September 26, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 156 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages H8025-H8027]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     COUNTER TERRORIST NETWORK ACT

  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3526) to authorize certain counter terrorist networks 
activities of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3526

       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 ``Counter Terrorist Network 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. DUTY TO COUNTER TERRORIST NETWORKS; DETAILS AND 
                   ASSIGNMENT.

       Section 411 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     211) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (g)(4)--
       (A) in subparagraph (C)--

[[Page H8026]]

       (i) in clause (vi), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (ii) by redesignating clause (vii) as clause (viii); and
       (iii) by inserting after clause (vi) the following new 
     clause:
       ``(vii) collaborate with appropriate agencies, including 
     Federal, State, local, Tribal, and international entities, to 
     enhance border security through operations such as operations 
     that seek to disrupt and dismantle networks, including 
     foreign terrorist organizations (as such term is described in 
     section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1189)), that pose terrorist or other threats; and'';
       (2) by redesignating subsections (p) through (r) as 
     subsections (q) through (s), respectively; and
       (3) by inserting after subsection (o) the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(p) Assignment of Personnel.--The Commissioner may detail 
     or otherwise assign personnel of U.S. Customs and Border 
     Protection to other appropriate agencies, including to serve 
     overseas in support of global information sharing partnership 
     operations in furtherance of enhancing border security, 
     including by preventing entry into the United States by 
     individuals known or suspected of being associated with a 
     network, including a foreign terrorist organization (as such 
     term is described in section 219 of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189)), that poses terrorist or 
     other threats.''.

     SEC. 3. BRIEFINGS.

       The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
     shall biannually brief the Committee on Homeland Security of 
     the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate regarding 
     activities, during the prior six months, in furtherance of 
     clause (vii) of section 411(g)(4)(C) of the Homeland Security 
     Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 211(g)(4)(C)), as added by section 2 of 
     this Act. Such briefings may be provided in a classified 
     setting if the Commissioner determines such is appropriate.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Correa) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Green) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous materials on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3526, the Counter 
Terrorist Network Act. Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, is 
charged with the important mission of securing our Nation's borders and 
ports of entries against a range of threats, including foreign 
terrorist networks. In pursuit of this mission, it is vital that CBP 
and the Department of Homeland Security collaborate with international 
partners to effectively prevent foreign terrorists from carrying out 
attacks on U.S. soil.
  H.R. 3526 authorizes CBP's National Targeting Center, or NTC, to 
collaborate with international partners to disrupt and dismantle 
foreign terrorist networks. The NTC uses technology and analytical 
tools to identify threats and share this information with domestic and 
international partners.
  This bill seeks to solidify CBP's collaboration with international 
partners outside of our borders. The Counter Terrorist Network Act will 
authorize CBP to assign NTC personnel abroad to perform critical 
information-sharing operations in real time to ensure that individuals 
who are known or suspected of being associated with terrorist networks 
are prevented from entering the United States.
  Even as Congress addresses the rise of domestic terrorism, we must 
continue to be vigilant of the threats posed by foreign terrorist 
organizations such as al-Qaida and the Islamic State. H.R. 3526 
underscores this by authorizing CBP to counter terrorist and criminal 
networks from exploiting legitimate avenues to enter the United States.
  Due to its border security mission, CBP is uniquely situated to 
combat these threats that originate from terrorist and criminal 
networks around the globe. This bill will allow Congress to work with 
CBP to ensure our borders are secure in a proven and effective manner.
  I thank the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Underwood) for introducing 
this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3526.
  The men and women in uniform at U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
are tasked with an incredibly important mission. Every day they protect 
our Nation from transnational criminal organizations, human 
traffickers, and terrorists who wish to exploit vulnerabilities at our 
Nation's borders. To execute this critical mission, CBP has developed a 
cadre of subject matter experts who are well-versed in counter criminal 
network operations. These experts work tirelessly at our seaports, 
airports, and land border crossings honing their skills, stopping the 
flow of illicit goods and people, and creating actionable intelligence.
  Given that CBP is uniquely positioned on our Nation's front line, it 
is alarming that the CBP does not have the authority to participate in 
counterterrorist network activities both domestically and 
internationally. CBP lacks the statutory authority to assign personnel 
to such specialized details and liaison assignments with a national 
security force.
  H.R. 3526 corrects this deficiency by giving the commissioner of CBP 
the statutory authority to assign personnel to these specialized task 
forces and collaborate with appropriate Federal, State, local, and 
Tribal entities to disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal 
organizations and foreign terrorist networks.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3526 will lead to enhanced information sharing and 
an increase in intelligence-driven enforcement operations. I encourage 
my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Ms. Underwood).
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3526, the 
Counter Terrorist Network Act. I introduced the bipartisan Counter 
Terrorist Network Act with my colleague from New York, Representative 
Katko, to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security has the tools 
it needs to work effectively with international partners to prevent 
foreign terrorist organizations from carrying out attacks on U.S. soil.
  As we work to address growing threats posed by domestic terrorism, we 
must also remain vigilant against the threats posed by al-Qaida and its 
affiliates, the Islamic State, and other foreign terrorist 
organizations that aspire to do our Nation harm.
  With the Counter Terrorist Network Act, law enforcement will have 
enhanced resources to help thwart threats to our country. The Counter 
Terrorist Network Act authorizes the National Targeting Center, which 
is housed within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to collaborate 
with international security agencies to disrupt and dismantle terrorist 
networks.
  Importantly, it authorizes CBP to assign National Targeting Center 
personnel to overseas posts to improve information sharing about 
terrorist networks and help prevent entry to the U.S. by travelers who 
are known or suspected of being associated with a terrorist network.
  NTC--that is the National Targeting Center--personnel play an 
important role in the safety of our country, including my community in 
northern Illinois. We know that in fiscal year 2015, CBP was able to 
prevent 22,000 high-risk travelers from traveling to the U.S. through 
the collaboration between the NTC and other predeparture screening 
programs. This number represents previously unknown high-risk travelers 
who were found to pose a national security or terrorist threat.

  The successful partnerships and programs that CBP has built with 
other law enforcement partners in furtherance of their antiterrorism 
and homeland security mission warrant congressional support. As we work 
to address growing threats posed by domestic terrorism, we must also 
remain vigilant against the threats posed by al-Qaida and its 
affiliates, the Islamic State, and other foreign terrorist 
organizations that continue to aspire to do our Nation harm.
  I would note that similar language overwhelmingly passed the House in

[[Page H8027]]

2018, and I urge my colleagues to again support the Counter Terrorist 
Network Act.
  Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Thompson and his 
staff on the House Committee on Homeland Security for all of their 
invaluable work on this legislation.
  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I have no speakers on this bill. 
I renew my recommendation that my colleagues support this bill, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, 18 years after the most devastating terrorist attack on 
our country, it is imperative that DHS continue its efforts to prevent 
foreign terrorist organizations from carrying out attacks on our 
homeland. By passing H.R. 3526 today, Congress can ensure that DHS 
continues to address border or homeland security threats long before 
they are present at our borders.
  I would also note that last Congress, the House overwhelmingly passed 
similar legislation in a bipartisan manner. It was approved by a vote 
of 410-2. I would hope that my colleagues would again lend their 
support and join me in passing this legislation today.
  I want to thank Ms. Underwood for this most important and timely 
piece of legislation to protect our homeland from terrorists.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Correa) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3526.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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