Floor Statements

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

I rise today in support of the U.S.-Mexico Economic Partnership Act authored by my good friend and fellow Texan, Mr. Cuellar.

As a native Texan, I know how critical the U.S.-Mexico relationship is to the prosperity and security of our two nations. And as the former chairman of the U.S.-Mexico IPG, I had the honor of leading congressional delegations to sit down with our Mexican counterparts to discuss bilateral issues, such as trade and security, and just recently went down for the President's inauguration. These legislative exchanges have been imperative for furthering the relationship between our two nations.

However, we must look beyond traditional and shared connections and foster cultural and academic partnerships and grow the U.S.-Mexico relationship among the younger generations. This bill achieves that goal by creating academic exchanges in the private sector that are focused on health and energy. This academic pipeline will strengthen our energy infrastructure and develop new generations of medical professionals who could work in both of our countries.

This bill complements the economic growth initiatives and the recently negotiated USMCA trade agreement, and it promotes the U.S.- Mexico relationship at the committee level.

Again, as I mentioned just a few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the inauguration of President Lopez Obrador in Mexico City with many of my colleagues. Our two countries have had a very proud history together, and I think these are times, trying times, as the chairman mentioned, but I think that is why this bill is so important. I think we can have a brighter future together between our two nations. I urge my colleagues to support it to strengthen this relationship.

In closing, I would like to once again thank Mr. Cuellar for leading this message. Growing up in Texas, I dealt with our Mexican counterpart, their largest trading partner, have done a lot with Mexico. When I was in the Attorney General's Office, I met with Mexico periodically, and also as a Member of Congress.

This is an important relationship between our countries. While there have been moments of disagreement, I think it is important that our countries remain allies and we are friends with our neighbors to the south.

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

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

I rise in support of my bill, the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Act. This bill passed the House last year. I am pleased that the chairman and I were able to make it an early priority in this Congress.

This legislation strengthens our counterterrorism operations in Africa, an area where the terror threat is rapidly rising.

Our military successes in Iraq and Syria have splintered ISIS, squeezed terrorists out of the Middle East, and sent them fleeing to Africa. The numbers are alarming.

On the eve of 9/11, al-Qaida had only a few hundred followers. Today, it is estimated that 10,000 ISIS and al-Qaida jihadists have established bases across the continent.

Along with other existing terrorist organizations, such as Boko Haram, terrorism is taking hold in Africa and prohibiting its prosperity. We know that these groups have plotted attacks that threaten U.S. interests, and some have succeeded.

The Trump administration recently released their Africa strategy. It appropriately prioritizes U.S. efforts to counter radical Islamic terrorism on the continent. I applaud their continued focus on this issue.

My bill, which I introduced with my friend Mr. Keating, authorizes for the first time a program called the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership. This program works with countries such as Chad, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria to build their capacity to conduct counterterrorism operations, prevent the spread of violent extremism, and strengthen the rule of law.

Furthermore, it requires the State Department, USAID, and the Defense Department to work together to develop a counterterrorism strategy in Africa. By taking a multifaceted approach and better coordinating our efforts, we can prevent terrorism from gaining a larger foothold in these countries.

Again, I thank Mr. Engel and I thank Mr. Keating for their shared support of this cause, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank Chairman Engel and Congressman Keating. The bill authorizes a really important interagency effort to combat terrorism and prevent the spread of radical Islamist extremism in Africa. As ISIS and other terrorist ideologies are degraded in the Middle East, they are, unfortunately, finding a safe haven in Africa.

We must partner with other nations to work to combat these threats before they impact the homeland. This bill will increase congressional oversight from our committee and better coordinate U.S. assistance.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill to ensure that American efforts to fight the scourge of anti-Semitism are as strong as possible.

In December, the European Union released the results of a survey of over 16,500 European Jews. The results of this survey are, frankly, disturbing.

In its report, the EU wrote that anti-Semitism pervades everyday life. It also stated that anti-Semitism undermines Jews' feelings of safety and security and that anti-Semitic harassment is so common that it becomes normalized.

Europe is not alone in seeing a resurgence of anti-Semitism. Textbooks across the Middle East teach children to hate Jews. Malaysia's Prime Minister has repeated offensive, anti-Semitic statements. Here in the United States, we were devastated by the attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue in October. No region or country is immune from this hatred.

In 2004, the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act was passed into law, establishing a Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism. This position was created to combat this threat worldwide through bilateral relationships and international organizations such as the European Union and the United Nations. Fifteen years later, we need to modernize the way our government is set up to fight this hatred.

This bipartisan bill, which has been previously introduced in the House and passed in the House, requires the President to appoint a Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism. The bill also elevates the Special Envoy position to the rank of Ambassador and ensures direct access to the Secretary of State. It is finally time for the stature of this position to reflect the level of work that must be done.

Unfortunately, a Special Envoy has yet to be nominated under this administration, and I strongly urge the President to appoint a qualified candidate as soon as possible.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank Congressman Chris Smith for introducing this important bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), who is the author of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the cosponsor of this bill.

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

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

In closing, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for his hard work to ensure that anti-Semitism remains at the top of our country's foreign policy agenda. I, too, echo my colleagues' on the other side of the aisle plea to this administration in a bipartisan way to appoint a Special Envoy.

If I can just conclude by saying that I am the son of a World War II veteran. My father was a bombardier on a B-17. He was part of the D-day air campaign. He bombed the Nazis. We saw the horrors of Nazi Germany. I have been to Auschwitz to see the horrors of the gas chambers and what the Nazis perpetrated against the Jewish people. We thought it was stamped out then. We thought it was over. And yet it is not. It is hard to believe that so many years later, anti-Semitism and neo-Nazis still exist in this world.

It is my sincere hope, with this Special Envoy we can truly make a difference--the Greatest Generation fought against it--and that this scourge will be eliminated entirely from the planet.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill I wrote with Mr. Engel, my good friend, the Global Fragility and Violence Reduction Act.

Mr. Speaker, one of our greatest national security challenges is preventing violent conflict around the world. Violent conflict creates hostile environments and displaces and deprives citizens. It costs the global economy over $14 trillion annually.

They also provide fertile recruiting grounds for terrorist groups and transnational criminal organizations, which I have tracked in my role as chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security. Often, these environments thrive in states that are fragile, where the government loses legitimacy in the eyes of its own people and, ultimately, its ability to govern.

When ignored, these breakdowns in a government ultimately can lead to lengthy and costly involvement by the United States. That is why, today, Congressman Engel and I are proposing an innovative, new way of thinking about these challenges.

The Global Fragility and Violence Reduction Act requires the administration to launch an initiative to reduce this fragility and violence. This will guide our efforts to reduce violent conflict and help fragile states down a path towards stability.

This bill also requires the Department of State, in coordination with USAID and the Department of Defense, to identify 10 countries or regions as a pilot program to start this new initiative. This initiative ensures local partnerships are at the core of any solution in order to deliver better long-term results.

Since each fragile state is different, this initiative is flexible to address the causes of fragility. What may work to solve the economic and migration issues of Venezuela are likely to be different than the solutions needed to help curb terrorist groups in west Africa.

By integrating the Department of State, USAID, and DOD together and prioritizing, we are reshaping how we think about how we deliver aid and development resources, preventing them from spiraling into chaos.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank, again, the ranking member; I would like to thank Chairman Royce for his friendship, as well as Mr. Poe and Mr. Smith; and I hope everybody will attend the chairman's portrait unveiling at the National Archives this evening.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Eliot Engel, both of them this Congress, in their leadership. We are going to miss Chairman Royce as we move on to the end of this Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I do rise in support of this bill, the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Act. This bill will strengthen our counterterrorism operations in Africa, an area where the threat of terrorism is rapidly rising.

While our attention has been focused on the Middle East, terrorism in Africa has spread.

Our military successes in Iraq and Syria have splintered ISIS, squeezed terrorists out of the Middle East, and sent them fleeing to Africa.

The numbers, Mr. Speaker, are alarming. On the eve of 9/11, it is important to point out, that al-Qaida on the eve of 9/11 only had a few hundred followers. Today, it is estimated that 10,000 ISIS and al-Qaida jihadists have established bases across the continent.

Along with other existing terrorist organizations, such as Boko Haram, terrorism is taking hold in Africa and prohibiting its prosperity.

My bill, which I introduced with my friend, Mr. Keating, authorizes, for the first time, a program called the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership. This program works with countries such as Chad, Mali, and Nigeria to build their capacity to conduct counterterrorism operations and strengthen the rule of law.

Furthermore, my bill requires the State Department, USAID, and the Defense Department to work together to develop a counterterrorism strategy in Africa. By taking a multifaceted approach, we may be able to prevent terrorism from gaining a larger foothold in these countries.

Mr. Speaker, again, I would like to thank Mr. Keating, Chairman Royce, and Ranking Member Engel for all of their support in this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 3359) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of General Charles F. ``Chuck'' Wald (USAF, Ret.) from Deloitte Services, LP. Having served in the United States Air Force for 35 years as a command pilot with more than 3,600 flying hours and 430 combat hours, rising to the ranks of four-star general, and then going to advise top Department of Defense officials, he is a true patriot.

General Wald earned his commission in the United States Air Force (USAF) through the Air Force ROTC program in 1971 at North Dakota State University. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in pre-law from North Dakota State University, and earned his Master's Degree in International Relations from Troy University. He has completed coursework at Harvard University and the National War College. He has also been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from North Dakota State University.

General Wald served combat time as an O-2A forward air controller in Vietnam and as an F-16 pilot flying over Bosnia, in addition to serving as a T-37 instructor pilot and F-15 flight commander. During his tenure in the USAF he also served as the Chief of the U.S. Air Force Combat Terrorism Center, Support Group Commander, Operations Group Commander, and Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff for the Quadrennial Defense Review. He was the Director of Strategic Planning and Policy at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, served on the Joint Staff as the Vice Director for Strategic Plans and Policy, and was the U.S. Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for the Air and Space Operations at the Pentagon. His tenure in the USAF was matched by top leadership positions that catapulted him to success within the organization.

In September 2001, as the Supporting Commander, General Wald led the development of the coalition air campaign in Operation Enduring Freedom, including the idea of embedding tactical air control parties in ground special operations forces which resulted in the elimination of Taliban forces in Afghanistan. This was a critical mission for U.S. national security following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

In his last position with the USAF, General Wald served as Deputy Commander of U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) from 2002 until his retirement in July 2006. In this position, he was responsible for U.S. forces operating across 91 countries in Europe, Africa, Russia, parts of Asia, the Middle East, and most of the Atlantic Ocean. This position was of paramount responsibility and General Wald demonstrated his expertise and passion for ensuring U.S. interests abroad by implementing the European Command Strategic Plan that included energy assurance and sustainment for the EUCOM Area of Responsibility (AOR).

General Wald currently serves as the Vice Chairman and Senior Advisor for Government and Public Services Practice at Deloitte Services, LP. In this role, he is responsible for providing senior leadership in strategy and relationships with the U.S. Department of Defense. Given his long-time commitment to the USAF, he is a subject matter specialist in weapons procurement and deployment, counterterrorism, and international energy security policy.

General Wald has been honored with numerous military awards and decorations, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, and several others. His distinguished career reflects his commitment to a life of service to our great nation and the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in thanking General Wald for his life-long service, sacrifice, and commitment to our nation, and wish him the very best of luck as he sets forth on the next chapter of his life.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate for H.R. 6265, the PreCheck is Precheck Act of 2018 prepared by the Congressional Budget Office was not available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, October 11, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 6265, the

PreCheck is PreCheck Act of 2018.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Megan

Carrol.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall,

Director.

Enclosure.

H.R. 6265--PreCheck is PreCheck Act of 2018

As passed by the House of Representatives on September 4, 2018

The federal government--primarily through the

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)--administers

several risk-based programs that facilitate, through advanced

vetting of applicants, expedited screening of participating

passengers at security checkpoints. H.R. 6265 would require

TSA to ensure that only travelers who are members of such

programs are permitted to use expedited security-screening

lanes (often called PreCheck lanes) at TSA-regulated

airports. The act would require the agency to increase

enrollment in such programs and to conduct a pilot program

related to the use of modified screening procedures for

passengers deemed to pose low security risks. The legislation

also would specify other administrative and reporting

requirements.

Using information from TSA, CBO estimates that implementing

H.R. 6265 would not significantly affect the federal budget.

The agency is already implementing activities that are

similar to those envisioned under H.R. 6265. As a result, CBO

expects that any change in the agency's spending--which would

be subject to appropriation--would be insignificant.

Enacting H.R. 6265 would not affect direct spending or

revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 6265 would not increase

net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.

H.R. 6265 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector

mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Megan Carroll.

The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy

Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate for H.R. 6742, the Secure Border Communications Act prepared by the Congressional Budget Office was not available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

Department of Homeland Security Legislation

As passed by the House of Representatives on September 25, 2018

On September 25, the House of Representatives passed the

following three pieces of legislation:

H.R. 6620, the Protecting Critical Infrastructure Against

Drones and Emerging Threats Act, which would require the

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prepare assessments

of the threats presented by unmanned aircraft systems (often

called drones) and other emerging threats associated with

such new technologies;

H.R. 6735, the Public-Private Cybersecurity Cooperation

Act, which would require DHS to establish procedures for

people or organizations to report vulnerabilities in the

department's information systems; and

H.R. 6740, the Border Tunnel Task Force Act, which would

direct DHS to establish task forces to combat threats from

cross-border tunnels; the task forces could include personnel

from federal, state, local, and tribal agencies.

CBO estimates that enacting the legislation would not

significantly affect spending by DHS in any fiscal year

because the department could largely implement each act with

existing personnel.

Enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending

or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not

apply.

CBO estimates that enacting the legislation would not

increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of

the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.

None of the acts contain intergovernmental or private-

sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform

Act.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Mark Grabowicz.

The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy

Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, September 27, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 6620, H.R. 6735,

and H.R. 6740, three bills concerning the Department of

Homeland Security that were ordered reported by the Committee

on Homeland Security on September 13, 2018.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark

Grabowicz.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall.

Enclosure.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate for H.R. 6374, FIT Act prepared by the Congressional Budget Office was not available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

September 11, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 6374, the

Fitness Information Transparency Act of 2018.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be

please to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark

Grabowicz.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall.

Enclosure.

H.R. 6374--Fitness Information Transparency Act of 2018

H.R. 6374 would direct the Department of Homeland Security

(DHS), within 180 days of enactment, to issue uniform fitness

(or conduct) standards for hiring contract employees that

must be followed by all DHS agencies. Within one year of

enactment, DHS would have to provide contractors with monthly

updates on the status of their employees' fitness

determinations and collect quarterly data on processing times

for fitness investigations.

Using information from DHS, CBO estimates that implementing

those provisions would cost about $1 million in fiscal year

2019 and less than $500,000 annually thereafter; such

spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated

funds. Most costs would be for technological enhancements to

a system to provide accurate monthly updates on the status of

contract employees' fitness determinations. DHS currently

employs thousands of contract employees.

Enacting H.R. 6374 would not affect direct spending or

revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 6374 would not increase

net direct spending or on budget deficits in any of the four

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.

H.R. 6374 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector

mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Mark Grabowicz.

The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy

Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate for H.R. 6447, Department of Homeland Security Chief Data Officer Authorization Act prepared by the Congressional Budget Office was not available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

September 4, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 6447, the

Department of Homeland Security Chief Data Officer

Authorization Act.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark

Grabowicz.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall, Director.

Enslosure.

H.R. 6447--Department of Homeland Security Chief Data Officer

Authorization Act

As ordered reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security on July

24, 2018

H.R. 6447 would require the Department of Homeland Security

(DHS) to designate a current career appointee as the chief

data officer of the department. The bill also would require

each of the seven operational components within DHS (such as

Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security

Administration) to designate current appointees as chief data

officers. Those offices would coordinate the integration of

data among DHS agencies, oversee the storage of records, and

manage other tasks related to the use of DHS data systems.

Two DHS operational components currently have a chief data

officers while a third component has a vacant position. We

expect that the other four components and the department

would have to hire five additional people to assist in

carrying out the formal role of chief data officer

established by the bill at an annual cost of around $150,000

per person. Thus, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 6447

would cost about $1 million annually; such spending would be

subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

Enacting H.R. 6447 would not affect direct spending or

revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 6447 would not increase

net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.

H.R. 6447 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector

mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Mark Grabowicz.

The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy

Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate for H.R. 6742, the Secure Border Communications Act prepared by the Congressional Budget Office was not available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

September 25, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of

Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 6742, the Secure

Border Communications Act.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark

Grabowicz.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall.

Enclosure.

H.R. 6742--Secure Border Communications Act

H.R. 6742 would require Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to equip CBP

officers and border patrol agents with radios or similar

devices that permit secure and effective communication with

DHS personnel and with other federal and nonfederal law

enforcement entities. According to CBP, it outfits its

officers and agents with radios that largely satisfy the

act's requirements, so CBO estimates that implementing H.R.

6742 would have no significant effect on agency spending.

Enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending

or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not

apply.

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 6742 would not increase

net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.

H.R. 6742 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector

mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Mark Grabowicz.

The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy

Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6735) to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a vulnerability disclosure policy for Department of Homeland Security internet websites, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Public-Private Cybersecurity Cooperation Act.

Strengthening our cybersecurity must be a top national priority. International hackers and nation-states are waging a war against us in cyberspace.

These threats are aimed at our economic, political, and national security institutions.

Between 2011 and 2013, Iranian hackers attacked dozens of American banks and even tried to shut down a dam in New York.

In 2014, Chinese hackers stole over 22.5 million security clearances, including my own, from the Office of Personnel Management.

In 2016, Russia meddled in our presidential election.

Because we use computer networks in our personal and professional lives, almost everyone is a target.

With each passing day, cyber threats continue to grow, but the government cannot face these threats alone. We need help from the private sector.

Today's legislation will direct the Department of Homeland Security Secretary to develop and implement a vulnerability disclosure program that will allow threat researchers from the private sectors to identify and report cybersecurity flaws found in the Department's information systems.

Currently, there is no legal avenue that allows them to do so. This legislation solves that problem.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Leader McCarthy for his years of commitment to innovation and cybersecurity, and for his work on this bill in particular.

He truly understands the nature of this threat and why it is so important to have a strong cyber partnership between the public and private sectors.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that this bipartisan legislation will help DHS better protect its vital networks, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support this bill. It is at a time when there is a lot of partisanship going on. I think it is healthy to see a truly bipartisan bill on such an important issue regarding our national security.

I think, as the gentleman from Louisiana pointed out, this is modeled after a program that the Department of Defense successfully deployed, and I am proud of the record my committee has had on passing, I think, close to 110 bills now, and almost all of them are bipartisan.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my Senate colleagues to at least take up some of them and do the same, 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 move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6740) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish Border Tunnel Task Forces, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Border Tunnel Task Force Act.

Mr. Speaker, some of the most dangerous threats to our homeland are coming across our southern border. Drug smugglers are bringing dangerous narcotics and fueling America's epidemic of opioids. Human traffickers and transnational gangs like MS-13 are infecting our neighborhoods and endangering our kids. Even potential known or suspected terrorists are trying to make their way into America by exploiting our weak borders.

All of these groups are a serious national security concern. They are also very determined and creative, and one of the ways they avoid detection is by digging cross-border tunnels.

In August, a tunnel the length of two football fields was discovered below a closed fast-food restaurant in Arizona. This pathway was used to smuggle cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamines.

In 2016, 7 tons of marijuana and 1 ton of cocaine were found in a tunnel not far from San Diego. In my home State of Texas, a tunnel was discovered under the Rio Grande in El Paso back in 2010, also for smuggling drugs.

Unfortunately, the problem is not new. Authorities have discovered nearly 200 cross-border tunnels since 1990. We must do more to shut these tunnels down. This legislation will establish Border Tunnel Task Forces to enhance the ability of DHS to detect these tunnels and identify criminal networks.

These teams will be made up of ICE, CBP, and other Department personnel. They will be assisted by State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies. These teams will deploy to locations along the border where the greatest

risks to our national security exist. In working together, they will be able to better secure our border and protect Americans from a growing list of threats.

This bill will minimize a unique, but serious, threat to our homeland. I want to thank my very dear friend and colleague, Congressman Sessions, for all of his hard work on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions), the distinguished chairman of the Rules Committee and the author of this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, every day, we are seeing drugs coming in from Mexico, known or suspected terrorists, and dangerous opioids. We see fentanyl coming in from China into Mexico where they mix it with methamphetamines and heroin. It is really toxic, poisonous stuff. Fentanyl is so toxic that our canines die when they sniff it, yet that is being put into drugs coming across the U.S.-Mexico border into the United States to pollute and infect our children and our veterans. It is time for this to stop.

I hope that we will be able to take up, perhaps in November, our border security bill, which I think would go a long ways to getting this job done. In the meantime, this bill, I think, will go a long ways to stopping a very organized, sophisticated route of drugs, bad people, and bad things into the United States, and that is shutting down these tunnels.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6620) to require the Department of Homeland Security to prepare a threat assessment relating to unmanned aircraft systems, 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 include any extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation that will help protect the American people from threatening drones. Drones are being used to cross America more and more every year. News outlets use drones to capture footage for a breaking story. Photographers use them to take photos and videos at weddings, sporting events, and rock concerts. They also are used by law enforcement to help document crime scenes or assist with search and rescue operations. Those are all good things.

However, drones or other unmanned aerial systems can also pose a threat if they are controlled by terrorists or criminals. For example, ISIS used them to carry out attacks and conduct reconnaissance overseas. Here at home, criminals are using drones to smuggle drugs across our borders and surveil law enforcement. The FBI even disrupted a plot to attack the Pentagon with a drone loaded with grenades.

The threats we face from drones are constantly evolving as the technology becomes more accessible across the globe. We need to do more to confront these dangers.

This legislation requires the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at DHS to develop a drone threat assessment with information gathered from Federal, State, local, and private sector partners.

It also directs the Under Secretary to establish a secure communications infrastructure for receiving and analyzing such threat information.

Further, this bill sets up a voluntary mechanism for critical infrastructure owners and operators to report information on similar emerging threats.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Richmond and Congressman Ratcliffe for their hard work on this issue. I think this bill will allow us to strengthen our intelligence gathering and stay one step ahead of our enemies.

I am pleased that the Senate and House were also able to include the Preventing Emerging Threats Act, legislation I introduced with Congressman Chabot, in the FAA bill that will be on the floor tomorrow. This will give DHS the authority to counter drones in our airspace if they are determined to be a threat to national security.

This bill provides DHS and DOJ with the ability to act quickly and effectively when a drone poses a security risk to large-scale events, national security events, and government facilities.

Secretary Nielsen described this legislation as ``a critical step in enabling the Department to address this threat.''

Let's provide DHS with the tools it needs to confront these threats before they get worse.

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

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of

Representatives,

Washington, DC, September 21, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman McCaul: I write concerning H.R. 6620, the

Protecting Critical Infrastructure Against Drones and

Emerging Threats Act. This legislation includes matters that

fall within the Rule X jurisdiction

of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

In order to expedite floor consideration of H.R. 6620, the

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will forgo

action on this bill. However, this is conditional on our

mutual understanding that forgoing consideration of the bill

would not prejudice the Committee with respect to the

appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional

claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or

similar legislation that fall within the Committee's Rule X

jurisdiction. I request you urge the Speaker to name members

of the Committee to any conference committee named to

consider such provisions.

Please place a copy of this letter and your response

acknowledging our jurisdictional interest in the

Congressional Record during House Floor consideration of the

bill. I look forward to working with the Committee on

Homeland Security as the bill moves through the legislative

process.

Sincerely,

Bill Shuster,

Chairman.

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

Mr. Speaker, on September 11, a United Airlines flight was headed towards the Capitol. Thank God those heroes that day brought down that airliner in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and this great building that we are standing in today was not destroyed with an image I don't think the American people could accept.

However, those terrorists are exploiting these drones. We have seen them in Iraq and Syria with explosives and chemical weapons. We have also disrupted plots for the use of drones against both the Pentagon and the United States Capitol. A drone, unlike an airplane, could hit the United States Capitol very quickly. We need to give the Department the tools and the authorities necessary to protect our American institutions.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.