Floor Statements

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because we finally have the opportunity to secure our borders once and for all.

Before coming to Congress, I was a counterterrorism prosecutor in the Justice Department. I saw the threats along our border firsthand.

After getting elected to the House, the very first bill I introduced put an end to this catch-and-release system. Here we are in this Chamber 14 years later, and I am still fighting for it.

Doing nothing should not be an option. As I have said before, it is time for Congress to act. Today, we have an historic opportunity to fix this problem once and for all with the Securing America's Future Act.

Our legislation delivers on the President's four pillars, which I worked closely with him on. It secures the border by building a wall, ends chain migration and the diversity lottery, provides a rational DACA solution, and also deploys new technology and adds boots on the ground.

We must move toward a moral, merit-based system and not a random system.

This legislation also provides, Mr. Speaker, a legal solution that will keep families together when they cross the border illegally.

Our bill brings a generational change that prevents us from revisiting these problems down the road.

But this isn't just about closing loopholes and fixing broken laws. Border security is a national security issue. Violent gangs like MS-13, human traffickers and smugglers sneaking into our country infect our neighborhoods, and too many lives are at risk, and opioids come across the border.

Unfortunately, the threats do not stop there. We know that international terrorists are trying to exploit our border. This was made clear from the materials found in bin Laden's compound and from propaganda outlets like Inspire magazine. The 9/11 Commission report even stated that predecessors to al-Qaida had been exploiting weaknesses in our border security since the 1990s.

In April, Secretary Nielsen testified that ISIS has encouraged its followers to cross our southwest border, given the loopholes that they are also aware of. We must solve this problem, and we must solve it today.

So, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and give the American people the security that they have long demanded and deserve.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to gentlewoman from Arizona (Ms. McSally), the chair of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins), a member of the Homeland Security Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Estes), a member of the Homeland Security Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Lesko), the newest member of the Homeland Security Committee.

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

Let me say, this is a historic opportunity to get something done that we probably haven't gotten done in 25 years. But let me first say that I am a father of five children.

I have been down to the detention centers and seen these kids down there, these babies. From a human standpoint, it is one of the most horrible experiences I have had in my lifetime.

Let me say this, Mr. Speaker: this bill protects our children. It protects our children because it provides a deterrent for them not to come here in the first place. It also keeps families together and doesn't separate them, as current law dictates. Current law dictates this, if we don't change the law.

Let me also add, I talked to the Secretary today and 10,000 of these 12,000 children who are in the detention centers came without their parents. And

who were their guardians: the drug traffickers, the smugglers, and the coyotes, as they made the dangerous journey from Central America all the way up through Mexico and into the United States.

I have seen horrors of that, and this bill will provide the deterrence to stop that from happening because, as we know, they are abused on the way up that journey. They are abused physically and sexually and demoralized and recruited. That has to stop, and, Mr. Speaker, this bill will stop that.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of talk about children. I am the father of five children. This bill will keep families together, not separated, as exists under current law. This bill changes that law so that the Department of Homeland Security can keep family units together.

I talked to the Secretary today. She told me there were 12,000 children in these detention centers. I think it is important that we be transparent with the American people about the facts.

Ten thousand of these children did not come in with their parents. Ten thousand of these children made the dangerous journey through Central America, through Mexico, and up into the United States with their guardian being the coyote, the human smuggler, the human trafficker. During the dangerous journey, many of them were abused and exploited on the way.

I have been to the detention centers, and it is heartbreaking to see these kids. This bill provides a deterrent to stop this.

In sum, Mr. Speaker, this bill protects the children. I was a Federal prosecutor in Texas. I saw the threats coming from the United States southern border: the drug traffickers; the human traffickers; the MS- 13; the opioids we have been talking about all week, precursors coming from China into Mexico, bringing heroin and opioids into the United States, killing thousands of Americans; the violence and the destruction. That is why we need a secure border.

We have been talking about this for a long time on both sides of the aisle. Hillary Clinton talked about: ``We need a secure border.'' Barack Obama talked about: ``We need a secure border.'' Now we have a President who I think is serious about securing our border.

This bill does many things, but it sticks to the four pillars we talked about in the White House: border security, by building a wall barrier system, technology, and personnel; the visa lottery system, a random lottery system, to be more merit based to bring in talent rather than a random system; chain migration is reduced so that it is not just based on family but rather on merit; and then, finally, we provide the solution for DACA. We legalize the DACA kids. We give them legal status to stay in the United States.

I don't understand why my colleagues on the other side of the aisle can't support that.

But what I want to talk about is my role as chairman of Homeland Security, why I think this border protection is so important. This is a map of special-interest aliens' pathway into the United States. Two thousand special-interest aliens are apprehended trying to make their way into the United States every year. Special interest means special- interest countries, coming from the Middle East, from Africa, terror hotspots, coming into our hemisphere and going up into the United States.

The 9/11 Commission talked about this. They said: ``Before 9/11, no agency of the U.S. Government systematically analyzed terrorists' travel strategies. Had they done so, they could have discovered the ways in which the terrorist predecessors to al-Qaida had been systematically but detectably exploiting weaknesses in our border security since the early 1990s.''

Just recently, Secretary Nielsen testified and said: ``We have also seen ISIS, in written materials, encourage ISIS followers to cross our southwest border, given the loopholes that they are aware of.''

We heard from Rear Admiral Hendrickson, the U.S. Southern Command admiral, who said: ``Some of these people''--attempting to cross our borders--``have ties to terrorism, and some have intentions to conduct attacks in the homeland.''

Then a recently declassified CIA report written in 2003 says: Specific information at the time demonstrates al-Qaida's ``ongoing interest to enter the United States over land borders with Mexico and Canada.''

And then the CIA reported: ``Bin Laden apparently sought operatives with valid Mexican passports.''

The Secretary went on to say: `` . . . we are identifying and stopping terror suspects who would otherwise have gone undetected. In fact, on average, my department now blocks 10 known or suspected terrorists a day''--not a year--``from traveling to or attempting to enter the United States.''

I think it is time we get this done. It is my last year as chairman of this committee, and I want to end it with providing the American people the security that they deserve.

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

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

In closing, I know this is an emotional topic, and I think both sides have what they think are the best interests of the American people in their hearts. I feel that the Constitution drives me to protect the American people, and that is my most solemn, highest responsibility.

I want to close with a quote from our Secretary of Homeland Security. She said: ``The only people who benefit from the immigration system right now are the smugglers, the traffickers, those who are peddling drugs, and terrorists. So let's fix the system.''

Mr. Speaker, I agree with her. Let's fix the system. Let's protect the American people.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my committee's bill, the Joint Task Force to Combat Opioid Trafficking Act.

Dangerous narcotics and other synthetic opioids are fueling a drug epidemic that is destroying people's lives.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 115 people die every day from an opioid overdose. Just think about that--115 people every day.

They are not just strangers. They are moms and dads, brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors.

Most of us know someone who has struggled with substance abuse or drug addiction.

We cannot allow these numbers to climb. We have to reverse this dangerous trend. We need to act together now.

I am proud to say that the Committee on Homeland Security has been taking action on this issue.

Recently, President Trump signed our INTERDICT Act. This bill provides CBP with additional funds and resources to screen and detect synthetic opioids at the border.

Today, we held a field hearing in Pennsylvania to review ways to strengthen coordination at the local, state, and federal levels in our fight against drugs.

We are taking many positive steps, but we must do more.

We can start by passing this bill that establishes a Joint Task Force at DHS to prohibit narcotics, such as fentanyl, and others from entering the United States.

It also strengthens partnerships between federal agencies and the private sector.

This is a unifying cause. Stopping the flow of drugs into our country will allow more Americans to follow their dreams and build a bright future.

I would like to thank Congressman Langevin and Congressman Peter King for their leadership and hard work on this issue. And I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Thornberry for yielding me time.

Mr. Chairman, protecting U.S. Government communication networks from foreign adversaries such as China is vital to our national security. I share the concerns of FBI Director Wray, who testified before the Senate. He was deeply concerned about the risk of allowing any company or entity that is beholden to foreign governments that don't share our values to gain positions of power inside our telecommunications networks.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to see that section 880 of the NDAA of FY19 addresses this concern by prohibiting Federal departments and agencies from procuring equipment and services from foreign firms such as ZTE and Huawei. Specifically, ZTE violated U.S. sanctions and then got caught lying about it. After agreeing to discipline their employees, they lied again and, instead, gave those employees a bonus.

Now it appears that we are offering them the same kind of deal. They clearly do not have a record built on trust with the United States Government. This poses significant risks to our Nation's security.

However, this prohibition does not apply to State and local governments, who often rely on Federal grant dollars and play a major role in the protection of our Nations' security, and that is why I have offered this amendment.

My amendment simply extends the prohibition on purchasing ZTE and Huawei products and services to Federal grant money and loans to better safeguard State and local communications networks.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to protect our Nation's communications networks from foreign adversaries and support this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend Dr. Burgess for shepherding this bill through the Energy and Commerce Committee and taking us to the point where we are today on the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, the Childhood Cancer STAR Act. The bill addresses 4 major concerns facing the pediatric cancer community: survivorship, treatment, access, and research.

I was proud to introduce this bill with Ms. Jackie Speier, with G.K. Butterfield, and Mr. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania. This is the most comprehensive childhood cancer bill ever considered before this House. This bill passed the House in 2016, and I encourage the support of all Members today so we can finally send it to the President's desk for his signature. I am proud to say that today is the day. I know a lot of the advocates have been waiting for this day for quite some time.

Childhood cancer, unfortunately, remains the deadliest killer of our children. At some point we, as a Congress and as a Nation, must say enough is enough. In short, the STAR Act elevates and prioritizes the fight against childhood cancer at the NIH. Specifically, STAR places a pediatric oncologist on the board at the National Cancer Institute, so childhood cancer will now have a voice at the table when funding decisions are made.

It also expands opportunities to childhood cancer research, allowing doctors to better understand and track how cancer develops in children. Finally, we must also address the needs of the nearly 500,000 survivors of childhood cancer. Due to their treatments using chemotherapy, a World War I chemical agent, two-thirds of these survivors will face serious, lifelong medical conditions.

When I think about what this means, I think of my friend Sadie Keller. She is perhaps the strongest person I know. Sadie underwent over 2 years of chemotherapy at the age of 7 after being diagnosed with leukemia. She has been, at her young age, perhaps the most relentless advocate for this cause, this bill here on Capitol Hill, and throughout the childhood cancer community.

I just want to refer to this picture of little Sadie and myself when she was going through remission, on the Speaker's balcony, looking out over The Mall, with a vision towards the future, a future where children will no longer have to go through this disease, looking at the dark clouds but the sunlight coming through. That is what this bill represents is sunlight for the children who have been afflicted with this terrible disease.

While now her cancer is in remission, that does not mean her medical challenges are over. We must do more as a Nation to care for these survivors. To that end, the STAR Act will improve collaboration among providers so doctors are better able to care for survivors as they age.

I want to close by thanking Sadie, but I also want to thank people like Danielle Leach and the Alliance for Childhood Cancer team for their relentless advocacy on the Hill and work on this bill. I also want to thank Nancy Goodman and Kids v. Cancer and the entire childhood cancer advocacy community for standing up and getting us to the point where we are today.

They are the voice of these children. They made this event possible here today. And I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart.

I urge passage of this life-altering piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate for H.R. 5099, the Enhancing DHS's Fusion Center Technical Assistance Program Act, 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, May 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. 5099, the

Enhancing DHS' Fusion Center Technical Assistance Program

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.

Enclosure.

H.R. 5099--Enhancing DHS' Fusion Center Technical Assistance Program

Act

As passed by the House of Representatives on March 19, 2018.

H.R. 5099 would modify current laws relating to fusion

centers supported by the Department of Homeland Security

(DHS); those centers facilitate information sharing among

federal, state, and local authorities. The act would direct

DHS to provide technical assistance to and share effective

practices with fusion center participants. Because the

department currently carries out simi1ar activities, CBO

estimates that implementing H.R. 5099 would have no

significant effect on spending by DHS.

Enacting H.R. 5099 would not affect direct spending or

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

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 5099 would not increase

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

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.

H.R. 5099 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. 4569, the Counterterrorism Information Sharing Improvement Act of 2017, 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, May 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. 4569, the

Counterterrorism Information Sharing Improvement Act of 2017.

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.

Enclosure.

H.R. 4569--Counterterrorism Information Sharing Improvement Act of 2017

As passed by the House of Representatives on January 9, 2018

H.R. 4569 would direct the Department of Homeland Security

(DHS) to ensure that it has access to any biographical and

biometric data collected by federal agencies (such as the

Department of Defense) on people associated with terrorist

organizations. Because DHS currently carries out similar

activities, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4569 would

have no significant effect on spending by DHS or other

agencies.

Enacting H.R. 4569 would not affect direct spending or

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

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4569 would not increase

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

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.

H.R. 4569 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 rise today to urge support for my bill to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its continued human rights violations.

I introduced the Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act with Congressman Deutch, and I am grateful for Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel's support in this effort.

The Iranian regime continues to perpetrate gross human rights abuses against its own people. They continue to suppress and censor their people's calls for democratic reform. They recklessly use their nation's resources to expand their destabilizing influence and support of terrorism. They continue to engage in corrupt practices, and they continue to illegally detain and imprison our citizens without just cause. This is simply unacceptable.

Mr. Speaker, this bill serves as a clear signal to the people of Iran that we support their quest for freedom. It shines a light on the regime's human rights violations and targets Iranian officials guilty of corruption, censorship, and the diversion of goods intended for the Iranian people. It requires the President to work with our international partners to develop a strategy to end this inhumane behavior and sanctions those officials complicit in those crimes. Finally, it sanctions those individuals who take Americans hostage.

Mr. Speaker, today, there are more than six American citizens and permanent U.S. residents held by the Iranian regime in a shameful attempt to use innocent human lives as political bargaining chips. These hostages include: Bob Levinson, Congressman Deutch's constituent, who has been missing since 2007 and remains America's longest held hostage; Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father, Baquer, held since 2015 and 2016, respectively; Ph.D. student, Xiyue Wang, held since 2017; internet freedom activist, Nizar Zakka, held since 2016; and others.

The United States has a moral responsibility to devote resources to these hostages and make their return a priority. I sent a letter with Congressman Lieu and 46 other Members of Congress requesting that the administration keep Congress informed as to what steps they are taking to guarantee this happens.

So, again, I thank the chairman and ranking member, Congressman Deutch, for their leadership on this bipartisan effort to hold Iran accountable.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the letter dated April 23, 2018.

Congress of the United States,

Washington, DC, April 23, 2018.

Hon. John J. Sullivan,

Acting Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State,

Washington, DC.

Dear Acting Secretary Sullivan: We write to request

information regarding the Administration's efforts to secure

the release of American citizens and permanent U.S. residents

held hostage by the government of Iran.

As you know, Iran has a long history of unjustly holding

hostages in violation of international law dating back to

1979. Over the years, the Iranian regime has arrested dozens

of foreigners on spurious charges and convicted them in sham

trials held in secretive courts. Many of the detained

American citizens and permanent residents are also held in

deplorable conditions, where they experience severe health

and psychological issues.

Today, there are more than six American citizens and

permanent U.S. residents held by the Iranian regime in a

shameful attempt to use innocent human lives as political

bargaining chips. These hostages include Bob Levinson, who

has been missing since 2007 and remains America's longest-

held hostage; Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father

Baquer, held since 2015 and 2016, respectively; PhD student

Xiyue Wang, held since 2016; internet freedom activist Nizar

Zakka, held since 2016; and others. The United States has a

moral responsibility to devote resources to these hostages

and make their return a priority.

This past month, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed

H.R. 4744, the Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking

Accountability Act, to increase U.S. leverage by levying new

sanctions on those responsible for detaining U.S. citizens or

legal permanent respondents in Iran. But more sticks must be

complemented with a coordinated diplomatic effort with our

allies.

According to media reports, the State Department has

increased efforts in recent months to secure the release of

these hostages, including outreach to the Iranian regime in

December 2017 that has gone unanswered. On April 6, 2018, the

Department outlined efforts that have been undertaken in a

report to Congress pursuant to Section 110 of the Countering

America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. We request that

the Department provide some additional details to Congress.

Specifically, please provide answers to the following

questions in either written responses or a briefing:

1. How has Iran responded to the various lines of effort

made by the U.S., as detailed in the April 6 report to

Congress, to raise the detention cases?

2. According to a June 20, 2017, article from the

Washington Post, two senior officials from the Trump

administration stated a range of options were being

considered, which included ``sticks more than carrots.'' What

specific tools are being considered to secure the release of

detained Americans and permanent U.S. residents?

3. Does the Administration require any new authorities from

Congress to utilize these tools?

4. What is the Administration's strategy for

disincentivizing and deterring foreign

governments, particularly Iran, from taking Americans and

permanent U.S. residents hostage in the future?

Thank you for your attention to this important issue.

Sincerely,

Ted W. Lieu, Member of Congress; Michael McCaul, Member of

Congress; Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Member of Congress; Ted

Deutch, Member of Congress; James P. McGovern, Member of

Congress; Brian Fitzpatrick, Member of Congress; Donald M.

Payne, Jr., Member of Congress; Randy Hultgren, Member of

Congress; Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Member of Congress;

Jerrold Nadler, Member of Congress; Steve Cohen, Member of

Congress; Bobby L. Rush, Member of Congress; David N.

Cicilline, Member of Congress; Nita M. Lowey, Member of

Congress; Jose E. Serrano, Member of Congress.

Daniel W. Lipinski, Member of Congress; Joe Wilson, Member

of Congress; Peter King, Member of Congress; Francis Rooney,

Member of Congress; Mark Meadows, Member of Congress; Adriano

Espaillat, Member of Congress; Brad Sherman, Member of

Congress; Eleanor Holmes Norton, Member of Congress; Lee

Zeldin, Member of Congress; Steve Chabot, Member of

Congress; Paul Cook, Member of Congress; Eliot Engel,

Member of Congress; Ted Poe, Member of Congress; Bradley

S. Schneider, Member of Congress; Grace Meng, Member of

Congress.

Tom Suozzi, Member of Congress; Pete Sessions, Member of

Congress; Albio Sires, Member of Congress; Frank Pallone,

Jr., Member of Congress; Thomas A. Garrett, Jr., Member of

Congress; John Ratcliffe, Member of Congress; Josh

Gottheimer, Member of Congress; Lois Frankel, Member of

Congress; Derek Kilmer, Member of Congress; Patrick Meehan,

Member of Congress; Leonard Lance, Member of Congress; Randy

Weber, Member of Congress; Bill Johnson, Member of Congress;

David P. Joyce, Member of Congress; Adam Kinzinger, Member of

Congress; Elise Stefanik, Member of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following cost estimate for H.R. 5089, Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2018, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, which was not made available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, March 26, 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. 5089, the

Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities 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. 5089--Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act

of 2018

As passed by the House of Representatives on March 22, 2018

Mr. Speaker, over this last month, my hometown of Austin, Texas, was terrorized by a serial bomber, a serial killer. Mr. Speaker, fortunately, this nightmare that my hometown of Austin has lived through has come to an end, and now is the time to heal the wounds for the victims and their families.

I want to thank the 500 Federal agents who descended upon my hometown of Austin for their great work and magnificent job working with my Texas Department of Public Safety and my Austin Police Department--many of whom I have worked with when I was in the U.S. Attorney's Office down there--for their incredible work bringing this killer to his final justice.

Mr. Speaker, I now ask for a moment of silence for the victims and their families of this horrible tragedy.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following cost estimate for H.R. 4176, the Air Cargo Security Improvement Act of 2018, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, which was not made available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, March 20, 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. 4176, the Air

Cargo Security Improvement 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. 4176--Air Cargo Security Improvement Act of 2018

As passed by the House of Representatives on March 19, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following cost estimate for H.R. 4227, the Vehicular Terrorism Prevention 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, March 20, 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. 4227, the

Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act of 2018.

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

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Robert

Reese.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall, Director.

Enclosure.

H.R. 4227--Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act of 2018

As reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security on March 19,

2018

H.R. 4227 would direct the Department of Homeland Security

(DHS) to assess its current activities related to supporting

emergency response providers and the private sector in

preventing, mitigating, and responding to vehicular

terrorism. Following that assessment, DHS would be required

to develop and submit to the Congress a strategy to improve

its efforts.

Using information from DHS on the effort required to

complete the assessment and strategy, CBO estimates that

implementing H.R. 4227 would have no significant effect on

the federal budget.

Enacting H.R. 4227 would not affect direct spending or

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

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4227 would not increase

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

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.

H.R. 4227 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector

mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Robert Reese.

The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy

Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate for H.R. 4467, the Strengthening Aviation Security Act of 2018, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, which was not made available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, March 20, 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. 4467, the

Strengthening Aviation Security 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. 4467--Strengthening Aviation Security Act of 2018

As reported by the House Committee Homeland Security on March 19, 2018

The Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS), part of the

Transportation Security Administration (TSA), promotes the

safety of the U.S. aviation system, particularly by

protecting airline passengers and crewmembers against the

risk of criminal and terrorist violence. H.R. 4467 would

require FAMS to use a risk-based strategy when allocating

resources between international and domestic flights, and to

report to the Congress on its compliance with that

requirement.

Using information from TSA, CBO estimates that implementing

H.R. 4467 would not significantly affect the federal budget.

Because the bill's requirements are consistent with existing

administrative policy,

CBO expects that any change in federal costs to meet them

would be negligible. Such spending would be subject to

appropriation.

Enacting H.R. 4467 would not affect direct spending or

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

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4467 would not increase

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

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.

H.R. 4467 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 approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy

Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following cost estimate for H.R. 5131, the Surface Transportation Security Improvement Act of 2018, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, which was not made available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, March 20, 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. 5131, the

Surface Transportation Security Improvement 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. 5131--Surface Transportation Security Improvement Act of 2018

As reported by the House Committee Homeland Security on March 19, 2018

H.R. 5131 would require the Transportation Security

Administration (TSA) to complete a variety of reports,

analyses, and other administrative activities aimed at

promoting the security of surface transportation systems. The

bill also would require the Government Accountability Office

(GAO) to review the status of certain existing efforts

related to surface transportation security. Under current

law, TSA oversees, regulates, and coordinates with operators

of surface transportation systems to safeguard those systems.

CBO estimates that imple1nenting H.R. 5131 would not

significantly affect the federal budget. Some of the bill's

provisions would require TSA to expand existing efforts, but

using information from the agency, CBO expects that any

increase in federal spending (including costs incurred by

GAO) under the bill would total less than $500,000. Such

spending would be subject to appropriation.

Enacting H.R. 5131 would not affect direct spending or

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

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 5131 would not increase

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

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.

H.R. 5131 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 approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy

Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following cost estimate for H.R. 5081, the Surface Transportation Security and Technology Accountability Act of 2018, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, which was not made available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, March 20, 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. 5081, the

Surface Transportation Security and Technology Accountability

Act of 2018.

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

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Megan

Carroll.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall, Director

Enclosure.

H.R. 5081--Surface Transportation Security and Technology

Accountability Act of 2018

As reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security on March 19,

2018

H.R. 5081 would direct the Administrator of the

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to establish a

Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee. The bill

would specify details related to the composition and

responsibilities of that committee, and it would require TSA

to consult the committee when developing the agency's plan

for making investments in security-related technology.

Using information from the agency about the costs of

similar activities, CBO expects

that any increased costs to establish and support the

proposed advisory committee would not exceed $500,000

annually. Such spending would be subject to appropriation.

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. 5081 would not increase

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

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.

H.R. 5081 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 approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy

Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.