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SUPPORTING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR FIRST RESPONDERS ACT
Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1850) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 relating to the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1850
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL URBAN SECURITY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY.
(a) In General.--Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 322. NATIONAL URBAN SECURITY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, shall designate the laboratory described in subsection (b) as an additional laboratory pursuant to the authority under section 308(c)(2). Such laboratory shall be used to test and evaluate emerging technologies and conduct research and development to assist emergency response providers in preparing for, and protecting against, threats of terrorism.
``(b) Laboratory Described.--The laboratory described in this subsection is the laboratory--
``(1) known, as of the date of the enactment of this section, as the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory; and
``(2) transferred to the Department pursuant to section 303(1)(E).
``(c) Laboratory Activities.--The National Urban Security Technology Laboratory shall--
``(1) conduct tests, evaluations, and assessments of current and emerging technologies, including, as appropriate, the cybersecurity of such technologies that can connect to the internet, for emergency response providers;
``(2) act as a technical advisor to emergency response providers; and
``(3) carry out other such activities as the Secretary determines appropriate.
``(d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed as affecting in any manner the authorities or responsibilities of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office of the Department.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 321 the following new item:
``Sec. 322. National Urban Security Technology Laboratory.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Katko) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
General Leave
Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from New York?
There was no objection.
Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1850, the Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act.
First responders across the Nation are facing unprecedented challenges. Over the past year, the unrelenting demands of COVID-19 have placed great strain on our hometown heroes. In the West, first responders have had the added challenge of battling devastating wildfires; and in the East, they are in the midst of a dangerous hurricane season.
Compounding these challenges is a terrorism threat landscape that, according to the Department of Homeland Security, has ``evolved significantly and become increasingly complex and volatile in 2021.''
Given the complexity of the challenges our men and women on the front lines face, it is critical that they have the most reliable and effective technology and equipment to respond. When it comes to delivering innovative technological solutions, the first responder community looks to the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory in New York City.
NUSTL, as it has come to be known, serves a unique mission in the Federal Government. It is the only Federal lab that is solely dedicated to researching and developing technology to help first responders safely and effectively respond to emergencies that range from natural disasters and industrial incidents to active shooters and terrorist attacks.
New innovative emergency response technologies are constantly being deployed, but to keep our first responders safe, they must first be tried and tested.
Enactment of H.R. 1850 would ensure that NUSTL can continue to carry out this vital role in Homeland Security. Specifically, it would ensure that NUSTL could continue to conduct simulated scenarios with first responders to test new emergency systems, support research for innovative technology, and assist first responders in evaluating new tools.
In recent years, despite NUSTL's recognized value to the Nation, we saw the Trump administration repeatedly propose shuttering it. Thankfully, Congress rejected those shortsighted proposals and redoubled its support for this vital institution.
Looking ahead, we must not only permanently authorize NUSTL by enacting H.R. 1850, but we must also continue to prioritize funding for the lab so it can continue its critical work.
Once again, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
Washington, DC, July 8, 2021.Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Thompson: I am writing to address the jurisdictional interests of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (``Science Committee'') in H.R. 1850, the
``Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act.''
While the Science Committee has claimed jurisdiction over versions of this bill introduced in previous Congresses, I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this legislation before the House in an expeditious manner, and, accordingly agree not to insist on a sequential referral. This is, of course, conditional on our mutual understanding that nothing in this legislation or my decision to forgo sequential referral waives, reduces, or otherwise affects the jurisdiction of the Science Committee, and that a copy of this letter and your response will be included in the bill report to be filed by the Committee on Homeland Security and included in the Congressional Record when the bill is considered on the House Floor.
Finally, I ask that you support the appointment of Science Committee conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this, or similar legislation. Thank you for your attention on this matter.
Sincerely,
Eddie Bernice Johnson,Chairwoman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Homeland Security,
Washington, DC, July 8, 2021.Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson,Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairwoman Johnson: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 1850, the ``Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act.'' I recognize that the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology has a jurisdictional interest in H.R. 1850, and I appreciate your effort to allow this bill to be considered on the House floor.
I concur with you that forgoing action on the bill does not in any way prejudice the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill or similar legislation in the future, and I would support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this legislation.
I will include our letters on H.R. 1850 in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of this bill. I look forward to working with you on this legislation and other matters of great importance to this Nation.
Sincerely,
Bennie G. Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security.
Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1850, the Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act. H.R. 1850 authorizes the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory within the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology directorate.
This important lab tests and evaluates emerging technologies and conducts research and development to assist emergency response providers in preparing for and protecting against Homeland Security threats.
The lab also works to enhance first responder capabilities by partnering with stakeholders to develop viable solutions to radiological and nuclear threats and by acting as a technical adviser to the first responder community.
The National Urban Security Technology Laboratory has assisted in training thousands of State and local first responders during more than 130 training events with State and local agencies throughout the New York City metropolitan area. With New York still serving as a top target for terrorist and other security threats, now is the time to support our front line emergency response providers.
Madam Speaker, I commend my fellow New York colleagues, Representatives Rice and Garbarino, for leading on this issue.
Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 1850, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice).
Miss RICE of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 1850, the Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act.
This bipartisan bill would permanently authorize the New York City-
based National Urban Security Technology Laboratory, which has been commonly referred to as NUSTL.
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NUSTL's mission is to develop and test new tools for our first responders to utilize in response to terrorist attacks, natural disasters, accidents, and other large-scale events.
There is no other lab in the country doing this critical counterterrorism and emergency response work, and it is more important now than ever before.
From the rise in domestic extremism to stronger and more frequent storms as a result of climate change, the threats facing our Nation are pressing. We must make sure our first responders are best equipped to handle any potential emergency, and providing support for NUSTL will help us accomplish that goal.
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Congressman Garbarino, my colleague on Long Island, for co-leading this legislation with me, and I would also like to thank Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Katko for their help in getting it on the floor.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I want to adopt a comment of my colleague from New York (Ms. Clarke) about the great State of New York.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1850 is a bill to protect our protectors. At the very least, those on the front lines deserve to go to work with the certainty that their equipment will work when they need it the most. They should not have to ask themselves: Will it function under pressure? Can it take the heat?
We owe it to the nearly 2 million Americans who put their lives on the line to protect us to ensure that NUSTL is operational and resourced to test their equipment.
This fall, we will be observing the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that shook this Nation to its core. The 9/11 attack was not only the single deadliest terrorist attack in human history, but it was the deadliest incident ever for firefighters and law enforcement officers in the United States.
Mr. Speaker, 343 New York City firefighters, 23 NYPD officers, and 37 Port Authority officers died that day. By enacting H.R. 1850, we can ensure that as threats continue to grow and change, NUSTL will be there to provide critical technical support to our first responder community.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice) for this legislation, and I ask that my colleagues support this bipartisan legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. McNerney). The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1850.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion are postponed.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 127
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