Mr. Speaker, allow me to thank the chairman for facilitating this bill to the floor and the support of our ranking member, Mr. Rogers, for this legislation and the work that we do on the Committee on…
Mr. Speaker, allow me to thank the chairman for facilitating this bill to the floor and the support of our ranking member, Mr. Rogers, for this legislation and the work that we do on the Committee on Homeland Security.
Mr. Speaker, before I start, allow me to acknowledge, with my thoughts and prayers, the wounded officers and members of the Houston Police Department who were shot last evening in a senseless shooting. Four of the officers were shot in the attempt to render a drug warrant, and one was injured. I understand, of that group, there were several who are in critical condition.
Thanks to the professional work of the Houston Police Department, two of the persons perpetrating this crime have been stopped, and I hope the families of the victim police officers take comfort in the knowledge that everyone in our community--and, yes, in our Nation--is praying for the speedy and complete recovery of each of the officers wounded, injured in this terrible tragedy.
It is because of the importance of law enforcement in the communication with the Department of Homeland Security that I reintroduced H.R. 495 to require the Department of Homeland Security's Office for State and Local Law Enforcement to report annually on its activities.
As we all know, after the September 11 terrorist attacks, our Nation learned that the inability of Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial partners to share information was a critical failure in our national security apparatus. Those of us who happened to be in the United States Congress at that time saw that as this heinous act was occurring. It was the first responders, local law enforcement, who all converged on Ground Zero.
Today, I am proud to say that there has been real progress on closing this once-prominent information-sharing gap. It is now commonplace within the Federal Government to support policies that empower and include our State and local partners. I can assure you, Mr. Speaker, it is because of the work of the Members of the United States Congress--in particular, members of the Committee on Homeland Security--who gradually built this pathway that is so crucial.
I hear it often from my local law enforcement, the importance of communicating via a two-way street--classified, confidential--with officials in the Federal Government.
To keep DHS on that path, H.R. 495 requires the Assistant Director of the DHS office in charge of coordinating, liaising, and advocating for State and local law enforcement to submit an annual report to Congress on its work. It is important because we in Congress are the watchdogs to insist upon that cooperation.
Requiring this report will not only provide metrics to assess the effectiveness of the Office's current work, but it would include comprehensive information on existing programs and feedback from law enforcement agencies themselves. Remember, they are, every day, on the front lines. They are the first responders to see something and say something as relates to protecting us against terrorism.
More, this measure would ensure future accountability of the Department and its work with local partners.
It is no secret that the threat landscape of today is constantly evolving. What we have learned from this challenge is there must be proactive measures in place at all levels of the government to track the growth of and reflect upon our capabilities to combat crime and terror.
State and local law enforcement provide tireless work to investigate and apprehend individuals of heinous crime. It is our duty to ensure that they are able to do their very best work in collaboration with their Federal partners and keep our communities safe.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this very important legislation, and I also ask for prayers not only for those shot last night, but the injured officers in my district who were injured on Christmas Eve, one severely burned--that is two officers, Officer Daily and Officer Reid. We continue to pray for Officer Daily, who suffered burns all over his body.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 495, the ``FIRST State and Local Law Enforcement Act.''
Mr. Speaker. I want to take this time to acknowledge the Houston police officers injured.
My thoughts and prayers are with the wounded officers and the members of the Houston Police Department.
The senseless shooting of four of Houston's finest and bravest last evening, while they were serving a warrant, is a tragedy and another reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers who risk their lives to keep their communities safe. One officer injured his knee. Totaling 5 officers hurt.
Thanks to the swift and professional police work of the Houston Police Department, two of the persons perpetrating this heinous crime have been stopped.
I hope the families of the victims take comfort in the knowledge that everyone in our community is praying for speedy and complete recovery of each of the officers wounded in this tragedy.
Mr. Speaker, I reintroduced H.R. 495 to require the Department of Homeland Security's Office for State and Local Law Enforcement to report annually on its activities.
As we all know, after the September 11th terrorist attacks our Nation learned that the inability of the Federal, State, local, tribal and territorial partners to share information was a critical failure in our national security apparatus.
Today, I am proud to say that there's been real progress in closing this once prominent information sharing gap.
It is now common practice within the Federal government to support policies that empower and include our State and local partners.
To keep DHS on that path, H.R. 495 requires the Assistant Director of DHS' Office in charge of coordinating, liaising, and advocating for state and local law enforcement to submit an annual report to Congress on its work.
Requiring this report would not only provide metrics to assess the effectiveness of the office's current work, but it would include comprehensive information on existing programs and feedback from the law enforcement agencies themselves.
More, this measure would ensure future accountability of the Department and its work with local partners.
It is no secret that the threat landscape of today is constantly evolving.
What we have learned from this challenge is that there must be proactive measure in place at all levels of government to track the growth of and reflect upon our capabilities to combat crime and terror.
State and local law enforcement provide tireless work to investigate and apprehend individuals of heinous crimes.
It is our duty to ensure that they are able to do their best work in collaboration with their Federal partners to keep our communities safe.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 495, which passed the House on suspension last Congress, requires DHS' Office of State and Local Law Enforcement to produce an annual report.
This report documents the office's coordination, liaison, and advocacy efforts for state and local law enforcement.
Again, I have reintroduced this measure because I believe our national security is at its best when the Federal government works together with our State and local partners.
With that, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 495.
I want to take this time to acknowledge the service and fighting spirit of Houston Police Officers John Daily and Alonzo Reid.
On Christmas Eve, Officers Daily and Reid were responding, with lights on, to a call for assistance from a fellow officer when they were hit nearly head on.
Their patrol car rolled several times before it collided with a pole and caught fire.
Thankfully, both survived the fiery car crash.
Officer Reid showed true heroism when he pulled Officer Daily from the driver's seat with the assistance of a passer-by, Juan Carlos Salgado.
Thankfully, Officer Reid was released from the hospital on Christmas Day.
However, Officer Daily, who suffered burns to over half his body, has endured five surgeries and is still in the hospital in serious condition.
Officers Daily and Reid put service above self every day, including on Christmas Eve when they were on their way to offer assistance to a fellow officer.
My thoughts and prayers are with Officer Daily, his family, and fellow officers for a full recovery.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in strong support of H.R. 495, the FIRST State and Local Law Enforcement Act, which supports the work of the Department of Homeland Security's Office of State and Local Law Enforcement (OSLLE) by requiring that an annual report of its activities be submitted to Congress so that we can be aware of the range of benefits and services needed by local and state law enforcement agencies.
The work of law enforcement is rewarding to those who serve, but it can also be very dangerous.
My thoughts and prayers are with the wounded officers and the members of the Houston Police Department.
The senseless shooting of five of Houston's finest and bravest last evening, while they were serving a warrant, is a tragedy and another reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers who risk their lives to keep their communities safe.
Thanks to the swift and professional police work of the Houston Police Department, two of the persons perpetrating this heinous crime have been stopped.
I hope the families of the victims take comfort in the knowledge that everyone in our community is praying for speedy and complete recovery of each of the officers wounded in this tragedy.
The basis for creating the office is one of 33 recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, which called for a primary coordinator, liaison, and advocate for state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies.
This legislation mandates that OSLLE also leads the coordination of DHS's policies related to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement's role in preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other man- made disasters.
As a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, I am very much aware of the importance of the work performed by the men and women who protect us from terrorism.
Homeland Security is defined as:
``the national effort to ensure a homeland that is safe, secure, and resilient against terrorism and other hazards where American interests, aspirations, and ways of life can thrive to the national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce the vulnerability of the U.S. to terrorism, and minimize the damage from attacks that do occur''
I am proud to have so many first responders as friends, and I am committed to working tirelessly to assure that they have the full support of Congress in getting the resources and training they need to protect our communities.
This bill will provide an important opportunity for DHS to report on this vital work with state and local law enforcement agencies.
The sacrifices made by our men and women in state and local law enforcement all too often go unnoticed.
One example of their heroism and bravery was seen when Houston Police Officers Alonzo Reid and John Daily were involved in a Christmas Eve car crash.
On Christmas Eve, Officers Daily and Reid were responding, with lights on, to a call for assistance from a fellow officer when they were hit nearly head on.
Their patrol car rolled several times before it collided with a pole and caught fire.
Thankfully, both survived the fiery car crash.
Officer Reid showed true heroism when he pulled Officer Daily from the driver's seat with the assistance of a passerby, Juan Carlos Salgado.
Thankfully, Officer Reid was released from the hospital on Christmas Day.
However, Officer Daily, who suffered burns to over half his body, has endured five surgeries and is still in serious medical condition.
I ask my colleagues to join me in offering prayers and well wishes to Officer Daily for a fully recovery.
Officers Daily and Reid like tens of thousands of their counter parts, put service above self every day.
The Department of Homeland Security has been in existence for 16 years, and in that time the men and women who serve on the front lines of defending the United States against terrorist acts at home have not wavered in their commitment.
During times of crisis, the relationships among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies is proven to be of the greatest value to an effective government wide response.
On August 25, 2017, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas.
Local, state, and federal first responders rescued 122,331 people.
The Coast Guard deployed 2,060 personnel, 50 aircraft, 75 boats and 29 cutters, rescuing 11,022 people and 1,384 pets.
FEMA deployed 28 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams from across the nation to Texas to assist state and local agencies with the lifesaving mission.
This is in addition to the tens of thousands of meals, water, supplies, and public assistance that were also provided.
Hurricane Harvey's Federal, state, and local response agencies benefit from collaborating with DHS.
Because the DHS office plays a significant role in the required outreach to state and local law enforcement entities it is important that the Committee on Homeland Security be kept apprised of its work.
Today, DHS is not funded due to the Trump Shutdown.
It is shameful that 85 percent of DHS employees are either working with no paycheck or have been furloughed.
These men and women work for Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Customs and Border Protection, Citizenship and Immigration Services, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Coast Guard, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Secret Service, and Transportation and Security Administration.
It has been reported that many DHS employees have described feeling depressed, stressed out, anxious, uncomfortable, and insecure because of the Trump Shutdown.
It is time to end the Trump Shutdown.
This bill will need DHS fully staffed and functioning to ensure that the reporting requirement of this bill are fulfilled so that the federal, state, and local agencies working with DHS receive the support that they need.
For this reason, I ask that my colleagues join me in voting for H.R. 495.
