DHS Special Events Program and Support Act

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6229, the DHS Special Events Program and Support Act, sponsored by the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus).

H.R. 6229 is a bipartisan bill that would make our communities safer during large public events and mass gatherings by ensuring that our State,

local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement have access to tools, resources, and help from the Department of Homeland Security.

We all know that the United States holds some of the world's greatest events, from professional football games to Formula One races, rodeos, State fairs, NASCAR, and so on. Every one of these events, big or small, requires security planning and management by State, local, Tribal, and territorial officials. Good planning and management are what it takes to prevent threats at mass gatherings and public events and, in the event of any danger, respond quickly and effectively.

H.R. 6229 is an opportunity for Congress to provide our communities with planning and management resources by authorizing the Special Event Assessment Rating program, known as the SEAR program, within DHS.

The SEAR program has had great success in every one of the States we represent, helping us ensure safe and enjoyable experiences at home events, big and small.

What SEAR does is measure the risk of a terrorist attack or other hazards, as appropriate, on a special event. Events are submitted to DHS by a State, local, Tribal, or territorial partner for an assessment.

Under the bill, DHS may provide security coordination and protection support for events with the most serious ratings.

Earlier this year in a hearing during National Police Week, former Atlanta Chief of Police Rodney Bryant told the House Committee on Homeland Security that the SEAR program and DHS resources helped him ensure a safe experience for Americans attending the Super Bowl and college football playoff championship.

Looking forward, our communities are going to need even more help from DHS through the SEAR program. In addition to longstanding large- scale public events like NFL games or New Year's celebrations in Times Square, the United States has a robust and growing presence on the Formula One racing circuit, and in just 2 years, we will be host to the World Cup.

DHS recently informed Congress that the World Cup matches across the country in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, and New Jersey are SEAR rated and will need Federal help to secure their global soccer matches.

Mr. Speaker, it is time we authorize this critical program and ensure that these social, sporting, and other events can be enjoyed freely, safely, and without fear.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus), the author of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for closing.

Mr. Speaker, authorizing SEAR's great work will ensure that DHS may continue providing risk assessments and support to certain preplanned special events across the United States.

I thank Representatives Titus of Nevada and Hudson of North Carolina for introducing this bill, which will strengthen Homeland Security and protect our greatest community events from terrorism or other security threats.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 6229, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6229, the DHS Special Events Program and Support Act.

Nevada's First District, that I am proud to represent, hosts hundreds of high-profile events each year that require considerable security measures to keep safe the southern Nevadans and the thousands of visitors who attend these events.

While State and local law enforcement take the primary responsibility in providing support for local events, many occasions, from the Super Bowl to Formula One races, require additional Federal support to ensure that security measures are hardened to prevent and protect against bad actors intending to do harm.

Through October of this year, about 35 million visitors have come to Las Vegas. This includes 5 million who came for conventions, 330,000 who attended the Super Bowl, and 300,000 who were there recently for Formula One.

Major events like this don't just occur in my district. They occur all around the country. Our country hosts some of the world's greatest events, as you have heard. In communities across the United States, special events routinely draw visitors from around the country and around the world, necessitating large-scale security coordination and assistance from the Federal Government.

Our next decade will be crucial for the United States as we host several large-scale events that will draw millions of visitors. These will require enhanced security coordination. They include the World Cup, the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, Men's and Women's Rugby World Cup, and the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, that in addition will give our country the opportunity to show off to the rest of the world that we are the unparalleled sports, entertainment, and hospitality capital.

My bill, H.R. 6229, the DHS Special Events Program and Support Act, will enable the Federal Government to support these local jurisdictions in safely hosting these events.

The SEAR program within DHS helps to provide this supplemental Federal support on an ad hoc basis, but it has never been authorized into law. This legislation does just that and in turn fortifies the existing program to better equip law enforcement authorities to prevent, mitigate, and respond to threats to events that happen in all our districts.

Importantly, it codifies the standardized SEAR process into law, ensures DHS maintains its risk-based methodology for event review, and allows expedited consideration or reconsideration of events that receive an initial SEAR designation.

I thank Representative Richard Hudson of North Carolina for partnering with me on this legislation to codify the SEAR program, as well as Representatives Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Anthony D'Esposito of New York, and Jared Moskowitz of Florida for cosponsoring the bill. I thank the chairman and ranking member for bringing it to the floor, and I urge all Members to vote in support of this bipartisan measure.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6229) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize a program to assess the threat, vulnerability, and consequences of terrorism or other security threats, as appropriate, to certain events, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6229.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6229, the DHS Special Events Program and Support Act. I thank the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus) for bringing this measure forward.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6229, and I yield back the balance of my time.