59–006 

114TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 114–456 

TERRORIST AND FOREIGN FIGHTER TRAVEL EXERCISE 

ACT OF 2016 

MARCH 16, 2016.—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. 4404] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 4404) to require an exercise related to terrorist and foreign fighter travel, and for other purposes, having considered the 

same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

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

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

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

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 4 

Committee Votes ...................................................................................................... 4 

Committee Oversight Findings ............................................................................... 5 

New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures ............. 5 

Congressional Budget Office Estimate ................................................................... 5 

Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives .................................... 6 

Duplicative Federal Programs ................................................................................ 6 

Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits ... 6 

Federal Mandates Statement ................................................................................. 7 

Preemption Clarification ......................................................................................... 7 

Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings ..................................................................... 7 

Advisory Committee Statement .............................................................................. 7 

Applicability to Legislative Branch ........................................................................ 7 

Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation ...................................................... 7 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported ..................................... 8 

Committee Correspondence .................................................................................... 10 

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 


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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act 

of 2016’’. 

SEC. 2. EXERCISE ON TERRORIST AND FOREIGN FIGHTER TRAVEL. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—In addition to, or as part of exercise programs currently carried 

out by the Department of Homeland Security, to enhance domestic preparedness for 

and collective response to terrorism, promote the dissemination of homeland security information, and test the security posture of the United States, the Secretary 

of Homeland Security, through appropriate offices and components of the Department and in coordination with the relevant Federal departments and agencies, 

shall, not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, develop 

and conduct an exercise related to the terrorist and foreign fighter threat. 

(b) EXERCISE REQUIREMENTS.—The exercise required under subsection (a) shall include— 

(1) a scenario involving— 

(A) persons traveling from the United States to join or provide material 

support or resources to a terrorist organization abroad; and 

(B) terrorist infiltration into the United States, including United States 

citizens and foreign nationals; and 

(2) coordination with appropriate Federal departments and agencies, foreign 

governments, and State, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector stakeholders. 

(c) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the completion of the exercise required 

under subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, consistent with the 

protection of classified information, submit an after-action report to the Committee 

on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate presenting the initial findings 

of such exercise, including any identified or potential vulnerabilities in United 

States defenses and any legislative changes requested in light of the findings. The 

report shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. 

(d) PROHIBITION ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING.—No additional funds are authorized to 

be appropriated to carry out this section. This section shall be carried out using 

amounts otherwise appropriated or made available to the Department of Homeland 

Security. 

(e) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘material support or resources’’ has the 

meaning given such term in section 2339A of title 18, United States Code. 

SEC. 3. EMERGING THREATS IN THE NATIONAL EXERCISE PROGRAM. 

Subparagraph (A) of section 648(b)(2) of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 748(b)(2)) is amended— 

(1) in clause (v), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; and 

(2) by adding after clause (vi) the following new clause: 

‘‘(vii) designed, to the extent practicable, to include emerging terrorist 

threats, such as scenarios involving United States citizens departing 

the United States to enlist with or provide material support or resources to terrorist organizations abroad or terrorist infiltration into 

the United States, including United States citizens and foreign nationals; and’’. 

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

The purpose of H.R. 4404 is to require an exercise related to terrorist and foreign fighter travel, and for other purposes. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

In September 2015, the final report of the Committee on Homeland Security’s Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign 

Fighter Travel was published. The report, produced by a bipartisan 

panel, issued 32 findings and provided more than 50 recommendations for enhancing U.S. security. Among other conclusions, the 

Task Force report found that the growing complexity and changing 

nature of the foreign fighter security challenge may be creating unseen gaps in our defenses, yet it has been years since any largescale ‘‘stress test’’ has been conducted on U.S. government protection and prevention programs against terrorist travel. 


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The last major government exercise on terrorist travel occurred 

in 2009. That year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency 

managed an exercise centered on the ‘‘aftermath of a notional terrorist event outside of the United States’’ and how to prevent ‘‘subsequent efforts by the terrorists to enter the United States and 

carry out additional attacks.’’ The exercise tested how agencies at 

all levels of government would respond in such a scenario. 

The threat environment has changed. The 2009 exercise centered 

on terrorists attempting to enter the country, but as the Task Force 

report noted, officials today should be just as concerned about 

Americans leaving the country to train overseas with terrorist 

groups as foreign fighters. Such individuals can represent a serious 

security threat to the United States, particularly upon their return 

to the country; thus, preventing them from joining extremists 

abroad in the first place should be a top law enforcement goal. 

Accordingly, the Task Force report recommended that the Administration should conduct an exercise designed around the foreign fighter threat to test all phases of extremist planning and 

travel in order to determine how partners at all levels of government and abroad are currently responding to these scenarios. Such 

an exercise would help identify weaknesses at home and abroad 

that may be exploited by terrorists and foreign fighters seeking to 

travel to and from the United States and overseas terrorist sanctuaries. 

H.R. 4404 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to coordinate such an exercise with appropriate Federal agencies to identify 

weaknesses at home and abroad that may be exploited by terrorists 

and foreign fighters, particularly to infiltrate the United States to 

conduct attacks. The findings are required to be provided to Congress. 

HEARINGS

The Committee did not hold any hearings on H.R. 4408, however, 

the Committee held the following oversight hearings: 

On February 11, 2015, the Committee held a hearing entitled 

‘‘Countering Violent Islamist Extremism: The Urgent Threat of 

Foreign Fighters and Homegrown Terror.’’ The Committee received 

testimony from Hon. Francis X. Taylor, Under Secretary, Intelligence and Analysis, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Hon. 

Nicholas J. Rasmussen, Director, National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence; and Mr. Michael 

B. Steinbach, Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice. 

On March 24, 2015, the Committee held a hearing entitled ‘‘A 

Global Battleground: The Fight Against Islamist Extremism at 

Home and Abroad.’’ The Committee received testimony from Hon. 

Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; General Michael Hayden (USAF-Ret.), Former Director, Central Intelligence Agency and Former Director, National Security 

Agency; Mr. Philip Mudd, Senior Fellow, New America Foundation; 

and Mr. Brian Michael Jenkins, Senior Adviser to the RAND President, The RAND Corporation. 

On June 3, 2015, the Committee held a hearing entitled ‘‘Terrorism Gone Viral: The Attack in Garland, Texas and Beyond.’’ The 

Committee received testimony from Mr. John J. Mulligan, Deputy 


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Director National Counterterrorism Center; Hon. Francis X. Taylor, 

Under Secretary, Intelligence and Analysis, U.S. Department of 

Homeland Security; and Mr. Michael B. Steinbach, Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 

U.S. Department of Justice. 

On July 15, 2015, the Committee held a hearing entitled ‘‘The 

Rise of Radicalization: Is the U.S. Government Failing to Counter 

International and Domestic Terrorism? ’’ The Committee received 

testimony from Ms. Farah Pandith, Adjunct Senior Fellow, Council 

on Foreign Relations; Mr. Seamus Hughes, Deputy Director, Program on Extremism, Center for Cyber and Homeland Security, 

George Washington University; and Mr. J. Richard Cohen, President, Southern Poverty Law Center. 

On September 8, 2015, the Committee held a field hearing in 

New York City, New York entitled ‘‘Beyond Bin Laden’s Caves and 

Couriers to A New Generation of Terrorists: Confronting the Challenges in a Post 9/11 World.’’ The Committee received testimony 

from Hon. Rudolph ‘‘Rudy’’ W. Giuliani, Former Mayor, City of New 

York, New York; Mr. William J. Bratton, Commissioner, Police Department, City of New York, New York; Mr. Daniel A. Nigro, Commissioner, Fire Department, City of New York, New York; Mr. Lee 

A. Ielpi, President, September 11th Families Association; and Mr. 

Gregory A. Thomas, National President, National Organization of 

Black Law Enforcement Executives. 

On October 21, 2015, the Committee held a hearing entitled 

‘‘Worldwide Threats and Homeland Security Challenges.’’ The Committee received testimony from Hon. Jeh C. Johnson, Secretary, 

Department of Homeland Security; Hon. Nicholas J. Rasmussen, 

Director, The National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence; and Hon. James B. Comey, Director, 

Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice. 

On November 18, 2015, the Committee on Homeland Security 

and the Committee on Foreign Affairs held a joint hearing entitled 

‘‘The Rise of Radicalism: Growing Terrorist Sanctuaries and the 

Threat to the U.S. Homeland.’’ The Committees received testimony 

from Hon. Matthew G. Olsen, Co-Founder and President, Business 

Development and Strategy, IronNet Cybersecurity; Gen. John M. 

Keane (Ret. U.S. Army), Chairman of the Board, Institute for the 

Study of War; and Mr. Peter Bergen, Vice President, Director 

International Security and Fellows Programs, New America. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

The Committee met on February 2, 2016, to consider H.R. 4404, 

and ordered the measure to be reported to the House with a favorable recommendation, as amended, by voice vote. 

The following amendments were offered: 

An amendment by MR. PAYNE (#1); was AGREED TO by voice vote. 

At the end of the bill, add a new section entitled ‘‘Sec. 3. Emerging Threats in 

the National Exercise Program.’’ 

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. 


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No recorded votes were requested during consideration of H.R. 

4404. 

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. 4404, the 

Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act of 2016, would 

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

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 8, 2016. 

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. 4404, the Terrorist and 

Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act of 2016. 

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

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Aurora Swanson. 

Sincerely, 

KEITH HALL, Director. 

Enclosure. 

H.R. 4404—Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act of 

2016 

H.R. 4404 would require the Federal Emergency Management 

Agency (FEMA) to develop and carryout national exercises to 

evaluate the nation’s preparedness against the threat of foreign 

fighters and terrorists. Based on information from FEMA, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would not affect the federal budget over the 2017–2021 period because the new exercises 

would be integrated into existing programs. 

Because enacting H.R. 4404 would not affect direct spending or 

revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO also estimates that enacting the bill would not increase net direct spending 

or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods 

beginning in 2027. 

Under current law, at least every two years, the agency conducts 

a national exercise to evaluate the preparedness of federal, state, 

local, and tribal governments to respond to catastrophic events—including acts of terrorism—in a coordinated manner. The agency reVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:40 Mar 19, 2016 Jkt 059006 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR456.XXX HR456

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ceived an appropriation of $112 million in fiscal year 2016 for such 

activities including education and training efforts related to the 

ability to respond to emergencies. 

Under the bill, the agency would develop and conduct an exercise 

to test the ability to respond to the threat of persons leaving the 

United States to join or provide material support to terrorist organizations or of foreign fighters attempting to enter the United 

States. The agency also would be required to integrate those exercises into the national exercises carried out every two years under 

current law. Based on information from FEMA, CBO estimates 

that the agency would develop and integrate the new exercises into 

existing preparedness activities and would incur no significant additional costs. 

H.R. 4404 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Aurora Swanson. 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. 4404 contains the following general performance goals and objectives, including outcome related goals and 

objectives authorized. 

The goal of H.R. 4404 is to require the Secretary of Homeland 

Security to conduct an exercise to test U.S. protections against all 

major phases of terrorist travel. The Secretary must hold an exercise which involves attempted terrorist infiltration into the United 

States, as well as attempts by individuals in the United States to 

travel abroad to join foreign terrorist organizations. In cooperation 

with government agencies at all levels and foreign partners, the 

aim of this exercise is to determine whether counterterrorism coordination is adequate to combat the threat and to determine 

whether there are weaknesses that can be addressed to better 

deter, detect, and disrupt terrorist travel. The Secretary is required 

to report to Congress on the results of this review, as well as any 

legislative action requested which may help address security gaps. 

The bill further requires that such exercise scenarios be included, 

to the extent practicable, in an ongoing basis as part of the national exercise program. 

DUPLICATIVE FEDERAL PROGRAMS

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

H.R. 4404 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. 


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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. 4404 does not preempt any State, 

local, or Tribal law. 

DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTED RULE MAKINGS

The Committee estimates that H.R. 4404 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 ‘‘Terrorist 

and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act of 2016’’. 

Sec. 2. Exercise on Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel. 

Subsection (a)—In General. 

This subsection requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to 

develop and conduct an exercise related to the terrorist and foreign 

fighter threat within one year and in coordination with relevant 

Federal departments and agencies—either in addition to, or as part 

of, existing exercise programs. 

While the Committee has provided the Secretary with the flexibility to either incorporate this requirement into planned National 

Level Exercises or as a separate activity, the Committee believes 

that given the urgent nature of the threat, the Department should 

conduct this exercise as soon as practicable. 

Subsection (b)—Exercise Requirements. 

This subsection requires that the exercise include scenarios involving individuals traveling to join terrorist organizations overseas 

(i.e. foreign fighters) and terrorist infiltration into the United 

States. It also requires DHS to coordinate with appropriate Federal 


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agencies, foreign governments, state and local stakeholders, and 

the private sector. 

The Committee strongly recommends, to the degree practicable, 

this exercise test the performance of suspicious activity reporting, 

countering violent extremism programs, intelligence information 

sharing, watchlisting, traveler screening, border security, law enforcement response and interdiction, and other aspects of deterring, 

detecting, and disrupting terrorist and foreign fighter travel. 

Subsection (c)—Report. 

This subsection requires the Secretary to submit an after-action 

report to the House Homeland Security Committee and Senate 

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee within 60 

days of the exercise, detailing any identified or potential 

vulnerabilities in U.S. defenses and any requested legislative 

changes. 

Subsection (d)—Prohibition on Additional Funding. 

This subsection requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to 

complete the exercise and report required under this Act using 

funds already appropriated or made available to the Department of 

Homeland Security. 

Subsection (e)—Definition. 

This subsection defines the term ‘‘material support or resources.’’ 

Sec. 3. Emerging Threats in the National Exercise Program.’’ 

This sections adds an additional requirement to the National Exercise Program that it shall be designed, to the extent practicable, 

to include emerging terrorist threats, such as the threat from foreign fighters. 

This section ensures that the exercise required in section 2 is not 

simply a ‘‘one-off’’ and that, going forward, the Department of 

Homeland Security incorporates such terror threat scenarios into 

exercises on a more regular basis. The Committee believes the requirement will ensure the U.S. Government is able to identify and 

address security vulnerabilities, especially before terrorists do. 

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 italic, 

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

roman): 

POST-KATRINA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REFORM 

ACT OF 2006 

* * * * * * * 


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TITLE VI—NATIONAL EMERGENCY 

MANAGEMENT 

* * * * * * * 

Subtitle C—Comprehensive Preparedness 

System 

CHAPTER 1—NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS SYSTEM 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 648. TRAINING AND EXERCISES. 

(a) NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning not later than 180 days after the 

date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in coordination with the heads of appropriate Federal agencies, the National Council on Disability, and the National Advisory Council, shall carry out a national training program to implement 

the national preparedness goal, National Incident Management 

System, National Response Plan, and other related plans and 

strategies. 

(2) TRAINING PARTNERS.—In developing and implementing 

the national training program, the Administrator shall— 

(A) work with government training facilities, academic 

institutions, private organizations, and other entities that 

provide specialized, state-of-the-art training for emergency 

managers or emergency response providers; and 

(B) utilize, as appropriate, training courses provided by 

community colleges, State and local public safety academies, State and private universities, and other facilities. 

(b) NATIONAL EXERCISE PROGRAM.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning not later than 180 days after the 

date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in coordination with the heads of appropriate Federal agencies, the National Council on Disability, and the National Advisory Council, shall carry out a national exercise program to test and 

evaluate the national preparedness goal, National Incident 

Management System, National Response Plan, and other related plans and strategies. 

(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The national exercise program— 

(A) shall be— 

(i) as realistic as practicable, based on current risk 

assessments, including credible threats, 

vulnerabilities, and consequences, and designed to 

stress the national preparedness system; 

(ii) designed, as practicable, to simulate the partial 

or complete incapacitation of a State, local, or tribal 

government; 

(iii) carried out, as appropriate, with a minimum degree of notice to involved parties regarding the timing 

and details of such exercises, consistent with safety 

considerations; 


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(iv) designed to provide for the systematic evaluation of readiness and enhance operational understanding of the incident command system and relevant 

mutual aid agreements; 

(v) designed to address the unique requirements of 

populations with special needs, including the elderly; 

øand¿ 

(vi) designed to promptly develop after-action reports and plans for quickly incorporating lessons 

learned into future operations; and 

(vii) designed, to the extent practicable, to include 

emerging terrorist threats, such as scenarios involving 

United States citizens departing the United States to 

enlist with or provide material support or resources to 

terrorist organizations abroad or terrorist infiltration 

into the United States, including United States citizens 

and foreign nationals; and 

(B) shall include a selection of model exercises that 

State, local, and tribal governments can readily adapt for 

use and provide assistance to State, local, and tribal governments with the design, implementation, and evaluation 

of exercises (whether a model exercise program or an exercise designed locally) that— 

(i) conform to the requirements under subparagraph 

(A); 

(ii) are consistent with any applicable State, local, or 

tribal strategy or plan; and 

(iii) provide for systematic evaluation of readiness. 

(3) NATIONAL LEVEL EXERCISES.—The Administrator shall periodically, but not less than biennially, perform national exercises for the following purposes: 

(A) To test and evaluate the capability of Federal, State, 

local, and tribal governments to detect, disrupt, and prevent threatened or actual catastrophic acts of terrorism, 

especially those involving weapons of mass destruction. 

(B) To test and evaluate the readiness of Federal, State, 

local, and tribal governments to respond and recover in a 

coordinated and unified manner to catastrophic incidents. 

* * * * * * * 

COMMITTEE CORRESPONDENCE

COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 

Washington, DC, March 10, 2016. 

Hon. MICHAEL MCCAUL, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, 

Ford House Office Building, Washington, DC. 

DEAR CHAIRMAN MCCAUL: I write concerning H.R. 4404, the 

‘‘Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act of 2016’’. This 

legislation, as amended by the Committee on Homeland Security, 

includes matters that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. 

In order to expedite Floor consideration of H.R. 4404, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will forgo action on 


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this bill. However, this is conditional on our mutual understanding 

that forgoing consideration of the bill does not prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the 

bill or similar legislation that fall within the Committee’s Rule X 

jurisdiction. I request you urge the Speaker to name members of 

the Committee to any conference committee named to consider 

such provisions. 

Please place a copy of this letter and your response acknowledging our jurisdictional interest in the Congressional Record during House Floor consideration of the bill. I look forward to working 

with the Committee on Homeland Security as the bill moves 

through the legislative process. 

Sincerely, 

BILL SHUSTER, 

Chairman. 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY, 

Washington, DC, March 11, 2016. 

Hon. BILL SHUSTER, 

Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 

Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. 

DEAR CHAIRMAN SHUSTER, Thank you for your letter regarding 

H.R. 4404, the ‘‘Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act 

of 2016.’’ I appreciate your support in bringing this legislation before the House of Representatives, and accordingly, understand 

that the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will forego consideration of the bill. 

The Committee on Homeland Security concurs with the mutual 

understanding that by foregoing consideration on this bill at this 

time, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure does not 

waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this bill 

or similar legislation in the future. In addition, should a conference 

on this bill be necessary, I would support a request by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for conferees on those 

provisions within your jurisdiction. 

I will insert copies of this exchange in the Congressional Record 

during consideration of this bill on the House floor. I thank you for 

your cooperation in this matter. 

Sincerely, 

MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, 

Chairman. 

Æ 


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