Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6742) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to ensure that appropriate officers and agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection are equipped with secure radios or other two-way communication devices, supported by system interoperability, 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 the Secure Border Communications Act.

Every day our CBP agents and officers serve on the front lines in the fight to secure our homeland. They face threats from armed drug cartels, dangerous gangs like MS-13, human traffickers, and potential terrorists.

These brave individuals take pride in serving with vigilance, integrity, and professionalism in order to keep us safe.

To be successful, however, they must be equipped with the tools they need to do their jobs well. Too often, the communications devices and radios used by CBP officers and other agents are outdated and unreliable.

For instance, Border Patrol agents patrolling on the ground may not have direct radio contact with CBP air assets or other law enforcement officers working the area. This hinders interagency communications and jeopardizes their mission and safety.

At a subcommittee hearing earlier this year, a Border Patrol agent stated that she had been issued a radio that often failed. At times, she would need to communicate with a fellow agent but was forced to use her personal cell phone.

We cannot allow these kinds of technical failures to endanger the lives of our agents and weaken our national security. We must do better.

Fortunately, we can begin to fix this problem today. This legislation will ensure that CBP agents and officers are equipped with interoperable and secure radios or two-way communication devices.

In addition, this bill highlights the importance of reliable encrypted communications that will prevent powerful cartels from intercepting sensitive information, such as our CBP agents' and officers' locations.

Passing this bill is a simple step that we can take to help our CBP agents do their jobs and protect our homeland.

I would like to thank Congressman Mast for all his hard work on this issue. Congressman Mast is no stranger to service and sacrifice, serving overseas in our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and he has the scars to prove it. We thank him for his service. It is a great honor to have him sponsor a bill from our committee.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time

Committee on Ways and Means,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC, September 24, 2018.

Hon. Michael T. McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman McCaul: I write to you regarding H.R. 6742,

the ``Secure Border Communications Act'', on which the

Committee on Ways and Means was granted an additional

referral.

As a result of your having consulted with us on provisions

in H.R. 6742 that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the

Committee on Ways and Means, I agree to waive formal

consideration of this bill. The Committee on Ways and Means

takes this action with the mutual understanding that we do

not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained

in this or similar legislation, and the Committee will be

appropriately consulted and involved as the bill or similar

legislation moves forward so that we may address any

remaining issues that fall within our jurisdiction. The

Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an

appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate

conference involving this or similar legislation, and

requests your support for such request.

I would appreciate your response confirming this

understanding with respect to H.R. 6742 and ask that a copy

of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the

Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the

House floor.

Sincerely,

Kevin Brady,

Chairman.

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

Mr. Speaker, this ensures that not only are communication devices operable but that they are interoperable between agents down on the border risking their lives day in and day out.

I can't thank them enough. I have been down to the border so many times, and I see the harsh conditions that they operate under. I just want to send a message of gratitude from the United States Congress and our Committee on Homeland Security, and thank them for the work that they do tirelessly. Honestly, I think we don't thank them enough for what they do.

The encryption issue is vitally important because the drug cartels are getting so sophisticated that they can pick up communications of our law enforcement. This bill will go a long way to help protect those communications and make sure that they can do their job in a more safe and efficient manner in protecting the American public.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act to help protect our homeland from the world's most dangerous weapons.

Yesterday, we observed the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. On that day in 2001, 19 Islamist terrorists turned airplanes into cruise missiles and crashed them into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Had it not been for the heroic passengers on United Airlines flight 93, this very building, the Capitol, could have been destroyed.

Almost 3,000 innocent people were killed and thousands more injured. It was the most devastating attack on our homeland in our Nation's history, targeting our military, economic, and political symbols of power.

While attending a memorial service at the Pentagon yesterday, many of us remembered the images from 9/11 and they returned to me: the towers falling, the Pentagon on fire, and our brave first responders running into

harm's way to save their fellow citizens.

I also remembered that in the aftermath of the attack, we pledged to never forget: never forget the pain we felt, never forget the victims, and never forget that our enemies will search for new ways to attack our country.

Today, the most serious threats to our national security come from biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons. Over the last few decades, North Korea has been developing nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles to deliver them.

The terror-sponsoring regime in Iran has also been building a nuclear program, and Bashar al-Assad's evil dictatorship in Syria has used chemical weapons to kill innocent civilians, including women and children.

Russia recently used a chemical weapon in an assassination attempt in Great Britain, and reports of terror groups like al-Qaida have been in pursuit of weapons of mass destruction for many, many years.

These weapons are real and lethal. A WMD attack in the United States could kill millions of people and bring economic mayhem. We cannot allow these weapons to be used on our soil.

To prevent this from happening, we must give the Department of Homeland Security the authority it needs to counter the threat. This legislation will consolidate the Office of Health Affairs and the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, along with other department programs, into a Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.

I personally talked to the Secretary who strongly supports this legislation. I believe DHS is making good progress in this direction, but this legislation will ensure that they have the necessary authorities to counter these dangerous threats.

This is an opportunity, I believe, for both parties on the day after 9/11--both Republican and Democrat, as we do so many times on this committee--to come together and pass legislation that will strengthen our homeland.

I would like to thank Congressman Donovan from New York, where this awful, tragic event happened 17 years ago, for all of his hard work on this issue, and Congressman Payne, who has always been a team player, if you will, on the other side of the aisle, for working together to get good things done for the country which will better protect the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 394.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my bill, the Embassy Security Authorization Act.

Embassies are really the physical representation of the United States abroad. An American Embassy is the means in which the United States conducts its foreign policy and advances our interests around the world. Therefore, protecting our embassies and diplomats should be our number one priority. That is why my bill authorizes over $2.3 billion for embassy security.

If enacted into law, this would be the first embassy security authorization in 15 years. Furthermore, my bill makes critical reforms in how we build future embassies and think about our security.

In 1998, we had to reassess our embassy security when terrorists, at the direction of Osama bin Laden, bombed U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing over 220 people and injuring 4,000 more. In retrospect, these attacks foreshadowed bin Laden's intentions to attack America. At the time, it forced us to reassess how we go about building our embassies and consulates.

A year later, Congress adopted a standard embassy design for our missions abroad. This design improved security, expedited construction, and saved money. However, recently, we have deviated from the standard embassy design in favor of projects prioritizing aesthetics.

Our embassies constantly face threats from hostile actors, even in friendly and allied countries. Our embassies are extensions of the homeland, and we must treat them as such. To that end, my bill would require the State Department to provide Congress with justification should an embassy or consulate project not use a standard design.

While I appreciate the goal of displaying American might through a striking embassy design, we must prevent a repeat of Kenya and Tanzania. My bill, with the $2.3 billion authorization and standard design reforms, is a good step forward towards achieving that balance.

Mr. Speaker, I want to again thank Ms. Kelly for her leadership on this issue, as well as Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their work on this important piece of legislation.

I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6439) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish in the Department of Homeland Security the Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program, and for other purposes.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my legislation to help protect the American people and keep our homeland safe.

We are only 1 week out from the 17th anniversary of 9/11, and a lot has changed since those four horrifying attacks, but one thing remains the same: America's enemies are always looking for new ways to sneak into our country.

Today, many special interest aliens and other nefarious actors, including potential terrorists, are exploiting illicit pathways throughout Central and South America, racing towards the border.

To combat this threat, we need to leverage our international partnerships and use advanced technology to our advantage. One of the best tools we have is ICE's Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program, otherwise known as BITMAP. BITMAP was created in 2011 by the Obama administration and is utilized on five different continents.

Through this program, trained and vetted law enforcement officers collect biometric and biographic data on potentially dangerous individuals traveling through their country. The collected data is then shared with American law enforcement, the Department of Defense, and intelligence agencies. This vital information helps us enrich our databases, map illicit pathways, exploit networks, and learn about individuals looking to bring harm.

In the last few years, BITMAP has identified several hundred known or suspected terrorists. Top national security officials from DOD and DHS have testified to its success. For example, former Acting Director of ICE, Thomas Homan, told me at a recent hearing: ``People that were known terrorists had been turned around in Panama and sent back before reaching our shores. . . .'' BITMAP ``has already proven successful.'' And that is according to the former Director of ICE.

BITMAP does not just ID suspected terrorists, however. It also identifies drug smugglers, sex offenders, murderers, child predators, gang members like MS-13, and people with active warrants and other dangerous backgrounds.

My bill will enhance American and foreign law enforcement's ability to keep our citizens safe by identifying threats at the earliest possible stage. Simply put, it will help stop dangerous individuals who want to bring harm to the American people.

Threats to America, whether through terrorism, human trafficking, or deadly opioids, continue to grow, and we must do everything we can to stop them.

I am proud this legislation passed out of our committee with bipartisan support, and I want to thank Congressman Bill Keating for all of his work on this issue.

Passing this important legislation through the House is a simple step we can take to make our homeland more secure, and I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I have tremendous respect for the gentleman from Mississippi, but I do have to respectfully disagree with some of his assertions. First of all, this program, BITMAP, was started 7 years ago under the Obama administration. And over the last 7 years, we have obtained sufficient data that would verify the success of the program.

In fact, I can't get into the classified nature of the program. Suffice it to say that we stopped hundreds of known or suspected terrorists from entering the United States under this tried-and-true program.

The Secretary testified before our committee that, on average, 19 known or suspected terrorists try to enter the United States every day. Our solemn obligation is to protect the American people from the threats that we see outside of the United States and do everything we can to stop them from getting into the United States.

What the 9/11 Commission talked about in its report about travel and keeping bad people and bad things out of the United States, is the reason this committee was formed in the first place. And we have heard the stories about ISIS in written materials encouraging followers to cross our southwest border. We talked about the 9/11 Commission. We talked about terrorists' travel strategies. This is one of those strategies, one of those programs that I believe the 9/11 Commission was talking about.

Why not use the best technology we have and use biometrics to identify known or suspected terrorists, MS-13 gang members, child predators, opioid traffickers, all of the bad stuff that can come into this country. When Border Patrol tells me we only know 50 percent of what is coming into the country, why would we not want to use the most innovative technology so that when someone enters this hemisphere under one name and gets up to the Mexico border under another name--just like in the Mollie Tibbetts' killing, slaying, where someone came into the country and changed their identity. This stops the changing of identity up the road into the United States.

Why? Biometrics don't lie. You are who you are. And we know who they are through the great, best technology we have available today. So I believe that being opposed to this legislation really puts the American people at harm.

I hope I am wrong in saying this, because I never want politics to enter this committee: National security should never be political. The terrorists don't check our partisan affiliation. But my concern is that because ICE is in this bill, we are drawing opposition.

Madam Speaker, this is one of the best programs that ICE administers, created under the Obama administration. It deserves and it has earned to be fully authorized by the United States Congress, and I ask that all of my colleagues support this measure.

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

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6459) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require a strategy to diversify the technology stakeholder marketplace regarding the acquisition by the Transportation Security Administration of security screening technologies, and for other purposes.

Madam 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.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6459, the TSA Opportunities to Pursue Expanded Networks for Business Act, also known as the TSA OPEN for Business Act, sponsored by the ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Mr. Thompson.

This bipartisan legislation seeks to improve how TSA partners with the private sector to offer innovative technologies for passenger screening. In particular, this bill aims to bolster access for small businesses to TSA's acquisition process and better serve the public.

Specifically, this bill directs the TSA administrator to develop a strategy to diversify the stakeholder marketplace used to acquire advanced security technologies. This strategy must include plans to assist small businesses with navigating the agency's acquisitions and procurement processes, which are often overly bureaucratic.

Additionally, the bill will help establish public-private partnerships that will direct venture capital toward emerging, promising technologies.

Madam Speaker, our airline industry still remains the crown jewel of targets for international terrorists. The public deserves to have the best security in place throughout America's transportation and aviation sector, and it is incumbent upon the TSA to create a streamlined way of identifying and deploying advanced security technologies.

Since its creation, TSA has struggled to expand participation by small businesses and direct resources towards promising technologies. Ranking Member Thompson's legislation reduces bureaucratic hurdles, while promoting private sector innovation.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member for introducing this excellent legislation, as well as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security, Mr. Katko, for his leadership on this issue.

This legislation offers a bipartisan approach to improving opportunities for small businesses seeking to partner with TSA, and improves the security of our Nation's transportation systems.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, in closing, I thank Ranking Member Thompson for bringing this legislation.

When a lot of people look at TSA, they look at the lines and the screening that takes place. Sometimes I often think they don't get the respect that they deserve.

TSA does a lot more than screening at airports. It screens overseas; it has intelligence leads to stop terrorists from coming into the country; and, most importantly, it stops terrorists with the latest threat that we have that I can say publicly now: turning laptops into bombs and toxic gas. That is a threat that keeps me up at night with U.S.-bound passengers from airports like Istanbul, Cairo, and Riyadh into JFK Airport and other airports, but also domestic flights. It is important that we pass this bill that the ranking member introduced to make sure that TSA has the best technology available to stop that threat.

I am proud to say that we have worked in a bipartisan fashion to ensure that the moneys have been appropriated to buy these new technologies and new machines that outdated technology cannot see or screen but the updated technology can. We owe it to the American people to deploy this new technology as soon and quickly as possible, given the immediate threat to the United States and the airline sector.

Madam Speaker, I think this is an excellent bill. I fully support it, and I urge my colleagues to support it as well.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, the Energy Diplomacy Act. Across the globe, our friends and allies want a stable and reliable supply of American energy. America, in turn, must actively engage our friends and allies to provide alternatives to energy from rogue regimes.

Look what is happening in Europe. For over a decade, Russia has used their natural gas pipelines flowing into Eastern and Central Europe as a point of leverage over these countries. Ukraine has been most affected, with Russia turning off their natural gas supply in the winter of 2008 and during the annexation of Crimea in 2014. By twisting a knob and turning off Ukrainian heat, they were able to exert an outsized amount of influence on Ukraine.

Now, Russia's proposed Nord Stream II pipeline with Germany further threatens to expand Russia's energy influence throughout Eastern and Central Europe.

Make no mistake: Russia is a destabilizing regime that constantly exploits the vulnerabilities posed by Europe's reliance on their natural gas. The United States must be involved to curb this influence.

Over the past decade, the United States has reduced our reliance on foreign sources of energy in order to achieve energy independence. As a result, we are now exporting energy abroad, including from my home State of Texas. In fact, in 2015, I helped champion the repeal of the outdated crude oil export ban. Now, U.S. producers are finding new customers in both Asia and Europe.

That is why I authored the Energy Diplomacy Act. It elevates the Bureau of Energy Resources at the State Department. It replaces the International Energy Affairs Coordinator with an Assistant Secretary. This Assistant Secretary will carry out the State Department's functions on behalf of the United States.

It also ensures the State Department is staffed with sufficient personnel to support this mission. This will empower the State Department to promote and advance a bold U.S. energy diplomacy policy.

As energy-rich adversaries expand their malign influence and our allies continue to purchase from such states, the United States must project strong energy diplomacy now more than ever.

It is not just Russia with whom we are contending. One of Iran's main goals in negotiating their nuclear deal was to open up their energy markets to more foreign investment and to expand their oil exports globally.

Since the U.S. departed from the JCPOA, our European allies and our strategic partner India are deciding between complying with United States sanctions or ignoring them and buying Iranian oil.

We also need our diplomats on the front lines promoting reliable American energy.

These two circumstances underscore the need for an Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources to project U.S. energy diplomacy throughout the world.

I want to thank Chairman Royce for his leadership, as well as Ranking Member Engel, an original cosponsor of my bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the men and women of ICE who courageously serve our country every single day.

Recently, ICE agents have been the targets of vicious name-calling and partisan attacks. Some have even described ICE as a terrorist organization. To make matters worse, some politicians in Washington are now calling on Congress to abolish ICE.

But just last year, Mr. Speaker, an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the House, including Leader Pelosi, voted to authorize ICE into law for the first time. This kind of dishonest double standard is politics at its worst.

Abolishing ICE is a reckless and dangerous idea that jeopardizes the safety of American communities.

ICE was originally formed after 9/11 to help secure our homeland.

When I was a Federal prosecutor with the Joint Terrorism Task Force, ICE was instrumental in deporting potential terrorists on immigration violations. Today, ICE agents stop drug smugglers, murderers, human traffickers, and dangerous gangs like MS-13 along our border.

In 2017 alone, ICE agents stopped almost 1 million pounds of narcotics, including opioids, from entering our country. This included 7,000 pounds of heroin and 2,400 pounds of fentanyl. They arrested nearly 5,000 gang members and identified or rescued over 500 victims of trafficking.

These are not just hollow statistics. These numbers represent the great work and positive impact that ICE has on people's lives.

John Kennedy, the great President, a Democrat, talked about profiles in courage. I would argue a ``present'' vote is hardly a profile in courage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill, the Protecting Diplomats from Surveillance Through Consumer Devices Act.

Earlier this year, a private sector analysis revealed the risks of using wearable technologies, such as Fitbits and Apple Watches, which use GPS tracking. As the report stated, researchers were able to track the movements of the deployed troops in overseas locations.

This, obviously, poses an enormous national security risk for our soldiers serving abroad. Enemies could track patrol routes or discover the locations of secret foreign installments.

This exposure puts our diplomats at risk as well. We have men and women engaging in diplomatic efforts all over the world, often in sensitive and high-risk areas. We must not make it easier for our enemies to track their movements.

As such, our bill requires the Department of State to establish a policy on use of location-tracking devices by diplomats at U.S. facilities around the world.

As the chairman said, many of us here have been to these hot spots-- Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, Tunisia. I got briefed by the Libyan team in exile after Benghazi. And they deserve to be protected. This bill will do just that.

I would like to thank my good friend Congressman Castro for his friendship and leadership on this issue, as well as Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel on this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the professional achievements and service of my go-to border security guy and friend, Mr. Paul Anstine.

Paul has a long history of putting his country first. He served over seven years as a United States Marine, completing two tours in Iraq. But his service did not end there.

Paul found his way to the House of Representatives in 2007 with a determination to make this country safe from those who seek to do us harm. Paul spent the past eleven and a half years working in the halls of Congress, starting as a scheduler for my former colleague, Candice Miller of Michigan. Paul eventually worked his way up to become the Staff Director for the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, also known as BMS, a position which he has masterfully held for the past seven and a half years.

Paul's role as Staff Director transcended beyond his leadership in conducting oversight of the Department of Homeland Security and crafting thoughtful, pragmatic legislative solutions. Paul's positive demeanor, data-driven mindset, and work ethic made his presence not only a valued component of the committee but also in my day-to-day role as Chairman. Paul served as a subject matter expert, confidant, and trusted senior advisor whose counsel I always held in the highest regard.

His expertise helped to inform new Committee members and elevate discussions at briefings and hearings. Paul's talents were most notably on display in his role crafting countless border and maritime security bills. Paul was also the lead author for over ten bills that were signed into law, including the first ever authorization of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the critical Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Prevention Act. During his tenure, he also coordinated numerous trips overseas and to the southwest border where he provided contextual information and expert analysis of the complex situation at the border to Members and Congressional staff.

Paul has left an outstanding legacy on the Committee especially with Steven Giaier, Jason Miller, Chad Carlough, Matt Coughlin, Keith Robinson, Mary Rose Rooney, Kris Ensley, Emily Trapani, Kris Carlson, Steve Roth, and Matthew Fournier, who he affectionately refers to as ``Team BMS''. Paul's quick wit, political savvy, and ability to see humor in all things will be missed profoundly.

Today, I am honored to be able to put the spotlight on him. I am hopeful that Paul's next chapter will allow him to spend more time with his wife, Rosella, and his two young boys, Alexander and Lucas. I know Paul's friendship and counsel will remain constant, and that his service to this Nation does not end here.

I thank Paul for everything, and I am excited to see what he will accomplish next.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate H.R. 5730, the Transportation Security Technology Innovation Reform Act of 2018, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office was not made available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, June 28, 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. 5730, the

Transportation Security Technology Innovation Reform 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. 5730--Transportation Security Technology Innovation Reform Act of

2018

As reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security on June 22,

2018

H.R. 5730 would require the Transportation Security

Administration (TSA) to develop programs to test and evaluate

advanced screening technologies related to the agency's

mission. Using information from TSA, CBO expects that meeting

the bill's requirements would not add significantly to the

cost of existing and similar activities related to

transportation security. CBO estimates that any change in

federal spending under the bill--which would be subject to

appropriation--would total less than $500,000 annually.

Enacting H.R. 5730 would not affect direct spending or

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

CBO estimates that H.R. 5730 would not increase net direct

spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive

10-year periods beginning in 2029.

H.R. 5730 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.

This estimate was reviewed by Theresa Gullo, Assistant

Director for Budget Analysis.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate for H.R. 5206, the Office of Biometric Identity Management Authorization Act of 2018; and the cost estimate for H.R. 5207, the Immigration Advisory Program Authorization Act of 2018, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office were not made available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative reports.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, June 28, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of

Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

reviewed the following bills that were reported by the House

Committee on Homeland Security on June 21, 2018:

H.R. 5206, the Office of Biometric Identity Management

Authorization Act of 2018; and

H.R. 5207, the Immigration Advisory Program Authorization

Act of 2018.

Both H.R. 5206, and H.R. 5207 would codify programs that

currently exist at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

CBO estimates that enacting the bills would not significantly

affect DHS spending. Because they would not affect direct

spending or revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

CBO estimates that enacting the bills would not increase

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

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.

Neither of the bills contain intergovernmental or private-

sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform

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.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate for H.R. 4991, the Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act; H.R. 4627, the Shielding Public Spaces from Vehicular Terrorism Act; and H.R. 5762, the Joint Task Force to Combat Opioid Trafficking Act of 2018, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office was not made available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office

Washington, DC, June 28, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

reviewed the following pieces of legislation that were passed

by the House of Representatives on June 19, 2018:

H.R. 4991, the Supporting Research and Development for

First Responders Act;

H.R. 4627, the Shielding Public Spaces from Vehicular

Terrorism Act; and

H.R. 5762, the Joint Task Force to Combat Opioid

Trafficking Act of 2018.

H.R. 4991 would codify programs that currently exist at the

Department of Homeland Security (DHS). H.R. 4627 would

confirm the authority of DHS to establish a task force to

disrupt drug trafficking, and H.R. 5762 would clarify the

scope of the department's research and development program.

CBO estimates that enacting these pieces of legislation

would not significantly affect DHS spending. Because the

legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues,

pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

CBO estimates that enacting the acts 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.

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.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate for H.R. 5766, the Securing Public areas of Transportation Facilities Act of 2018, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office was not made available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, June 28, 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. 5766, the

Securing Public Areas of Transportation Facilities Act of

2018.

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

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Megan

Carroll.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall, Director.

Enclosure.

H.R. 5766--Securing Public Areas of Transportation Facilities Act of

2018

As reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security on June 22,

2018

summary

H.R. 5766 would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security

to establish a working group to develop, in collaboration

with public and private stakeholders, recommendations for

enhancing the security of public areas of transportation

facilities. The bill also would authorize the secretary to

provide technical assistance to owners and operators of

surface transportation systems and facilities and specify a

variety of administrative and reporting requirements.

Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO

estimates that implementing H.R. 5766 would cost $23 million

over the 2019-2022 period. Enacting the bill would not affect

direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go

procedures do not apply.

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 5766 would not increase

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

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.

H.R. 5766 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector

mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

(UMRA).

estimated cost to the federal government

The estimated budgetary effect of H.R. 5766 is shown in the

following table. The costs of the legislation fall within

budget function 400 (transportation).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate for H.R. 5729, the Transportation Worker Identification Credential Accountability Act of 2018, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office was not made available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, June 28,

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. 5729, the

Transportation Worker Identification Credential

Accountability Act of 2018.

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

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Megan

Carroll.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall, Director.

Enclosure.

H.R. 5729--Transportation Worker Identification Credential

Accountability Act of 2018

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

6, 2018

H.R. 5729 would prohibit the U.S. Coast Guard from

implementing a rule that, under current law, will take effect

on August 23, 2018. The rule requires owners and operators of

certain vessels and facilities regulated by the Coast Guard

to check biometric security credentials allowing access to

certain secure areas. H.R. 5729 would suspend implementation

of the rule until 60 days after the Secretary of Homeland

Security has reported to the Congress on the efficacy of such

credentials for enhancing security. The bill also would

require the Secretary to periodically update the Congress on

the status of that assessment.

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 5729 would not

significantly affect the federal budget. Delaying

implementation of the affected rule would not alter the

timing or magnitude of cash flows related to federally issued

credentials nor would it significantly affect the Coast

Guard's administrative costs, which are subject to

appropriation. The Department of Homeland Security is already

required to complete an assessment related to the

effectiveness of credentials issued to transportation

workers.

Enacting H.R. 5729 would not affect direct spending or

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

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 5729 would not increase

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

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.

H.R. 5729 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 Leo Lex, Deputy Assistant

Director for Budget Analysis.