Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4179) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish an appeal and redress process for individuals wrongly delayed or prohibited from boarding a flight, and for other purposes, as amended.

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 the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4179, the Fair, Accurate, Secure and Timely Redress Act or FAST Redress Act was introduced last year by a relatively new member of the Homeland Security Committee, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke. Representative Clarke is to be commended for the yeoman's job she has done.

Everyone complains about the lack of sanity in the watch-listing process, but few have dared to wade into all the ins and outs of the system. Representative Clarke has done just that, and this legislation is the product of that thoughtful undertaking.

H.R. 4179 was marked up and approved on a bipartisan basis by the committees's Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee in early May. On May 20, 2008, the bill was marked up and adopted unanimously by the full committee.

This legislation, like other Homeland Security Committee bills that will be considered today, builds on the solid provisions in H.R. 1684, the Department of Homeland Security authorization bill that has been pending in the Senate since May of 2007.

Certainly, the practice of watch-listing individuals plays an important role in identifying possible terrorist suspects.

It is important to keep in mind that the watch list is only as good as the information on it. Without accurate, complete and reliable information, the purpose of the watch list is frustrated, the database becomes unreliable, and misidentifications persist.

Getting the watch list fixed and reducing misidentifications is a particularly difficult challenge. To do so, all the intelligence and law enforcement components that populate the list would need to come together and agree to clean it up. Unfortunately, this has not happened. Therefore, redress is the only real recourse for an American who is repeatedly stopped or delayed at airports and border crossings because one is misidentified as a terrorist threat.

Presently, there is a redress process available at DHS. Since February 2007, over 32,000 Americans have sought redress through DHS Traveler and Redress Inquiry Program, also known as DHS TRIP. Each individual voluntarily provided personal information to establish their identity. When there is a determination that this person is not a

threat, their names are placed on a ``cleared list'' that is maintained by the Transportation Security Administration.

This cleared list is populated with names of individuals who have the same or similar name as someone on the ``no fly'' or ``selectee'' lists, but have proven that they are not the person on the list. The cleared list is then shared with only the airlines for screening purposes.

Under H.R. 4179, it will be shared throughout DHS and with other Federal agencies that use the terrorist watch list database. This would assure that individuals that go through the redress process are not stopped as potential terrorists by other Federal agencies.

Specifically, H.R. 4179 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish the Office of Appeals and Redress to provide a timely and fair redress process. The Office of Appeals and Redress is directed to maintain a ``comprehensive cleared list'' that contains the names of individuals who have been misidentified and have corrected erroneous information.

The comprehensive cleared list would be made available to other Federal, State, local and Tribal authorities and others that use the terrorist watch list or database to resolve misidentification.

The bill directs TSA, CBP, the Coast Guard and other DHS components to reference the comprehensive cleared list when assessing the security risk of an individual. This would assure that individuals like our esteemed colleague, the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. John Lewis, would not be repeatedly stopped or delayed or have to seek redress from components in the same Federal agency.

H.R. 4179 also authorizes the DHS to enter into memoranda of understanding with other Federal agencies to enhance the redress process.

Importantly, the measure includes protections to assure that personally identifiable information is handled in accordance with privacy laws.

Once enacted, individuals that go through the trouble of clearing their names will not have to repeat the exercise again and again and again.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of every John Lewis and James Smith, I urge passage of this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the author of this legislation, the Congresswoman from New York, Ms. Yvette Clarke.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional minute to the gentlelady.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

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

Mr. Speaker, as you have heard, H.R. 4179 is a commonsense Homeland Security legislation that has broad support. Representative Clarke, as well as Chairwoman Jackson-Lee and Ranking Member Lungren, ought to be commended for working together to get this critical legislation to the floor. We all know that the terrorist watch list has its problems. In fact, most of us fly a few times a week and have heard firsthand stories about people missing flights because they were misidentified against the watch list. We need to fix the watch list. That effort is ongoing and needs to continue. But at the same time, we need to provide people with a meaningful remedy.

The FAST Redress Act does just that. That is why I'm proud to cosponsor this legislation authored by my esteemed colleague, Ms. Clarke.

I urge passage of this important legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5982) to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security, for purposes of transportation security, to conduct a study on how airports can transition to uniform, standards-based, and interoperable biometric identifier systems for airport workers with unescorted access to secure or sterile areas of an airport, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill and yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, last month I introduced H.R. 5982, the Biometric Enhancement for Airport Risk Reduction Act of 2008, also known as the BEAR Act. The bill was marked up and adopted unanimously by the House Committee on Homeland Security on May 20.

The Transportation Security Administration is responsible for securing 450 U.S. airports and employs approximately 50,000 people. It has a very important mission of keeping the traveling public safe from terrorist threats. But the question remains, what is TSA doing to increase security and still allow workers with unescorted access to sterile and secure areas of airports? And what mechanisms are in place to ensure that only the employees are allowed to access the airports' secure and sterile areas.

The BEAR Act addresses these concerns. It requires TSA to provide Congress and airport operators with a report on best practices for using biometrics at airports.

Last November, Federal law enforcement raided Chicago's O'Hare Airport and arrested 23 people for fraudulently securing badges that gave them unescorted access to sensitive airport locations. According to the charging affidavit, more than 100 temporary workers were found to be in possession of fraudulent badges. And the investigation revealed that the staffing agency that sponsored these workers told them that they needed identification, but it did not have to be legitimate.

Today, workers with unescorted access to these critical facilities go through background screening to get identification badges. This background screening includes checking against a terrorist watch list. While this is a necessary and important check, a worker's biometrics are not being captured in check against biographic information to establish the individual's identity.

Since the Chicago incident, there has been a growing international trend to incorporate biometric identifying credentials in airport IDs. Canada and the United Kingdom have already taken action to address the security risk at airports by using biometric identifying credentials for airport workers.

Although I recognize the ongoing work that TSA has been doing in the last year or so, it's time for them to consider moving forward. The BEAR Act will make this happen.

The bill promotes collaboration between TSA industry, labor, and other stakeholders to collectively develop and provide airports with a blueprint on how to make biometrics work for them. The BEAR Act, as amended, includes changes proposed by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and TSA to improve the bill, including clarifying that TSA should only conduct a risk-based study of Category 10 and Category 1 airports on a selected groups of airports, defining uniform biometric identified systems to make sure that TSA looks at systems that actually match individuals, not just cards, that have biometrics on them, recognizing and not tampering with TSA's ongoing efforts in the area of biometrics such as the TWIC program and other programs.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5982.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey).

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this commonsense approach to studying how biometrics can be used to improve airport security.

I think it is important to make clear again, this bill does not create any new mandates on airports. This bill does not require airports to use biometric identifying systems. Instead, it only provides for a study of how biometrics could be used.

I strongly believe that strategic deployment of biometrics in the airport is a sensible part of any layered security plan for the airport environment. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation and make our airports safer.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5909) to amend the Aviation and Transportation Security Act to prohibit advance notice to certain individuals, including security screeners, of covert testing of security screening procedures for the purpose of enhancing transportation security at airports, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill and yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5909, the Catching Operational Vulnerabilities by Ensuring Random Testing Act of 2008, or the COVERT Act of 2008, was introduced by Congresswoman Lowey of New York.

The COVERT Act of 2008 was introduced to eliminate the practice of giving advance notice to transportation security workers of covert tests before the tests happened. I want to thank Congresswoman Lowey and the other members of the Committee on Homeland Security for working together in a bipartisan manner to approve this measure unanimously.

I also want to thank the Transportation Security Administration for recognizing the need for this legislation and working with us to ensure that the bill accomplishes its goal without impeding the way in which TSA conducts its covert testing.

This legislation is vital to protecting the integrity of covert tests of transportation security systems. We know of at least three incidents where covert tests were compromised by individuals who inappropriately warned security officials.

This bill will prohibit individuals from providing advance notice of these important covert tests to any persons, unless authorized to do so by the Assistant Secretary of TSA, the Inspector General of DHS, or the Comptroller General of GAO.

Covert testing efforts by TSA, the DHS IG, and GAO have helped to increase the effectiveness of our transportation security systems by highlighting vulnerabilities and keeping the screening workforce on their toes. Any effort to compromise these important testing efforts, whether intentional or accidental, should not be tolerated by this Congress.

If we choose to ignore the problems of the past, we will provide future opportunities to compromise a worthy program intended to educate the workforce and benefit the security of our transportation security systems throughout the country.

I strongly encourage all my colleagues to support H.R. 5909, which complements the work the committee has done on H.R. 1684, the DHS authorization bill that is pending before the Senate.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the author and supporter of this legislation, the gentlelady from New York (Mrs. Lowey).

Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlelady an additional minute.

Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlelady an additional 3 minutes to complete her statement.

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

Mr. Speaker, I cannot emphasize how important these covert tests are to

protecting the country's transportation security systems. A single tip- off of a covert test is too many. We have already had three we know of. We must do our part to stop the next one from happening. We must do whatever we can to ensure that these tests remain covert and candid so we can truly evaluate our transportation security workers.

I look forward to working with my colleagues as we move forward on this important legislation that will make our transportation systems more secure. I ask my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1150) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Transportation Security Administration should, in accordance with the congressional mandate provided for in the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, enhance security against terrorist attack and other security threats to our Nation's rail and mass transit lines, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this measure and I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 1150 was introduced earlier this year by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee. The resolution was marked up and adopted unanimously by the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection on May 1. The full committee approved it unanimously on May 20.

I would like to congratulate Congresswoman Jackson-Lee who is both

the sponsor of the resolution and the subcommittee chairwoman. I strongly believe that this legislation fits well with the work that the committee has done on H.R. 1684, the DHS authorization bill that is pending before the Senate. As we approach the 1-year anniversary of H.R. 1, the Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007, there is much still to be done to secure rail and mass transit systems in the United States from the threat of terrorist attack.

Each weekday, 11.3 million passengers in 23 States use commuter heavy or light rail. History has shown that terrorists view rail and public transportation systems as attractive targets. In 2004, terrorist bombs tore through Madrid's rail system, killing and maiming hundreds of innocent commuters. Next month, of course, marks the third anniversary of the terrorist bombings of London's public transportation system. And just in the last 2 years, transportation systems in Mumbai, India, were attacked twice.

Since the 9/11 attacks, there has been justifiable attention paid to enhancing aviation security. However, the security needs for rail and public transportation have, at the same time, been largely neglected. Last year, we took steps toward ending the secondary status by passing H.R. 1. H.R. 1, now Public Law 110-53, includes wide-range surface transportation security provisions and authorizes $3.5 billion for transit security and $2 billion for rail security.

The legislation before us today, House Resolution 1150, renews the call for TSA to enhance security against terrorist attack and other security threats to our Nation's rail and mass transit lines. Specifically, it instructs TSA to strengthen security efforts towards rail lines, mass transit lines, and school transportation systems across the country. It also directs TSA to build on successful programs such as its canine detection and online learning programs, to expand the program's reach and to further strengthen transportation security across the country. TSA is uniquely positioned to be a leader in securing rail and mass transit systems from the threat of terrorism because of its experience in protecting commercial aviation.

Finally, I would note that House Resolution 1150 includes language authored by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge) that gives appropriate consideration to the security needs of school transportation systems. This resolution continues the effort by the Committee on Homeland Security to raise rail and mass transit security to the prominence it deserves. I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 1150.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to assure the gentleman that he will see some progress on the trucking legislation in the not-too-distant future.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas, the author of the resolution, Ms. Jackson-Lee.

(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

I yield an additional minute to the gentlewoman.

I yield 1 additional minute to the gentlewoman.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge), who has a real interest in broadening the scope of this study.

Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers. If the gentleman from California has no more speakers, I am prepared to close after the gentleman closes.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

House Resolution 1150 sends the right message at the right time. It reminds TSA of the House's continued interest in seeing progress on securing our rail and mass transit systems.

Last year we took steps towards that goal by passing H.R. 1 legislation, that I was proud to author. That landmark Homeland Security law took a comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges of securing rail and mass transit, viewing it as a critical infrastructure that is essential to effective operations of our national economy.

Incidentally, with gas over $4 a gallon, America's reliance on these systems is only going to increase. Today I am proud to stand here and renew the call for meaningful progress and urge passage of H. Res. 1150.

Madam Speaker, I urge passage of the resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4749) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Office for Bombing Prevention, to address terrorist explosive threats, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill and yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Explosives remain the preferred weapon of choice for terrorists the world over. Explosives have been used against this Nation abroad and on American soil. Because explosives, be they military grade or homemade, improvised explosive devices are easy to obtain and use, the explosives threat needs a focused, coordinated approach.

In the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attack, a great deal of attention was paid to the emerging threats, such as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons of mass destruction. At the same time, needed focus on the explosives threat has been lacking, despite the issuance of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 19, Combating Terrorist Use of Explosives in the United States, in February 2007. H.R. 4749, the National Bombing Prevention Act of 2008, will help fill this gap.

The legislation that the gentleman from Long Island (Mr. King) and I introduced was considered in committee in May. It was improved at full committee markup with the addition of some key amendments and reported unanimously by our committee.

This is a straightforward bipartisan bill. It establishes the Office of Bombing Prevention within the Office of Infrastructure Protection at the Department of Homeland Security.

As with other bills we have brought to the floor today, I strongly believe that this bill fits well with the priorities found in H.R. 1684, the DHS authorization bill that is pending before the Senate.

The Office of Bombing Prevention, in fact, already exists in the Department. This bill simply authorizes it and sets forth its responsibilities in law. The bill authorizes $10 million for FY 2009, a little over the administration's budget request.

For fiscal years 2010 through 2012, the bill authorizes $25 million annually. Then, for each subsequent fiscal year, such sums as may be necessary are provided. The Office is responsible for coordinating the government efforts to deter, detect, prevent, protect against and respond to terrorist explosive attacks in the United States.

To do so, the Office is required to conduct analysis of the Federal, State, local and tribal government capabilities and maintain a national database on the capabilities of bomb squads, explosive detection, canine teams, tactic teams and public safety dive teams around the Nation.

Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and periodically update a national strategy to prevent and prepare for terrorist explosive attacks in the United States. A national strategy is also required under HSPD 19.

H.R. 4749 also authorizes the Office to support efforts, as well as research, into explosives detection and mitigation. An informed public is a prepared public. In this spirit, the bill directs the Office to develop and implement a public awareness campaign that can reach the private sector as well as ordinary citizens.

Finally, the bill ensures that we understand and enhance bomb detection through the proper training and use of canine detection units. For all these reasons, I encourage my colleagues to support this important legislation.

House of Representatives, Committee on Science and

Technology,

Washington, DC, June 16, 2008.

Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Ford House Office

Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman, I am writing to you concerning the

jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Science and

Technology in H.R. 4749, the National Bombing Prevention Act

of 2008. H.R. 4749 was introduced by Congressman Peter T.

King on December 1, 2007, and the bill was subsequently

marked up by the Committee on Homeland Security on May 20,

2008.

H.R. 4749 implicates the Committee on Science and

Technology's jurisdiction over Homeland Security research and

development under Rule X(1)(o)(14) of the House Rules. The

Committee on Science and Technology acknowledges the

importance of H.R. 4749 and the need for the legislation to

move expeditiously. Therefore, while we have a valid claim to

jurisdiction over this bill, I agree not to request a

sequential referral. This, of course, is conditional on our

mutual understanding that nothing in this legislation or my

decision to forgo a sequential referral waives, reduces, or

otherwise affects the jurisdiction of the Committee on

Science and Technology, and that a copy of this letter and of

your response will be included in the Congressional Record

when the bill is considered on the House Floor.

The Committee on Science and Technology also expects that

you will support our request to be conferees during any

House-Senate conference on H.R. 4749 or similar legislation.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Bart Gordon,

Chairman.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al Green).

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I am prepared to close after the gentleman from California closes.

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

Madam Speaker, H.R. 4749 is important legislation that will ensure that we are positioned to address explosive threats at all levels of government. We know that explosives are all too often terrorists' weapons of choice.

Under HSPD-19, DHS is tasked with researching, identifying, and communicating ``lessons learned and best practices, concerning the use of explosives as a terrorist weapon'' to enhance ``the preparedness of Federal, State, local, territorial, and tribal government personnel to deter, prevent, detect, protect against, and respond to explosive attacks in the United States.''

Passage of H.R. 4749 will put us on a path to enhance the Nation's terrorism response capability and ensure that first responders and first preventers have what they need.

Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this important homeland security measure.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1333) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the Secretary of the Air Force to use Civil Air Patrol personnel and resources to support homeland security missions, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this measure, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, the Civil Air Patrol has been in existence for decades, providing assistance to governments at the Federal, State and local levels in times of need.

Civil Air Patrol was established in 1941, just days before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. From that moment on, Civil Air Patrol has stood ready to supplement America's military operations. And over the years, it has shown itself to be a faithful partner to the Department of Defense. Therefore, it stands to reason that Civil Air Patrol could also partner with the Department of Homeland Security.

That is the thinking behind H.R. 1333 introduced by Representative Charlie Dent, a member of the Committee on Homeland Security. H.R. 1333 directs the Government Accountability Office to examine the capabilities of the Civil Air Patrol to support DHS's activities across the country.

The bill was unanimously adopted by the Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response on April 30. Then on May 20, the full committee approved H.R. 1333 unanimously.

Civil Air Patrol is a great example of how patriotic Americans can contribute to the security of this Nation and their communities. As someone who served as a volunteer firefighter, I appreciate that kind of dedication. There is no doubt in my mind that the Civil Air Patrol is a United States treasure. In fact, during any given year, the Civil Air Patrol is responsible for nearly 95 percent of Air Force-directed search and rescue missions.

This Government Accountability Office study, called for in this bill, will improve Congress' and the administration's understanding of how Civil Air Patrol can provide homeland security assistance. The GAO study will also help Congress assess whether the operational structure in place for coordination between the Civil Air Patrol and its government and non-profit partners is sufficient and optimal for the security of our Nation.

Additionally, the bill calls for GAO to report on the cost- effectiveness of using Civil Air Patrol assets for homeland security missions and help Congress understand whether the current mechanism for Federal agencies and States to request Civil Air Patrol support are adequate.

Finally, the bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to review and analyze GAO's study and report to Congress as to which GAO recommendations warrant further action.

I commend my colleague, Mr. Dent, and his partner in this endeavor, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response, Mr. Cuellar, for developing this thoughtful bill. I support H.R. 1333 and its underlying goals and urge passage.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response.

Madam Speaker, I have no additional speakers. If the gentleman from Pennsylvania has no speakers, I am prepared to close.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 1333. I strongly believe that the GAO report required under H.R. 1333 will provide us with the information needed to reach the right decision on the question of whether a formal relationship between DHS and CAP will serve our Nation's homeland security interests.

Certainly, over the past 60 years, Civil Air Patrol has shown itself to be a faithful partner to the Department of Defense. It is conceivable that the Civil Air Patrol could contribute to border security, search and rescue and responsive activities at DHS.

Additionally, it would be interesting to know whether the Civil Air Patrol can provide emergency transport for sensitive medical materials. I would also be interested to know whether the Civil Air Patrol area reconnaissance and communications capability can enhance our border security and DHS's ability to have situational awareness of natural disasters and other manmade events. The GAO study called for in this bill will answer these core capability questions.

For this reason, I support H.R. 1333, and urge its passage.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2631) to strengthen efforts in the Department of Homeland Security to develop nuclear forensics capabilities to permit attribution of the source of nuclear material, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill and yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 2631, the Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act, was introduced last year by the gentleman from California, Congressman Schiff. It was marked up and adopted unanimously by the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology in October 2007. The full committee approved it unanimously on May 20 of this year.

I would like to congratulate Congressman Schiff and thank Subcommittee Chairman Langevin and Ranking Member McCaul for their work in getting the bill to the floor today.

Like the other homeland security measures we are considering today, I strongly believe that H.R. 2631 ties in with the DHS authorization legislation that the House approved last spring, H.R. 1684, and is still pending before the Senate.

We know that our enemies, both terrorists and rogue nations, are interested in developing and using nuclear and radiological weapons. In the case of an attempted or, heaven forbid, a successful nuclear or radiological attack, rapid attribution is critical. Our government must have the capability to quickly determine the source of nuclear material so that the key decision-makers have information needed to respond.

Certainly, if the terrorists know that we have a nuclear forensic capability that can pinpoint their role in creating a bomb, they're bound to have second thoughts. The deterrent effect of a robust nuclear forensic capability is enormous.

Unfortunately, today the U.S. must rely on expertise and technology developed during the Cold War to address the emerging threats of a nuclear ``dirty'' bomb. The nuclear weapons work force is aging, just as its mission has shifted from traditional deterrence policy to the more complicated challenge of containing the threats posed by terrorists and rogue nations. Our Nation's capability in the scientific fields of radiochemistry and geochemistry must be fostered to meet this new threat. This is the purpose of this bill.

H.R. 2631 expresses the sense of Congress that the President should pursue international agreements and develop protocols to share sensitive information needed to identify the source of a nuclear detonation.

It also tasks the Secretary of Homeland Security with the mission of developing methods to attribute nuclear and radiological material, both within the Department's Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, and in partnership with other Federal agencies.

The legislation, as amended in committee, emphasizes that development of a robust nuclear forensics capability depends chiefly on an expertly trained work force in this area, and provides support for educational programs relevant to nuclear forensics.

H.R. 2631 also authorizes the National Technical Nuclear Forensic Center, which will be responsible for providing centralized planning, assessment and integration of all Federal nuclear forensic activities; requires the Secretary to report annually to Congress on the Federal Government's efforts to enhance its nuclear forensic capability, including the status of work force development programs, and authorizes $30 million per year for the next 3 fiscal years for this effort.

H.R. 2631 continues this committee's practices of authorizing programs and offices within DHS that are of value to the agency's mission, so as to assure that the work can continue and progress can be achieved in the years to come.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

House of Representatives, Committee on Science and

Technology,

Washington, DC, May 27, 2008.

Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Ford House Office

Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman, I am writing to you concerning the

jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Science and

Technology in H.R. 2631, the Nuclear Forensics and

Attribution Act, H.R. 2631 was introduced by Congressman Adam

B. Schiff on June 7, 2007, and the bill was subsequently

marked up by the Committee on Homeland Security on May 20,

2008.

H.R. 2631 implicates the Committee on Science and

Technology's jurisdiction under rule X(1)(o) of the House

Rules. The Committee on Science and Technology acknowledges

the importance of H.R. 2631 and the need for the legislation

to move expeditiously. Therefore, while we have a valid claim

to jurisdiction over this bill, I agree not to request a

sequential referral. This, of course, is conditional on our

mutual understanding that nothing in this legislation or my

decision to forgo a sequential referral waives, reduces, or

otherwise affects the jurisdiction of the Committee on

Science and Technology, and that a copy of this letter and of

your response will be included in the legislative report for

this bill and the Congressional Record when the bill is

considered on the House Floor.

The Committee on Science and Technology also expects that

you will support our request to be conferees during any

House-Senate conference on H.R. 2631 or similar legislation.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Bart Gordon,

Chairman.

Madam Speaker, at this time I yield 4 minutes to the chairman of the subcommittee handling the legislation, the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).

(Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Madam Speaker, I do have one more speaker, the author of the bill.

I would like to recognize the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff) for 4 minutes, the author of this legislation and a persistent pursuer making sure that we get it to the floor.

Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman 2 additional minutes.

Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close at this point and wonder if the gentleman from California is also.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 2631, the Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act. I would like to pay tribute to Congressman Adam Schiff, Subcommittee Chairman Langevin, and Ranking Member McCaul for the thoughtful approach taken on this critical Homeland Security concern.

The risk, vulnerability, and consequences of a nuclear bomb are significantly different than what we think of as a dirty bomb. While a nuclear bomb is most assuredly a weapon of mass destruction, a dirty bomb is at best a weapon of mass disruption. A dirty bomb may include some radioactive material, but if detonated, few people, if any, would die shortly after exposure.

In contrast, tens of thousands of people could potentially die from an explosion of a nuclear bomb.

We need a new Manhattan Project, one where we build a nuclear forensics capability and workforce that can address the myriad of nuclear threats that we face today. H.R. 2631 does just that. That is why, Madam Speaker, I urge passage of this important legislation.

Madam Speaker, as you heard, Ranking Member King is attending the services of Tim Russert. I would like to join my ranking member and other Members of Congress in expressing our sympathies to the family of Tim Russert.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise also to salute the two newest members of this committee for introducing this legislation.

This legislation, the Public Housing Disaster Relief Act of 2008, will strike section 9(k) of the U.S. Housing Act and clarify the funding structure of public housing authorities in the wake of disasters.

Just 2 weeks ago, the Financial Services Committee and Homeland Security Committee held a joint hearing to examine the housing conditions of individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. During this hearing, the testimony provided by the FEMA and HUD witnesses revealed that there is confusion between the two agencies over who is responsible for providing disaster recovery funds to public housing authorities that are damaged by disasters.

A number of public housing authorities received significant damage, Mr. Speaker, during Hurricane Katrina. But these housing authorities did not receive any funds from the 9(k) account because there simply were not any funds available.

Public housing authorities did receive some assistance from the Public Housing Capital Fund Emergency Needs Account, but the funds were quickly exhausted and left many housing authorities without the resources they needed to repair their units.

In total, Mr. Speaker, only $29 million was made available to the housing authorities along the gulf coast. If you are familiar with the degree of devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and Rita, you know this was not enough.

H.R. 6276 will eliminate an account that has historically been underused and clarify the funding structure by making it clear to FEMA that public housing authorities are eligible for Stafford Act assistance.

I urge the passage of this important legislation, Mr. Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I am introducing these four bills, which were part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 and became law as part of Public Law No: 110-161.

The bills address programs focusing on: (1) air cargo screening in passenger airplanes, (2) international registered traveler and border security, (3) accountability in Department of Homeland Security contracts, and (4) increased access to the Office of Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security to report waste, fraud, and abuse.

These programs were initially funded in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 and ongoing oversight and review of these programs must continue.

As the Chairman of the Committee of jurisdiction over these programs, it is my intention to work with the Appropriations Committee and other Members of Congress to provide adequate oversight and vigilance over these programs to ensure our Nation is as secure as possible.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jessica Rae Herrera-Flanigan, Staff Director and General Counsel of the Committee on Homeland Security, for her dedication to the security of the Nation. As the chairman of the committee, it is with sadness that I report that on Friday, June 6, she will be leaving us for the private sector. I speak for all the committee's members and staff in saying that she will be missed.

Jessica has the distinction of being the longest serving Democratic staffer on the committee, having joined it in 2003 when it was merely a select committee. She has played a pivotal role, first as Counsel under former Ranking Member Jim Turner, and then as my top aide, in the committee's development and growth over the last 5 years.

Jessica was a well-respected cybercrime prosecutor and former Department of Justice official before coming to the Hill. With the attacks of September 11, her knowledge of cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection put her on the frontlines of homeland security, before it was known as that. She came to the House for the right reasons shortly thereafter--because she believed we could do better to secure our Nation.

I truly believe that Jessica symbolizes the future of our Nation's national security leaders. Leaders that look more like America. The daughter of Leonel and the late Virginia Ann Herrera, she grew up in the southeast Texas oil-refining town of Port Arthur, Texas, which she saw struck by Hurricane Rita during her tenure on the committee. With the help of student loan and work-study programs, she graduated from Yale University and Harvard Law School. She is, I've been told, the first and only Latina to ever serve as a staff director of a full committee in the House. And don't let her 4'11'' frame fool you--she is a 1st degree blackbelt and a sharpshooter.

Any recognition would be incomplete if I did not thank Tom Flanigan for lending us so much of his wife's time and energy. He not only stood by her, but by the committee as we tackled its creation, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, the 9/11 implementation bill, and countless other homeland security issues over the last 5 years.

In sum, I welcome this opportunity to recognize Jessica Herrera- Flanigan for her tireless work, patriotism, and professional dedication to Congress, the Committee of Homeland Security, and the Nation.

Madam Speaker, Today, I would like to recognize the outstanding work of Ms. Shemeka Greaves, a Transportation Security Officer at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport. On May 7, 2008, Ms. Greaves positively identified an 8-year old girl who had been declared ``missing'' the previous week and was traveling from Chicago to Atlanta. After seeing the girl's photo in a newspaper article, Ms. Greaves recalled screening the girl along with a female passenger on the morning a few days earlier. A subsequent review of checkpoint surveillance tapes showed the missing girl going through security with a female companion. Ms. Greaves' awareness and vigilance at security checkpoint was crucial in an effort to confirm the identity of the missing girl and facilitated law enforcement officials to successfully complete their investigation and reunite her with her father.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children confirms that in our country alone, more than 2,700 children are being reported missing every day. In the last few years, Congress has passed several legislative landmarks, including the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, which addresses this issue and has fortified government efforts and mechanisms in place to reunite missing children with their families and loved ones. In addition to these government- wide efforts, law enforcement officials across all agencies remain vigilant, cautious and responsive to special alerts for missing children. Ms. Greaves, our frontline security officer at Chicago Airport, contributed to this effort, and is a great example of the caliber of employees across the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that contribute, every day, to making our skies more secure.

TSA is responsible for securing 450 U.S. airports and employs approximately 50,000 Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) who have the very important mission of keeping the travelling public safe from terrorist threats. In the course of executing this critical homeland security mission, Transportation Officers carefully screen and inspect people, baggage, cargo and the airport. Ms. Greaves' alert, timely action serves as a great example of how TSOs, our Nation's aviation security ``eyes and ears,'' can partner effectively with law enforcement to address criminal activities.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me today and congratulate Ms. Shemeka Greaves for her outstanding performance as a front-line homeland security officer. She, like many other TSOs in the field, has shown strong character and a commitment to protecting the flying public that goes above and beyond what is expected. As a result, Ms. Greaves helped ensure that a missing little girl child was returned to her home.

Madam Speaker, today, I am introducing the Biometric Enhancement for Airport-Risk Reduction Act of 2008, also cited as the BEAR Act of 2008.

Nearly a year ago, I stood here before you to discuss H.R. 1, legislation implementing the unfinished business of the 9/11 Commission recommendations to secure America against terrorism. Since its enactment, the Committee has continued aggressive oversight of the Transportation Security Administration's efforts to comply with security mandates set forth in one of the most important laws enacted by this Congress, the Implementing the Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-53).

I must recognize Assistant Secretary Kip Hawley, the head of the Transportation Security Administration, TSA, who has always shown a willingness to engage in open dialogue with me and Committee Members when we have raised particular questions or concerns having to do with TSA. One area of concern that has been raised on numerous occasions is how to best strengthen security for airport workers with unescorted access to sterile and secure areas of the airport. I strongly believe that biometric technologies can be an invaluable homeland security tool--especially with regard to this security challenge.

I am introducing the BEAR Act to promote progress on this issue and legislate a smart security approach that promotes collaboration between TSA, industry, and other key stakeholders to provide airports with a blueprint on how to make biometrics work for them. Specifically, the bill requires TSA to study how airports can transition to uniform, standards-based and interoperable biometric identifier systems for airport workers with unescorted access. TSA, together with a working group comprised of key stakeholders, will examine existing programs and identify approaches that can enhance protections for secure and sterile areas of the airport.

Additionally this bill requires TSA to provide Congress and airport operators with a breakdown on best practices for utilizing biometrics to better protect airports. Today, workers with unescorted access to this critical infrastructure go through background screening to get issued badges that includes terror watch list checks. While this is a necessary and important check, a job applicant's biometrics are not being captured to check against biographic information provided and establish identity. This is a problem, as revealed when Federal law enforcement raided Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in November 2007 and arrested 23 people for fraudulently securing badges to gain access to sensitive airport locations. According to the charging affidavit, more than 100 temporary workers were found to be in possession of the fraudulent badges and the staffing agency that sponsored told them that they needed identification, but such identification did not have to be legitimate. Studying approaches to bring biometrics into airports is all the more important since the struggling Transportation Worker Identification Credential, TWIC, program is not likely to be introduced into the airport environment any time soon.

Additionally, this bill requests TSA to consider existing parallel biometric security systems such as FIPS 201-compliant cards, TWIC, and the GSA Smart Card. This bill is not about re-inventing the wheel or putting a stop to any good work at TSA on this issue. It is about encouraging public-private partnerships and promoting an open dialogue between TSA, industry, and Congress on how best to secure our airports.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you support the BEAR Act, for it frames a series of important biometric and security credentialing issues that need to be addressed in a study and that will build on what this Congress has supported in the past. More importantly, it will provide Congress with the necessary information to continue building on smart, efficient and effective airport security measures needed to secure Americans and protect this critical sector in our economy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5690 which ensures that African National Congress (ANC) members will no longer be denied visas to enter the United States solely based on their anti-Apartheid activities.

I am proud to have introduced this long-overdue legislation that will remedy a situation that was brought to my attention by my colleague, the gentlelady from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dr. Christensen. A few months ago, Dr. Christensen informed me that Nelson Mandela, the South African civil rights icon that won 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, is not eligible for a visa to enter the U.S. because he is a member of the African National Congress. I was stunned. How could one of the giants of the 20th Century who is revered for bringing peace and reconciliation to a country that was torn apart by racism be ineligible to receive a standard visa to visit the United States? I quickly learned that the ANC, which was established in 1923 to advocate for the rights of black South Africans against the brutal Apartheid regime, was designated a ``terrorist organization'' by the same government that subjected black South Africans to racial segregation and violence.

For decades, ANC leaders, including President Mandela, withstood great hardships to overcome the oppression of Apartheid in South Africa, risking everything for basic principles of fairness and opportunity. By 1994, the ANC was the ruling party in South Africa, yet, some ANC leaders and members are still denied entry into America-- today--solely because of their affiliation. H.R. 5690 will remedy this situation and ensure that these leaders

and members are no longer deemed to be inadmissible solely because of their membership in the ANC and their anti-apartheid activities.

I am pleased to have worked with my colleague on the Foreign Relations Committee, Mr. Berman, to bring this timely legislation to the House floor. I urge all my colleagues to join me and pass this important bill.

Mr. Chairman, I believe the gentleman from California wants to engage in a colloquy, so I reserve the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, Petty Officer Bruckenthal and two Navy petty officers were killed during a coordinated suicide attack on the oil platforms off the coast of Iraq. These men offered what President Lincoln referred to as ``the last full measure of devotion'' for their country.

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

Mr. Chairman, H.R. 2830 is an important milestone in protecting our Nation's port and maritime security. It is the first bill to provide adequate resources to an agency that has been systematically underfunded for years. H.R. 2330 authorizes 1,500 additional Service Members, more Maritime Security Response Teams, more Canine Detection Teams, and the Waterway Watch program.

This bill was favorably reported by my committee on a bipartisan basis last fall. Representative King and I share a commitment to the Coast Guard. I am pleased that we were able to work together to give the Coast Guard the resources it needs. For too long, the Coast Guard has had to make do with aging assets that do not meet the challenges of a 9/11 world. The Coast Guard is actually still operating boats that were used during World War II. It is time that these boats were retired and newer assets brought into service. These boats, however, must work.

Unfortunately, the Coast Guard has accepted, under the Deepwater contract, boats that can't even float. That is unacceptable. The American public and the men and women of the Coast Guard deserve better. The Homeland Security Committee has added the Deepwater reform provisions during our markup to get this critical program back on course.

I would like to thank Chairman Oberstar and Chairman Cummings for displaying a willingness to work with me to bring this bill to the floor. I urge passage of this important legislation that will significantly improve the security of our Nation's maritime environment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, for the sake of clarifying an issue brought up, I would like to yield 15 seconds to the chairman of the full T&I Committee, Mr. Oberstar.

Mr. Chairman, I recognize the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin) for 2 minutes.

(Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Loretta Sanchez), who has been a leader on this issue on the committee, as well as one who is vitally interested in the reporting of various sexual assaults at the Academy.

Mr. Chairman, I have no more speakers. If the gentleman from California has no more speakers, then I am prepared to close after the gentleman closes.

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

Mr. Chairman, I support H.R. 2830, not only for what it does to enhance port security, but also for what it does to get the Deepwater program back on course. As someone who cares about the Coast Guard, it has been disturbing to see the mismanagement of the Deepwater program.

This year, a $24 billion effort to modernize the Coast Guard's fleet has suffered delays, cost increases and design flaws that ultimately culminated in the idling of eight patrol boats. By the time that these problems were discovered by both the Inspector General of DHS and the Comptroller General, $88 million had been wasted. Both Federal watchdogs have said that program failures were due to the excessive leeway given the program contractors.

H.R. 2830 includes provisions that protect American taxpayers by forcing the Coast Guard to, for the first time, manage this contract. Regrettably, the administration in its Statement of Administration Policy denounced the Deepwater provision, which, incidentally, was approved by the House on a vote of 426-0 on July 23, 2007. We cannot allow the Coast Guard to continue on a poorly navigated course. H.R. 2830 will steer the Deepwater procurement process in the right direction.

Mr. Chairman, for this reason and dozens of others, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2830.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3033, the ``Contractors and Federal Spending Accountability Act of 2008.'' H.R. 3033 mandates the establishment of a database that includes detailed information on civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings concluded against contractors and grant recipients by State and Federal governments; a listing, by contractor or grant recipient, of all contracts or grants that were terminated; any suspensions or debarments, or any agreement to resolve a suspension or debarment; any findings that the contractor or recipient is not a ``responsible'' source for Federal contracts.

As the great justice Louis Brandeis famously wrote, ``sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.'' H.R. 3033 will shed some sunlight on the contracting world.

This database will have myriad uses. Governments at all levels can turn to it when considering whether to award a contract or grant. Citizens can look to see how their tax dollars are being spent--and what steps are being taken to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. Job seekers can look up prospective employers to find out what kind of company they might work for. Companies can do a little due diligence about prospective customers or vendors. In this information age, there is simply no reason information such as this should not be available to all of us.

My committee oversees the Department of Homeland Security. It is still young, as are many of its contracting professionals. But even the ``old pros'' of the Department are new to homeland security contracting--because homeland security contracting itself is new. A database like this--that allows these officials to quickly examine the history of prospective, contractors--might have helped the Department avoid some of the contracting fiascos that have plagued it to date. I am hopeful it will help the Department pick the best contractors in the future.

I encourage all of my colleagues to support this important legislation.