Counterterrorism Advisory Board Act of 2019

Madam Speaker, due to a scheduled medical procedure, I was physically absent from the House of Representatives from January 10, 2019 to February 5, 2019. During that time, I missed 44 recorded votes. Had I been present for those votes, I would have voted: on Roll Call No. 22 on the Republican Motion to Recommit on H.R. 267, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 23 on the Passage of H.R. 267, I would have voted ``Nay;'' on Roll Call No. 24 on the Republican Motion to Recommit on H.R. 265, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 25 on the Passage of H.R. 265, I would have voted ``Nay;'' on Roll Call No. 26 on the Republican Motion to Recommit on H.R. 266, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 27 on the Passage of H.R. 266, I would have voted ``Nay;'' on Roll Call No. 28 on the Passage of S. 24, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 29 on the Passage of H.R. 221, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 30 on the Passage of H.R. 116, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 31 on the Passage of H.J. Res. 27, I would have voted ``Nay;'' on Roll Call No. 32 on the Passage of H. Res. 41, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 33 on the Passage of H.R. 135, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 34 on Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 43, I would have voted ``Nay;'' on Roll Call No. 35 on the Adoption of H. Res. 43, I would have voted ``Nay;'' on Roll Call No. 36 on the Passage of H.R. 190, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 37 on the Passage of Amendment No. 2 offered by Mr. McGovern (D- MA), I would have voted ``Nay;'' on Roll Call No. 38 on Ordering the Republican Motion to Recommit, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 39 on the Passage of H.R. 268, I would have voted ``Nay;'' on Roll Call No. 40 on the Adoption of H. Res. 52, I would have voted ``Nay;'' on Roll Call No. 41 on the Passage of H.R. 150, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 42 on the Passage of H.J. Res. 30, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 43 on Republican Motion to Recommit, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 44 on the Passage of H.R. 676, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 45 on the Passage of H.R. 328, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 46 on the Passage of H.J. Res 28, I would have voted ``Nay;'' on Roll Call No. 47 on the Passage of H. Res. 61, I would have voted ``Nay;'' on Roll Call No. 48 on the Republican Motion to Recommit, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 49 on the Passage of H.R. 648, I would have voted ``Nay;'' on Roll Call No. 50 on the Republican Motion to Recommit, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 51 on the Passage of H.J. Res. 31, I would have voted ``Nay;'' on Roll Call No. 52 on the Passage of H.R. 624, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 53 on the Passage of H.R. 502, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 54 on Approving of the Speaker's Journal, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 55 on the Motion to Adjourn, I would have voted ``Nay;'' on Roll Call No. 56 on the Passage of H.R. 428, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 57 on the Passage of H.R. 449, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 58 on the Passage of H.R. 769, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 59 on the Motion to Table the Motion to Reconsider H. Res. 77, I would have voted ``Nay;'' on Roll Call No. 60 on Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 87, I would have voted ``Nay;'' on Roll Call No. 61 on the Passage of H. Res. 87, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 62 on the Passage of Amendment No. 3 offered by Mrs. Trahan (D-MA), I would have voted ``Nay;'' on Roll Call No. 63 on the Republican Motion to Recommit, I would have voted ``Yea;'' on Roll Call No. 64 on the Passage of H.R. 790, I would have voted ``Nay;'' and on Roll Call No. 65 on the Passage of H. Res. 79, I would have voted ``Nay.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, in 2015, I was selected to chair the Congressional Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel. After months of briefings, site visits, and hearings, it became clear that the Department of Homeland Security had to improve internal and external coordination and intelligence sharing to address a growing threat of foreign fighter travel, as well as other counterterrorism efforts.

As a result, I introduced legislation to authorize and enhance the Department of Homeland Security Counterterrorism Advisory Board. Established in 2010, the CTAB brings senior officials across the spectrum in the Department to share information and coordinate counterterrorism activities.

The CTAB has improved the Department's ability to respond to terrorism threats and harmonize counterterrorism programs and activities across DHS components.

Given that the CTAB has never been authorized in law, the Board could be dismantled at any time, and the counterterrorism gains achieved could be lost. The bill ensures that the CTAB will be formally established in law. The bill also ensures the CTAB includes robust participation from DHS-component agencies in order to ensure all homeland security resources are utilized and the one DHS vision is realized.

With ISIS having lost nearly all of its territory and all of al- Qaida's senior leaders calling for unity among jihadist groups, it is more important than ever to ensure DHS is using all available resources to identify and prevent terrorists from coming to the United States.

The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to establish a charter to govern the roles and responsibilities of the CTAB, and further requires that the charter be reviewed and updated at least every 4 years to ensure the Department of Homeland Security is keeping pace with the ever-evolving terrorist threats.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Rogers for selecting this bill as a priority for floor consideration so early in a new Congress. I look forward to working with our Senate colleagues to move this legislation through the process, and as always, I look forward to working with my colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice).

Mr. Speaker, I am proud that this body is working to continue to strengthen our national security by debating the legislation before us today.

I introduced this bill in the 114th Congress and 115th Congress, and it passed the House by an overwhelming majority.

I urge my colleagues to again pass this measure and support the Department of Homeland Security's counterterrorism mission, and I hope the Senate will get it through this time.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 769) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish in the Department of Homeland Security a board to coordinate and integrate departmental intelligence, activities, and policy related to counterterrorism, and for other purposes.

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.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, there is no question that the challenges in securing our homeland have become more complex and diverse in nature. As such, it is imperative that the DHS Secretary and any successors have a stable, codified mechanism for counterterrorism decisionmaking.

H.R. 769, the Counterterrorism Advisory Board Act of 2019 does just that. It would codify the Board into law, and ensure that it remains an integral part of counterterrorism policy recommendations and responses across the Department.

Since 2010, the Counterterrorism Advisory Board, or CTAB, which is comprised of top DHS officials, has synthesized counterterrorism programs and activities across the Department.

The CTAB helps keep America safe. H.R. 769 would authorize the CTAB to coordinate and integrate DHS' intelligence, policies, and activities related to counterterrorism. H.R. 769 also directs the Board to meet on a regular basis, to coordinate and integrate the Department's counterterrorism efforts, assess the current threat environment, and establish the leadership and composition of the Board. H.R. 769 also requires DHS to report to Congress on the board's status, activities, and progress.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, again, H.R. 769 will authorize within the Department of Homeland Security, the Counterterrorism Advisory Board to coordinate and integrate the Department's intelligence activities and policies as they relate to counterterrorism.

This Board already plays a central and necessary role within DHS, and H.R. 769 will ensure that the Counterterrorism Advisory Board will remain in place for decades to come.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague and friend and fellow New Yorker, Congressman Katko. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 769, and I yield back the balance of my time

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.