Securing the Cities Improvement Act

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Correa for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Securing the Cities Improvement Act, a critical piece of legislation designed to help us build and maintain our Nation's security capabilities.

Specifically, this bill provides participating cities with more reliable guidance and support from the Department of Homeland Security's Securing the Cities program, which seeks to reduce the risk of terrorist attacks in high-risk urban areas, like my hometown of New Orleans.

I want to specifically thank Ranking Member Bennie Thompson and Congressman Clay Higgins for their support and for cosponsoring this bill. I also thank Lou Correa for managing the bill today and Chairman Green for his leadership, as well as the Homeland Security Committee staff, especially Lauren McClain, who tirelessly led us through this effort.

The need for this legislation has been tragically underscored by the recent terrorist attacks in the city of New Orleans on New Year's Day, which claimed 15 lives and left dozens of others injured.

In the early hours of New Year's Day, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen from Texas drove a rented Ford F-150 pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter neighborhood during the city's New Year's Eve celebration. After crashing, he exited the vehicle and engaged in a shootout with law enforcement before being fatally shot by courageous New Orleans police officers who rushed to the scene, putting themselves in harm's way to protect our citizens, visitors, and guests.

Prior to the pickup truck's attack, the terrorist planted two improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, concealed within coolers at separate locations along crowded Bourbon Street. These rudimentary pipe bombs were filled with shrapnel materials, such as nails, screws, and tacks, and were designed for remote detonation using a wireless device found in his vehicle. Luckily, he was not able to detonate these bombs and cause any further carnage.

An ISIS flag was found in the truck, and the FBI confirmed that ISIS had not coordinated with the attacker but, in fact, had inspired him.

This heinous and sick act of cowardice not only shattered the lives of victims and their families but also exposed vulnerabilities in our urban security infrastructure.

While the New Orleans attack did not involve radiological or nuclear materials, it serves as a grim reminder of the evolving tactics of terrorists and the potential for more catastrophic methods used. It also underscores why continued security investments in New Orleans and other highly targeted cities with programs like Securing the Cities are so crucial.

The Department of Homeland Security launched the Securing the Cities initiative in 2007 as a pilot program to assist the New York City metro area in detecting and preventing nuclear or radiological threats. The program has since expanded and currently provides 14 municipal governments nationwide, including the city of New Orleans, with detection equipment, training, exercise support, operational and technological expertise, and programmatic assistance, which makes a huge difference.

However, the program participation criteria has caused uncertainty and inconsistencies for cities that rely on this support. Eligibility for the program is currently restricted to high-risk urban areas as determined by FEMA under the Urban Area Security Initiative program, under which the composition of jurisdictions can vary from year to year. This eligibility criteria led to some jurisdictions being funded and supported by the Securing the Cities program in one year but not the next. The inconsistency has caused great harm.

This bill clears up the eligibility criteria for the program so that it can be a steady, reliable source of support for cities. It removes the statutory requirement restricting participation in the program to areas designated by FEMA. Instead, it requires Homeland Security's Office of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction to decide which cities to partner with for the program based on the jurisdiction's capability and capacity to prepare and respond to terrorist attacks and other high-consequence events.

This legislation also sets performance metrics and goals for the Department of Homeland Security to report back to Congress.

Through these changes, the Securing the Cities Improvement Act offers a more targeted and effective approach to national security preparedness and response. It ensures that our cities that need support are reliably equipped with advanced detection technologies and will have the infrastructure and training to utilize them ready at hand.

Last Congress, this bill passed the House and the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and I hope it will be signed into law this Congress.

Passing this legislation is a proactive step toward safeguarding our citizens from the unimaginable. By enhancing our detection and response capabilities, we deter adversaries from contemplating radiological or nuclear attacks and reassure the public that our commitment to their safety is sound, real, and committed.

In memory of the lives lost in New Orleans and in recognition of ever-present and evolving threats, I urge my colleagues to support the Securing the Cities Improvement Act.

Let's honor the victims by taking decisive action to protect our Nation from future atrocities and future acts of cowardice. We are America. We stand firm in our protection.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1374.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are here today to consider Representative Carter's bill, H.R. 1374, the Securing the Cities Improvement Act, or STC. This bill is essential for enhancing cities' security against nuclear and radiological threats.

The STC program was created by the Department of Homeland Security in 2007. It began as a pilot program in high-risk cities to detect nuclear and radiological threats. Since then, it has expanded to include additional cities, offering equipment, training, technological support, and program guidance.

The program supports major events by ensuring cities are prepared for potential threats. However, its reliance on the annual Urban Area Security Initiative, or UASI, designations creates uncertainty for local governments, as the designated high-risk areas can change, and they usually do.

This bill aims to improve the program's stability and strengthen partnerships with at-risk cities by allowing the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office to select STC cities based on their preparedness capabilities rather than UASI designations.

The bill, Mr. Speaker, also establishes performance metrics, enhances oversight of expenditures, and requires DHS to report to Congress on program participation and any further changes.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud Representative Carter's leadership on this measure. I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 1374, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Carter), who is the author of this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, let me start by thanking Mr. Carter for H.R. 1374. This legislation will play a critical role in ensuring that our local jurisdictions maintain the ability to detect and respond to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.

Without initiatives like this legislation, the STC, efforts to combat these dangers could be significantly hindered or even discontinued, putting the safety and security of our communities, taxpayers, and citizens at risk.

Passage of this legislation is very essential to preserving our national readiness and to strengthen security against emerging threats and those who would do us harm.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 1374, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1374) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make improvements to the Securing the Cities program, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 1374.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1374, the Securing the Cities Improvement Act.

Since the inception of DHS' Securing the Cities program, uncertainty about standards to qualify as a high-risk area and metrics necessary to remain in the program once admitted have been unclear. This bill will direct DHS to establish appropriate performance metrics and milestones.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Carter from Louisiana for his work on this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am prepared to close after the gentleman from California closes.

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

Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1374, and I yield back the balance of my time.