
Accordingly, H.R. 1892 requires that DHS retain and, when requested, 
provide to Congress certain documentation related to the QHSR.
  H.R. 1892 also seeks to ensure more robust consultation with Homeland 
Security stakeholders, including State and local governments and 
academic institutions. H.R. 1892 ensures that DHS undertakes and 
documents a risk analysis to inform its policy positions.
  This House unanimously approved this measure in both the 115th 
Congress and the 114th Congress; however, the Senate has, indeed, 
failed to act on the bill on both occasions.
  Enactment of this bill will help chart a thoughtful path on how to 
align its resources with its mission and make the Nation more secure. 
Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 1892.
  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, this legislation will 
see that the Department of Homeland Security remains focused on its 
primary mission.
  It is important that the Department complete this review so that it, 
in partnership with Congress, can continue to evolve with the threats 
that face our homeland.
  I would also add that this measure passed the House last Congress by 
a vote of 415-0, and I would hope my colleagues would do the same 
today.
  Finally, I urge DHS to deliver the long-overdue 2018 QHSR to 
Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 1892, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Torres Small) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1892.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________