69–006 

115TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 115–41 

QUADRENNIAL HOMELAND SECURITY REVIEW 

TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT OF 2017 

MARCH 16, 2017.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. MCCAUL, from the Committee on Homeland Security, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 1297] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 1297) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to 

make technical corrections to the requirement that the Secretary of 

Homeland Security submit quadrennial homeland security reviews, 

and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do 

pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Purpose and Summary ............................................................................................ 2 

Background and Need for Legislation .................................................................... 2 

Hearings ................................................................................................................... 3 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 3 

Committee Votes ...................................................................................................... 3 

Committee Oversight Findings ............................................................................... 3 

New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures ............. 3 

Congressional Budget Office Estimate ................................................................... 4 

Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives .................................... 4 

Duplicative Federal Programs ................................................................................ 5 

Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits ... 5 

Federal Mandates Statement ................................................................................. 5 

Preemption Clarification ......................................................................................... 5 

Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings ..................................................................... 5 

Advisory Committee Statement .............................................................................. 5 

Applicability to Legislative Branch ........................................................................ 5 

Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation ...................................................... 5 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported ..................................... 6 


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PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

H.R. 1297, the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Technical 

Corrections Act of 2017, amends the Homeland Security Act of 

2002 (Pub. L. 107-296), revises the requirements for the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR) to improve the quality and 

timeliness of the review that the Department of Homeland Security 

carries out. Namely, this legislation requires the Department of 

Homeland Security (‘‘DHS’’ or ‘‘the Department’’) to conduct a risk 

assessment to inform the QHSR, to complete more robust stakeholder engagement, and to maintain all documentation regarding 

the QHSR, including, but not limited to, all written communications sent out by the Secretary and feedback submitted to the Secretary, information on how feedback received by the Secretary informed the QHSR, and information regarding the risk assessment. 

Maintaining such documentation should allow Congress to conduct 

more effective oversight of DHS’s decision-making process regarding the QHSR. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

The Department of Homeland Security is required, through the 

Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 

2007 (Pub. L. 110-53), to conduct a QHSR every four years. Modeled after the Quadrennial Defense Review, the QHSR outlines the 

Department’s vision and strategy to effectively implement its mission. As stated in the first QHSR released in February 2010, ‘‘the 

purpose of the first-ever Quadrennial Homeland Security Review is 

to outline the strategic framework to guide the activities of participants in homeland security toward a common end. A safe and secure homeland must mean more than preventing terrorist attacks 

from being carried out. It must also ensure that the liberties of all 

Americans are assured, privacy is protected, and the means by 

which we interchange with the world—through travel, lawful immigration, trade, commerce, and exchange-are secured.’’ The first 

QHSR identified five homeland security missions—preventing terrorism and enhancing security; securing and managing our borders; 

enforcing and administering our immigration laws; safeguarding 

and securing cyberspace; and ensuring resilience to disasters—as 

well as goals and objectives to be achieved within each mission 

area. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) completed an 

extensive review of the first QHSR and concluded that of the nine 

9/11 Commission Act reporting elements to the QHSR, DHS addressed three in full and addressed the remaining six elements 

only partially, including the requirement that it include budget 

planning descriptions. GAO recommended that for future reviews, 

DHS provide more time for stakeholder consultations, explore options for consulting with nonfederal stakeholders, and examine how 

risk information could be considered in prioritizing QHSR initiatives. 

DHS issued its second QHSR in 2014. In April 2016, GAO released its review of the second QHSR and reported some progress 

in addressing weaknesses in the first review, but indicated that 


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1 GAO, Quadrennial Homeland Security Review: Improved Risk Analysis and Stakeholder 

Consultations Could Enhance Future Reviews, GAO–16–371 (Washington, D.C.: Apr. 15, 2016). 

there were several areas for improvement for future reviews.1 Specifically, GAO found that DHS did not document how its various 

analyses were synthesized to generate results reflected in the second QHSR; DHS’ failure to do so limited the reproducibility and defensibility of the results. In addition, GAO found that while the Department expanded stakeholder interaction with the Homeland Security Enterprise as was suggested by GAO in 2010, the collaboration needed improvement, particularly as it relates to fostering 

interactive communication and feedback. GAO made four recommendations for executive action: 1) ensure future QHSR risk assessment methodologies reflect key elements of successful risk assessment methodologies; 2) refine its risk assessment methodology 

so that future QHSRs can compare and prioritize homeland security risks and risk mitigation strategies; 3) identify and implement 

stakeholder meeting processes to ensure that communication is 

interactive when project planning for the next QHSR; and 4) clarify 

component detailee roles and responsibilities when project planning 

for the next QHSR. DHS concurred with all four recommendations. 

HEARINGS

No hearings were held on H.R. 1297. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

The Committee met on March 8, 2017, to consider H.R. 1297, 

and ordered the measure to be reported to the House with a favorable recommendation, without amendment, by voice vote. 

COMMITTEE VOTES

Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires the Committee to list the recorded votes on the motion to report legislation and amendments thereto. 

No recorded votes were requested during consideration of 

H.R. 1297. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee has held oversight hearings and 

made findings that are reflected in this report. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX

EXPENDITURES

In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee finds that H.R. 1297, the 

Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Technical Corrections Act 

of 2017, would result in no new or increased budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or revenues. 


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CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE

The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared by 

the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 

402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

U.S. CONGRESS, 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, 

Washington, DC, March 13, 2017. 

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. 1297, the Quadrennial 

Homeland Security Review Technical Corrections 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. 

Enclosure. 

H.R. 1297—Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Technical Corrections Act of 2017 

Every four years the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), 

is required, to conduct a comprehensive review of its strategy to 

improve the security of the United States, including recommendations relating to the long-term strategy to improve security. H.R. 

1297 would make technical changes to the matters that must be 

addressed in that quadrennial review. Based on information from 

DHS, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1297 would have no 

significant effect on the department’s spending. 

Enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1297 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028. 

H.R. 1297 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Mark Grabowicz. The 

estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Assistant 

Director for Budget Analysis. 

STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, H.R. 1297 contains the following general performance goals and objectives, including outcome related goals and 

objectives authorized. 

This legislation provides for DHS to maintain documentation 

that provides information on the process for developing the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review. It further provides for DHS to 

conduct a risk assessment to inform the QHSR. 


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DUPLICATIVE FEDERAL PROGRAMS

Pursuant to clause 3(c) of rule XIII, the Committee finds that 

H.R. 1297 does not contain any provision that establishes or reauthorizes a program known to be duplicative of another Federal program. 

CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, AND LIMITED

TARIFF BENEFITS

In compliance with rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in 

clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of the rule XXI. 

FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 

pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. 

PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

In compliance with section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act 

of 1974, requiring the report of any Committee on a bill or joint 

resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the bill or 

joint resolution is intended to preempt State, local, or Tribal law, 

the Committee finds that H.R. 1297 does not preempt any State, 

local, or Tribal law. 

DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTED RULE MAKINGS

The Committee estimates that H.R. 1297 would require no directed rule makings. 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this legislation. 

APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 

accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1. Short Title. 

This section provides that this bill may be cited as the ‘‘Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Technical Corrections Act of 2017’’. 

Sec. 2. Technical Corrections to Quadrennial Homeland Security 

Review. 

Section 2 amends Section 707 of the Homeland Security Act of 

2002. This section outlines various stakeholders to be consulted 

during the production of the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR) by including representatives from appropriate adviVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:09 Mar 17, 2017 Jkt 069006 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR041.XXX HR041

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sory committees and adds language to prioritize homeland security 

missions based on a risk assessment required by this legislation. 

Additionally, this section: 

• adds the language ‘‘to the extent practicable’’ in the requirement that the Secretary describe all interagency cooperation, resources required, infrastructure, etc. associated with 

the homeland security strategies required to fully execute 

the full range of missions called for in the strategies when 

gathering information from other agencies; 

• adds the language ‘‘to the extent practicable’’ in the requirement that the Secretary identify the resources required to 

fulfill homeland security strategies and missions when 

gathering information from other agencies; 

• removes the term ‘‘budget plan’’ and replaces it with ‘‘resources required’’; 

• adds the requirement for the QHSR to include any resources identified from redundant, wasteful, or unnecessary 

capabilities and capacities that can be redirected to support 

other priorities that were identified during the course of reviewing the resources required to execute the full range of 

missions; and 

• updates the Homeland Security Act of 2002 by striking section 707(b)(6). 

This section also requires the Department to submit a report to 

Congress on the QHSR 60 days after the date of the submittal of 

the President’s budget for the fiscal year, which shall include, 

among other items, a risk assessment of the threats examined for 

the purpose of the review. Additionally, this section requires the 

Secretary to retain all documentation regarding the QHSR, including, but not limited to, all written communications sent out by the 

Secretary and feedback submitted to the Secretary; information on 

how feedback received by the Secretary informed the QHSR; and 

information regarding the risk assessment. Paragraph (4) of this 

subsection requires the Secretary to provide information to the 

Homeland Security Committees of the House and Senate on the degree to which findings and recommendations developed in the review were integrated into the acquisition strategy and expenditure 

plans of the Department no later than 90 days after the date of 

issuance of each report. 

Finally, this section states that the changes made by this Act 

shall apply to any QHSR required to be submitted after December 

31, 2021. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italics, 

and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in 

roman): 

HOMELAND SECURITY ACT OF 2002 

* * * * * * * 


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TITLE VII—MANAGEMENT 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 707. QUADRENNIAL HOMELAND SECURITY REVIEW. 

(a) REQUIREMENT.— (1) QUADRENNIAL REVIEWS REQUIRED.—In fiscal year 2009, 

and every 4 years thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct a review of the homeland security of the Nation (in this section referred to as a ‘‘quadrennial homeland security review’’). 

(2) SCOPE OF REVIEWS.—Each quadrennial homeland security 

review shall be a comprehensive examination of the homeland 

security strategy of the Nation, including recommendations regarding the long-term strategy and priorities of the Nation for 

homeland security and guidance on the programs, assets, capabilities, budget, policies, and authorities of the Department. 

(3) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall conduct each quadrennial homeland security review under this subsection in consultation with— 

(A) the heads of other Federal agencies, including the 

Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of 

Defense, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the 

Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Agriculture, 

and the Director of National Intelligence; 

(B) key officials of the Department, including the Under 

Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans; øand¿ 

(C) representatives from appropriate advisory committees 

established pursuant to section 871, including the Homeland Security Advisory Council and the Homeland Security 

Science and Technology Advisory Committee, or otherwise 

established, including the Aviation Security Advisory Committee established pursuant to section 44946 of title 49, 

United States Code; and 

ø(C)¿ (D) other relevant governmental and nongovernmental entities, including State, local, and tribal government officials, members of Congress, private sector representatives, academics, and other policy experts. 

(4) RELATIONSHIP WITH FUTURE YEARS HOMELAND SECURITY

PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall ensure that each review conducted under this section is coordinated with the Future Years 

Homeland Security Program required under section 874. 

(b) CONTENTS OF REVIEW.—In each quadrennial homeland security review, the Secretary shall— 

(1) delineate and update, as appropriate, the national homeland security strategy, consistent with appropriate national 

and Department strategies, strategic plans, and Homeland Security Presidential Directives, including the National Strategy 

for Homeland Security, the National Response Plan, and the 

Department Security Strategic Plan; 

(2) outline and prioritize the full range of the critical homeland security mission areas of the Nation based on the risk assessment required pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(B); 

(3) describe, to the extent practicable, the interagency cooperation, preparedness of Federal response assets, infrastructure, øbudget plan¿ resources required, and other elements of 


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the homeland security program and policies of the Nation associated with the national homeland security strategy, required 

to execute successfully the full range of missions called for in 

the national homeland security strategy described in paragraph (1) and the homeland security mission areas outlined 

under paragraph (2); 

(4) identify, to the extent practicable, the øbudget plan required to provide sufficient resources to successfully¿ resources 

required to execute the full range of missions called for in the 

national homeland security strategy described in paragraph (1) 

and the homeland security mission areas outlined under paragraph (2)ø;¿, including any resources identified from redundant, wasteful, or unnecessary capabilities or capacities that 

may be redirected to better support other existing capabilities or 

capacities, as the case may be; and 

(5) include an assessment of the organizational alignment of 

the Department with the national homeland security strategy 

referred to in paragraph (1) and the homeland security mission 

areas outlined under paragraph (2)ø; and¿. ø(6) review and assess the effectiveness of the mechanisms 

of the Department for executing the process of turning the requirements developed in the quadrennial homeland security review into an acquisition strategy and expenditure plan within 

the Department.¿ 

(c) REPORTING.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than øDecember 31 of the year¿ 

60 days after the date of the submission of the President’s budget for the fiscal year after the fiscal year in which a quadrennial 

homeland security review is conducted, the Secretary shall 

submit to Congress a report regarding that quadrennial homeland security review. 

(2) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—Each report submitted under 

paragraph (1) shall include— 

(A) the results of the quadrennial homeland security review; 

(B) a ødescription of the threats to¿ risk assessment of 

the assumed or defined national homeland security interests of the Nation that were examined for the purposes of 

that review; 

(C) the national homeland security strategy, including a 

prioritized list of the critical homeland security missions of 

the Nation, as required under subsection (b)(2); 

(D) to the extent practicable, a description of the interagency cooperation, preparedness of Federal response assets, infrastructure, øbudget plan¿ resources required, and 

other elements of the homeland security program and policies of the Nation associated with the national homeland 

security strategy, required to execute successfully the full 

range of missions called for in the applicable national 

homeland security strategy referred to in subsection (b)(1) 

and the homeland security mission areas outlined under 

subsection (b)(2); 

(E) an assessment of the organizational alignment of the 

Department with the applicable national homeland security strategy referred to in subsection (b)(1) and the homeVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:09 Mar 17, 2017 Jkt 069006 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR041.XXX HR041

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land security mission areas outlined under subsection 

(b)(2), including the Department’s organizational structure, 

management systems, budget and accounting systems, 

human resources systems, procurement systems, and physical and technical infrastructure; 

(F) to the extent practicable, a discussion of øthe status 

of¿ cooperation among Federal agencies in the effort to 

promote national homeland security; 

(G) to the extent practicable, a discussion of øthe status 

of¿ cooperation between the Federal Government and 

State, local, and tribal governments in preventing terrorist 

attacks and preparing for emergency response to threats 

and risks to national homeland security; and 

ø(H) an explanation of any underlying assumptions used 

in conducting the review; and¿ 

ø(I)¿ (H) any other matter the Secretary considers appropriate. 

(3) DOCUMENTATION.—The Secretary shall retain and, upon 

request, provide to Congress the following documentation regarding each quadrennial homeland security review: 

(A) Records regarding the consultation carried out the 

pursuant to subsection (a)(3), including— 

(i) all written communications, including communications sent out by the Secretary and feedback submitted to the Secretary through technology, online communications tools, in-person discussions, and the interagency process; and 

(ii) information on how feedback received by the Secretary informed each such quadrennial homeland security review. 

(B) Information regarding the risk assessment required 

under subsection (c)(2)(B), including— 

(i) the risk model utilized to generate such risk assessment; 

(ii) information, including data used in the risk 

model, utilized to generate such risk assessment; 

(iii) sources of information, including other risk assessments, utilized to generate such risk assessment; 

and 

(iv) information on assumptions, weighing factors, 

and subjective judgments utilized to generate such risk 

assessment, together with information on the rationale 

or basis thereof. 

ø(3)¿ (4) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary shall, consistent with the protection of national security and other sensitive matters, make each report submitted under paragraph 

(1) publicly available on the Internet website of the Department. 

(d) REVIEW.—Not later than 90 days after the submission of each 

report required under subsection (c)(1), the Secretary shall provide 

to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 

Affairs of the Senate information on the degree to which the findings and recommendations developed in the quadrennial homeland 


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security review that is the subject of such report were integrated into 

the acquisition strategy and expenditure plans for the Department. 

ø(d)¿ (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 

this section. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ 


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