Anthony D'Esposito

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, the chairman mentioned a quote that is affixed to the wall when you enter the 9/11 Memorial & Museum: ``No day shall erase you from the memory of time.''

That quote is affixed to 2,983 tiles, all painted with watercolors, a different shade of blue, to represent that clear blue sky on that Tuesday morning. The 2,983 tiles represent the victims of September 11, 2001, as well as the 1993 bombing.

On September 11, 2001, we lost thousands of people to an attack on our homeland. These individuals were mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and their absence is felt every single day.

Among those we lost were heroes who stared danger in the face and chose to run into peril to save their fellow man. Even now, more than two decades later, we continue to lose people to 9/11-related illnesses. As of today, there is someone suffering from a 9/11-related illness in every congressional district in the United States of America.

These were firefighters, cops, ironworkers, first responders, people just going to work in the financial district, everyday Americans.

Since that day, we have promised to never forget, to never forget those whose lives were cut short, never forget those who selflessly ran toward danger, never forget the resilience of this beautiful Nation in the days that followed, never forget the loved ones left behind, and never forget those who continue to suffer.

How do we keep this promise to never forget?

One important way is through continued support of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. For years, the museum has told the story of that tragic day from the clear blue sky that I referenced, to the people who remember waking up that morning, to the fear and confusion that gripped the Nation, and to the rescue efforts that followed.

Outside the museum, two memorial pools are surrounded by the names of each and every victim on bronze parapets, making sure we never forget one single victim. I encourage everyone to visit this site.

No American under the age of 22 was alive during 9/11, and it is critical that we continue to teach our children and generations to come about the events of that day and how it changed our world forever. We must continue to teach them who was responsible for that attack on this Nation and hold them accountable.

The museum does this critical work every day, both on-site and around the world, through the development of lesson plans and curricula for kids of various ages. Congress must support this work.

Additionally, the threat to this site did not end on September 11, 2001. The museum remains a target to this day. Just 2 months ago, a man was sentenced to over a decade in prison for trying to help ISIS attack New York City, including the 9/11 Museum. This is unacceptable.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum must have the resources it needs to ensure that all visitors are safe. I am proud to introduce and support this legislation that will authorize a one-time grant for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Ensuring that they have the resources they need to continue the programs and keep visitors safe is of paramount importance to this Nation.

I am calling on all my colleagues to support this and keep our promise to never forget. As I close, I would like to read a part of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum's mission: ``May the lives remembered, the deeds recognized, and the spirit reawakened be eternal beacons, which reaffirm respect for life, strengthen our resolve to preserve freedom, and inspire an end to hatred, ignorance, and intolerance.''

May we help them accomplish this mission today by passing this legislation.

When those of us who take oaths to protect and serve, we take that oath and we swear on the Bible. We also make a promise in our hearts, a promise to never ever forget.

Mr. Speaker, today I am asking all the Members of this distinguished body to follow that lead and never forget.

Mr. Speaker, due to unforseen circumstances, I was unable to participate in voting on the passage of H.R. 8371. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 466.