Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his support and leadership on the Homeland Security Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support H.R. 9748, the Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act.

My grandfather was in his mid-nineties when he died a proud World War II combat veteran. One of the things he always told us was to leave the world a little bit better than you found it each day. From my time serving as an NYPD detective or chief in the fire service or here in Congress, that has been something I have been committed to.

I am proud of my bill. I urge my colleagues to support the Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act.

As threats against the United States' homeland evolve, we must continue to innovate quickly and ensure that our Nation's law enforcement officers have the tools and technologies they need to keep our communities safe.

Right now, Federal research and sensitive technologies are a target for foreign theft, espionage, and influence, and we must ensure that these technologies do not fall into the hands of bad actors.

It should come as no surprise that many of the Department of Homeland Security's research and development projects contain sensitive information about the United States' capabilities and vulnerabilities, and it is common sense that the Department of Homeland Security's research and development projects should be safeguarded from bad actors.

Whether the Department of Homeland Security is working to prevent a terrorist attack, vetting bad actors at the airport, or disrupting transnational criminal organizations at the southwest border, the Department of Homeland Security relies heavily on sensitive research and development projects to keep pace with the evolving threats against this great Nation.

H.R. 9748, the Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act, requires that the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate develop a process that safeguards sensitive information projects across all components of the Department to limit unauthorized access to and disclosure of sensitive information.

Both the Trump and Biden administrations have made Federal research security a priority by issuing executive orders and Federal research security guidance for government agencies like Homeland Security to follow. However, it is unclear how DHS has complied under Secretary Mayorkas with existing Federal guidelines to protect the $461 million worth of research and development projects.

That is why my bill will also require the Government Accountability Office to report how the Department of Homeland Security has complied with existing Federal guidance to protect federally funded research from foreign malign influence, ownership, and control.

By passing this commonsense bill, we will not only protect sensitive projects throughout the Department of Homeland Security, but we will also better protect the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9748, to better safeguard the Department of Homeland Security and this great Nation, leaving our homeland better than we found it.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9748) to require the Under Secretary of the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security to develop a Department-wide policy and process to safeguard research and development from unauthorized access to or disclosure of sensitive information in research and development acquisitions, 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. 9748.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 9748, the Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act.

The Science and Technology Directorate is the principle of research and development at DHS.

In 2022, the DHS Office of Inspector General found that S&T failed to safeguard sensitive information in research and development projects.

This bill requires S&T to develop a proper standard for safeguarding sensitive information, which has become especially critical given the heightened activity of our adversaries.

I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. D'Esposito) for his leadership on this issue, and I am proud to join him as a cosponsor.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. D'Esposito).

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

Mr. Speaker, I, again, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9748, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are here today to consider H.R. 9748, the Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act.

This legislation aims to improve security policies by requiring the Department of Homeland Security's Science

and Technology Directorate to develop a department-wide policy and process to safeguard research and development from unauthorized access to or disclosure of sensitive information in research and development acquisitions.

Further, the bill would task the Government Accountability Office with reporting how DHS has complied with the National Science and Technology Council's 2022 implementation guidance and a 2021 National Security Presidential Memorandum relating to protecting U.S. research against foreign interference.

I am particularly pleased that this legislation includes a briefing to Congress by the Secretary of Homeland Security about the bill's implementation.

We have seen time and time again where bad actors have attempted to access sensitive information. This measure will strengthen the Department's abilities against those who wish to do us harm. This bill is an important step in ensuring that DHS prioritizes policies and procedures safeguarding research and development.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 9748, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, passage of this legislation is an important step to ensuring DHS research and development capabilities are safeguarded from bad actors.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9748, and I yield back the balance of my time.