H.R. 1589House116th Congress (2019-2021)Passed House

CBRN Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2019

Introduced March 7, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 2:48 AM UTC

The CBRN Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2019 amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to create a new Section 210F that gives the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis a formal role in analyzing and sharing information about chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, as well as global infectious‑disease and other public‑health hazards. The law requires the DHS to coordinate threat analysis, integrate risk assessments, and provide tailored intelligence to state, local, tribal, territorial, federal and private partners. It also mandates annual reports to Congress on the program’s progress for up to five years.

Key Provisions

  • Establishes Section 210F, directing the DHS Undersecretary for Intelligence and Analysis to coordinate analysis of CBRN threats and global infectious‑disease risks, integrate those analyses with vulnerability and risk assessments, and plan for detection, protection, and response.
  • Requires DHS to share tailored intelligence and analytical support with state, local, tribal, territorial, other federal agencies, and private entities that have homeland‑security responsibilities.
  • Mandates coordination with other DHS components (e.g., Countering WMD Office, CISA, Science and Technology Directorate) and with external partners such as fusion centers and public‑health departments, and to develop mechanisms for rapid sharing of classified information.
  • Adds a definition for “fusion center” and updates the table of contents of the Homeland Security Act to include the new section.
  • Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to report annually to the House and Senate Homeland Security committees on CBRN intelligence and information‑sharing activities and on implementation progress, with the reporting requirement ending five years after enactment.

Legislative Activity

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15 earlier actions
SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 437.

March 2, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 7, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.

March 7, 2019

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

March 13, 2019

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

March 13, 2019

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 116-24.

March 28, 2019

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 10.

March 28, 2019

HouseFloor

Mr. Thompson (MS) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

April 1, 2019 • 4:34 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2931-2933)

April 1, 2019 • 4:34 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1589.

April 1, 2019 • 4:34 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2931-2932)

April 1, 2019 • 4:38 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2931-2932)

April 1, 2019 • 4:38 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

April 1, 2019 • 4:38 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

April 2, 2019

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

November 6, 2019

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 116-222.

March 2, 2020

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 437.

March 2, 2020

Floor Debate

3 members

What members said about H.R. 1589 on the floor

1 Republican2 Democrats
Bennie G. Thompson
Rep. Bennie G. ThompsonD-MS-2 · Apr 1, 2019

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1589) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear intelligence and…

Sheila Jackson Lee
Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18 · Apr 4, 2019

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1589 the ``CBRN Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2019'' which amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish chemical sharing function…

Michael Guest
Rep. Michael GuestR-MS-3 · Apr 1, 2019

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1589. We all know that terrorist groups have long sought to develop capabilities to attack our…

Bill Text

5 versions available

Reading Mode
Latest
Reported to SenateIssued March 2, 2020

II

Calendar No. 437

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 1589

[Report No. 116–222]

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 2, 2019

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

March 2, 2020

Reported by Mr. Johnson, with an amendment

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

AN ACT

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear intelligence and information sharing functions of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security and to require dissemination of information analyzed by the Department to entities with responsibilities relating to homeland security, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the CBRN Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2019.

2.

Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear intelligence and information sharing

(a)

In general

Subtitle A of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 210E the following new section:

210F.

Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear intelligence and information sharing

(a)

In general

The Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security shall—

(1)

support homeland security-focused intelligence analysis of terrorist actors, their claims, and their plans to conduct attacks involving chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear materials against the United States, including critical infrastructure;

(2)

support homeland security-focused intelligence analysis of global infectious disease, public health, food, agricultural, and veterinary issues;

(3)

support homeland security-focused risk analysis and risk assessments of the homeland security hazards described in paragraphs (1) and (2), including the transportation of chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological materials, by providing relevant quantitative and nonquantitative threat information;

(4)

leverage existing and emerging homeland security intelligence capabilities and structures to enhance early detection, prevention, protection, response, and recovery efforts with respect to a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attack;

(5)

share information and provide tailored analytical support on such threats to State, local, Tribal, and territorial authorities, and other Federal agencies, as well as relevant national biosecurity and biodefense stakeholders, as appropriate; and

(6)

perform other responsibilities, as assigned by the Secretary.

(b)

Coordination

Where appropriate, the Office of Intelligence and Analysis shall coordinate with other relevant Department components, including the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office and the National Biosurveillance Integration Center, agencies within the intelligence community, including the National Counter Proliferation Center, and other Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial authorities, including officials from high-threat urban areas, State and major urban area fusion centers, and local public health departments, as appropriate, and enable such entities to provide recommendations on optimal information sharing mechanisms, including expeditious sharing of classified information, and on how such entities can provide information to the Department.

(c)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Intelligence community

The term intelligence community has the meaning given such term in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4)).

(2)

National biosecurity and biodefense stakeholders

The term national biosecurity and biodefense stakeholders means officials from Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial authorities and individuals from the private sector who are involved in efforts to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from a biological attack or other phenomena that may have serious health consequences for the United States, including infectious disease outbreaks.

.

(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 201E the following new item:

Sec. 210F. Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear intelligence and information sharing.

.

(c)

Report

(1)

In general

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for each of the following four years, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall report to the appropriate congressional committees on the following:

(A)

The intelligence and information sharing activities under section 210F of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as added by subsection (a) of this section) and of all relevant entities within the Department of Homeland Security to counter the threat from attacks using chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear materials.

(B)

The Department’s activities in accordance with relevant intelligence strategies.

(2)

Assessment of implementation

The reports required under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A)

An assessment of the progress of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security in implementing such section 210F.

(B)

A description of the methods established to carry out such assessment.

(3)

Definition

In this subsection, the term appropriate congressional committees means the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and any committee of the House of Representatives or the Senate having legislative jurisdiction under the rules of the House of Representatives or Senate, respectively, over the matter concerned.

3.

Dissemination of information analyzed by the department to state, local, tribal, territorial, and private entities with responsibilities relating to homeland security

Paragraph (6) of section 201(d) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121(d)) is amended by striking and to agencies of State and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting to State, local, Tribal, territorial, and private entities with such responsibilities, and, as appropriate, to the public, in order to assist in preventing, deterring, or responding to acts of terrorism against the United States..

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the CBRN Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2019.

2.

Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear intelligence and information sharing

(a)

In general

Subtitle A of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 210E the following:

210F.

Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear intelligence and information sharing

(a)

In general

The Secretary, acting through the Undersecretary for Intelligence and Analysis, and working with the intelligence components of the Department, shall—

(1)

coordinate the analysis of the intentions, capabilities, and plans of individuals or organizations threatening or preparing to conduct attacks against the homeland (including key resources and critical infrastructure of the United States) involving the use of chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear materials, devices, or agents;

(2)

coordinate the analysis of threats to homeland security from global infectious disease and other food, agricultural, or veterinary threats to public health;

(3)

ensure the integration of the analysis described in paragraphs (1) and (2) with assessments of the vulnerability of and risks to the people, territory, key resources, and critical infrastructure of the United States from chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological materials, devices, or agents;

(4)

leverage existing and emerging homeland security intelligence capabilities and structures to—

(A)

plan for, detect, and protect against the importation, possession, storage, transportation, development, or use of unauthorized chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear materials, devices, or agents in the United States; and

(B)

protect against an attack using such materials, devices, or agents against the people, territory, or interests of the United States;

(5)

share information and provide tailored analytical support on these threats to State, local, Tribal authorities and other Federal agencies, as appropriate; and

(6)

perform other responsibilities, as assigned by the Secretary.

(b)

Coordination

Where appropriate, the Undersecretary for Intelligence and Analysis shall—

(1)

coordinate with—

(A)

other Departmental components, including the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Science and Technology Directorate; and

(B)

other Federal, State, local, and Tribal entities, including officials from high-threat urban areas, State and major urban area fusion centers, and local public health departments; and

(2)

enable such components and entities to provide recommendations on—

(A)

optimal information sharing mechanisms, including expeditious sharing of classified information; and

(B)

how such components and entities can provide information to the Undersecretary and other components of the Department.

(c)

Definition

In this section, the term fusion center has the meaning given the term in section 210A.

.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–296; 116 Stat. 2135) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 210E the following:

Sec. 210F. Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear intelligence and information sharing.

.

(c)

Report

(1)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall report to the appropriate congressional committees on—

(A)

the intelligence and information sharing activities under section 210F of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as added by subsection (a) of this section) and of all relevant entities within the Department of Homeland Security to counter the threat from global infectious disease and attacks using chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear materials, devices, or agents; and

(B)

the Department’s activities in accordance with relevant intelligence strategies.

(2)

Assessment of implementation

The reports required under paragraph (1) shall include—

(A)

an assessment of the progress of the Department of Homeland Security in implementing such section 210F; and

(B)

a description of the methods established to carry out such assessment.

(3)

Termination

This subsection shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

(4)

Definition

In this subsection, the term appropriate congressional committees means the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and any committee of the House of Representatives or the Senate having legislative jurisdiction under the rules of the House of Representatives or Senate, respectively, over the matter concerned.

March 2, 2020

Reported with an amendment