79–006 

115TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 115–755 

JOINT TASK FORCE TO COMBAT OPIOID TRAFFICKING 

ACT OF 2018 

JUNE 14, 2018.—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. 5762] 

The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 5762) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize a Joint Task Force to enhance integration of the Department of Homeland Security’s border security operations to detect, 

interdict, disrupt, and prevent narcotics, such as fentanyl and other 

synthetic opioids, from entering the United States, 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 ........................................................................................ 3 

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

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

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

Congressional Budget Office Estimate ................................................................... 3 

Duplicative Federal Programs ................................................................................ 4 

Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits ... 4 

Federal Mandates Statement ................................................................................. 4 

Preemption Clarification ......................................................................................... 4 

Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings ..................................................................... 4 

Advisory Committee Statement .............................................................................. 4 

Applicability to Legislative Branch ........................................................................ 4 

Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation ...................................................... 4 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported ..................................... 5 

2 

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Joint Task Force to Combat Opioid Trafficking Act 

of 2018’’. 

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF JOINT TASK FORCE TO COUNTER OPIOIDS. 

Section 708 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 348) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by adding at the end the following new clause: 

‘‘(iv) Enhancing the integration of the Department’s border security 

operations to detect, interdict, disrupt, and prevent narcotics, such as 

fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, from entering the United States.’’; 

and 

(2) in subsection (b)— 

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

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

Act of 2018 provides the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 

with authorization to establish a Joint Task Force (JTF) to enhance 

the integration of DHS’s border security operations to detect, interdict, disrupt, and prevent narcotics, such as fentanyl and other 

synthetic opioids, from entering the United States. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

In 2014, the Department of Homeland Security created three 

pilot Joint Task Forces (JTF) to address challenges along the 

Southern Border. On December 8, 2016, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (S. 2943; 

Pub. L. 114–328), which established JTFs within DHS. The JTF 

structure is intended to more effectively coordinate the assets and 

personnel of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Citizenship and 

Immigration Services (USCIS), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and 

other resources of the Department. 

H.R. 5762 will help DHS track and interdict synthetic opioids, 

and prevent their proliferation into our communities. In 2016, approximately 42,000 people in the United States died due to opioidrelated drug overdoses. A 2017 Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention report studied opioid overdoses in 10 states and found 

that more than half of the deaths were related to illicitly produced 

fentanyl. Ninety percent of illegally produced fentanyl is manufactured in China. 

JTF-O will prioritize its resources on targeting the illicit flow of 

opioids across our borders. By leveraging the JTF structure to engage all DHS components in a ‘‘unity of effort’’ campaign, JTF-O 

will conduct integrated investigations and operations with the sole 

intent of countering narcotics, specifically synthetic opioids, from 

being trafficked into the United States. This bill encourages DHS 

to collaborate with Federal partners, such as the U.S. Postal Service, as well as private sector entities, such as parcel carriers, to 

carry out the task force’s mission. The Committee believes 

leveraging the resources and expertise outside of the Department 

can help the JTF and DHS combat opioid trafficking more successfully. 

The establishment of JTF-O, should the Secretary choose to establish it, could help address the issue of opioid trafficking through 

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ports of entry, between ports of entry, and on our waterways to bolster DHS’ ability to stem the flow of opioids entering the United 

States. The establishment of the JTF-O, its ability to work with 

other JTFs, and the leveraging of private sector resources and expertise could help DHS identify gaps in its abilities, develop solutions to any identified problems, and implement solutions across 

the Department. 

HEARINGS

No hearings were held on H.R. 5762 in the 115th Congress. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

The Committee met on June 6, 2018, to consider H.R. 5762, and 

ordered the measure to be reported to the House with a favorable 

recommendation, as amended, by unanimous consent. The Committee took the following actions: 

The following amendments were offered: 

An amendment offered by MR. KEATING (#1); was AGREED TO by 

unanimous consent. 

Page 4, line 11, insert ‘‘entity or’’ after ‘‘international’’. 

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. 5762. 

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. 5762, the 

Joint Task Force to Combat Opioid Trafficking Act of 2018, would 

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

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE

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

of Representatives, a cost estimate provided by the Congressional 

Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget 

Act of 1974 was not made available to the Committee in time for 

the filing of this report. The Chairman of the Committee shall 

cause such estimate to be printed in the Congressional Record upon 

its receipt by the Committee. 

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DUPLICATIVE FEDERAL PROGRAMS

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

H.R. 4911 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

An estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of the 

Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chairman of the 

Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee. 

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. 5762 does not preempt any State, 

local, or Tribal law. 

DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTED RULE MAKINGS

The Committee estimates that H.R. 5762 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 ‘‘Joint 

Task Force to Combat Opioid Trafficking Act of 2018’’. 

Sec. 2. Authorization of Joint Task Force to Counter Opioids. 

This section authorizes the Secretary of DHS to establish a JTFO to conduct joint operations to combat opioid trafficking using 

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DHS component personnel and capabilities. The purpose of JTF-O 

is to enhance border security operations to detect, interdict, disrupt, and prevent narcotics, such as fentanyl and other synthetic 

opioids, from entering the United States. This section also provides 

the Secretary the ability to coordinate with the private sector and 

collaborate with other Federal, State, local, tribal, territorial, or 

international task forces and entities to carry out the mission of 

JTF-O. The Committee believes that the Department should develop and carry out a strategic operational plan that ensures the 

Department is utilizing all components and the Department’s available resources to combat the opioid epidemic and the challenges associated with the illicit flow of narcotics, such as fentanyl and other 

synthetic opioids, across our border and into our communities. 

The Committee supports the concept of streamlined operational 

command structure and has found that the Joint Task Force framework greatly enhances the Department’s ability to integrate numerous components in carrying out a common mission objective. 

The Committee believes that the establishment of this JTF-O will 

help to better coordinate personnel, resources, and tactical operations and create a whole-of-government approach to combat the 

opioid epidemic. 

The Committee believes that the Department’s ability to expand 

investigative and operational reach by leveraging domestic and 

international partners is a key to combatting the opioid epidemic. 

Sec. 3. Noptification; Reporting. 

This section requires the Secretary to determine the need for a 

JTF to combat opioid trafficking and report such determination to 

Congress within 90 days of the law’s enactment. 

To ensure the success of the JTF-O, this section directs the DHS 

Secretary to provide Congress with a gap analysis of funding, personnel, technology, and other resources needed in order to detect, 

interdict, disrupt, and prevent narcotics, such as fentanyl and other 

synthetic opioids, from entering the United States. Additionally, 

the Secretary must provide a description of any collaboration between JTF-O and any Federal, State, local, tribal, territorial, or 

international task force, including the United States Postal Service 

and the United States Postal Inspection Service. 

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): 

HOMELAND SECURITY ACT OF 2002 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE VII—MANAGEMENT 

* * * * * * * 

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SEC. 708. JOINT TASK FORCES. 

(a) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘situational awareness’’ means knowledge and unified understanding of unlawful 

cross-border activity, including— 

(1) threats and trends concerning illicit trafficking and unlawful crossings; 

(2) the ability to forecast future shifts in such threats and 

trends; 

(3) the ability to evaluate such threats and trends at a level 

sufficient to create actionable plans; and 

(4) the operational capability to conduct continuous and integrated surveillance of the air, land, and maritime borders of 

the United States. 

(b) JOINT TASK FORCES.— 

(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary may establish and operate departmental Joint Task Forces to conduct joint operations 

using personnel and capabilities of the Department for the purposes specified in paragraph (2). 

(2) PURPOSES.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph (B), the purposes referred to in paragraph (1) are or relate to the following: 

(i) Securing the land and maritime borders of the 

United States. 

(ii) Homeland security crises. 

(iii) Establishing regionally-based operations. 

(iv) Enhancing the integration of the Department’s 

border security operations to detect, interdict, disrupt, 

and prevent narcotics, such as fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, from entering the United States. 

(B) LIMITATION.— 

(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may not establish a 

Joint Task Force for any major disaster or emergency 

declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 

and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) 

or an incident for which the Federal Emergency Management Agency has primary responsibility for management of the response under title V of this Act, including section 504(a)(3)(A), unless the responsibilities 

of such a Joint Task Force— 

(I) do not include operational functions related 

to incident management, including coordination of 

operations; and 

(II) are consistent with the requirements of 

paragraphs (3) and (4)(A) of section 503(c) and 

section 509(c) of this Act, and section 302 of the 

Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 

Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5143). 

(ii) RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS NOT REDUCED.—Nothing in this section may be construed to 

reduce the responsibilities or functions of the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency or the Administrator 

of the Agency under title V of this Act or any other 

provision of law, including the diversion of any asset, 

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function, or mission from the Agency or the Administrator of the Agency pursuant to section 506. 

(3) JOINT TASK FORCE DIRECTORS.— (A) DIRECTOR.—Each Joint Task Force established and 

operated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be headed by a 

Director, appointed by the President, for a term of not 

more than two years. The Secretary shall submit to the 

President recommendations for such appointments after 

consulting with the heads of the components of the Department with membership on any such Joint Task Force. Any 

Director appointed by the President shall be— 

(i) a current senior official of the Department with 

not less than one year of significant leadership experience at the Department; or 

(ii) if no suitable candidate is available at the Department, an individual with— 

(I) not less than one year of significant leadership experience in a Federal agency since the establishment of the Department; and 

(II) a demonstrated ability in, knowledge of, and 

significant experience working on the issues to be 

addressed by any such Joint Task Force. 

(B) EXTENSION.—The Secretary may extend the appointment of a Director of a Joint Task Force under subparagraph (A) for not more than two years if the Secretary determines that such an extension is in the best interest of 

the Department. 

(4) JOINT TASK FORCE DEPUTY DIRECTORS.—For each Joint 

Task Force, the Secretary shall appoint a Deputy Director who 

shall be an official of a different component or office of the Department than the Director of such Joint Task Force. 

(5) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Director of a Joint Task Force, 

subject to the oversight, direction, and guidance of the Secretary, shall— 

(A) when established for the purpose referred to in paragraph (2)(A)(i), maintain situational awareness within the 

areas of responsibility of the Joint Task Force, as determined by the Secretary; 

(B) provide operational plans and requirements for 

standard operating procedures and contingency operations 

within the areas of responsibility of the Joint Task Force, 

as determined by the Secretary; 

(C) plan and execute joint task force activities within the 

areas of responsibility of the Joint Task Force, as determined by the Secretary; 

(D) set and accomplish strategic objectives through integrated operational planning and execution; 

(E) exercise operational direction over personnel and 

equipment from components and offices of the Department 

allocated to the Joint Task Force to accomplish the objectives of the Joint Task Force; 

(F) when established for the purpose referred to in paragraph (2)(A)(i), establish operational and investigative priorities within the areas of responsibility of the Joint Task 

Force, as determined by the Secretary; 

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(G) coordinate with foreign governments and other Federal, State, and local agencies, as appropriate, to carry out 

the mission of the Joint Task Force; and 

(H) carry out other duties and powers the Secretary determines appropriate. 

(6) PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may, upon request of 

the Director of a Joint Task Force, and giving appropriate 

consideration of risk to the other primary missions of the 

Department, allocate to such Joint Task Force on a temporary basis personnel and equipment of components and 

offices of the Department. 

(B) COST NEUTRALITY.—A Joint Task Force may not require more resources than would have otherwise been required by the Department to carry out the duties assigned 

to such Joint Task Force if such Joint Task Force had not 

been established. 

(C) LOCATION OF OPERATIONS.—In establishing a location 

of operations for a Joint Task Force, the Secretary shall, 

to the extent practicable, use existing facilities that integrate efforts of components of the Department and State, 

local, tribal, or territorial law enforcement or military entities. 

(D) CONSIDERATION OF IMPACT.—When reviewing requests for allocation of component personnel and equipment under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consider 

the impact of such allocation on the ability of the donating 

component or office to carry out the primary missions of 

the Department, and in the case of the Coast Guard, the 

missions specified in section 888. 

(E) LIMITATION.—Personnel and equipment of the Coast 

Guard allocated under this paragraph may be used only to 

carry out operations and investigations related to the missions specified in section 888. 

(F) REPORT.—The Secretary shall, at the time the budget 

of the President is submitted to Congress for a fiscal year 

under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 

of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 

on the total funding, personnel, and other resources that 

each component or office of the Department allocated 

under this paragraph to each Joint Task Force to carry out 

the mission of such Joint Task Force during the fiscal year 

immediately preceding each such report, and a description 

of the degree to which the resources drawn from each component or office impact the primary mission of such component or office. 

(7) COMPONENT RESOURCE AUTHORITY.—As directed by the 

Secretary— 

(A) each Director of a Joint Task Force shall be provided 

sufficient resources from relevant components and offices 

of the Department and the authority necessary to carry 

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out the missions and responsibilities of such Joint Task 

Force required under this section; 

(B) the resources referred to in subparagraph (A) shall 

be under the operational authority, direction, and control 

of the Director of the Joint Task Force to which such resources are assigned; and 

(C) the personnel and equipment of each Joint Task 

Force shall remain under the administrative direction of 

the head of the component or office of the Department that 

provided such personnel or equipment. 

(8) JOINT TASK FORCE STAFF.—Each Joint Task Force shall 

have a staff, composed of officials from relevant components 

and offices of the Department, to assist the Director of such 

Joint Task Force in carrying out the mission and responsibilities of such Joint Task Force. 

(9) ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Director of a Joint Task Force 

may engage with representatives from a private sector organization for the purpose of carrying out the mission of such 

Joint Task Force, and any such engagement shall not be 

subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 

App.). 

(B) ASSISTANCE FROM PRIVATE SECTOR.— 

(i) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding subsection (b)(1), 

the Secretary, with the agreement of a private sector organization, may arrange for the temporary assignment 

of an employee of such organization to a Joint Task 

Force in accordance with this paragraph. 

(ii) AGREEMENT.—The Secretary shall provide for a 

written agreement between the Department, the private 

sector organization concerned, and the employee concerned regarding the terms and conditions of the assignment of such employee under this paragraph. 

(C) NO FINANCIAL LIABILITY.—Any agreement under this 

paragraph shall require the private sector organization concerned to be responsible for all costs associated with the assignment of an employee under this paragraph. 

(D) DURATION.—An assignment under this paragraph 

may, at any time and for any reason, be terminated by the 

Secretary or the private sector organization concerned and 

shall be for a total period of not more than two years. 

(10) COLLABORATION WITH TASK FORCES OUTSIDE DHS.—The 

Secretary may enter into a memorandum of understanding by 

which a Joint Task Force established under this section to 

carry out any purpose specified in subsection (b)(2)(A) and any 

other Federal, State, local, tribal, territorial, or international 

entity or task force established for a similar purpose may collaborate for the purpose of carrying out the mission of such 

Joint Task Force. 

ø(9)¿ (11) ESTABLISHMENT OF PERFORMANCE METRICS.—The 

Secretary shall— 

(A) establish outcome-based and other appropriate performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of each 

Joint Task Force; 

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(B) not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this section and 120 days after the establishment 

of a new Joint Task Force, as appropriate, submit to the 

Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on 

Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security 

and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate the 

metrics established under subparagraph (A). 

(C) not later than January 31 of each year beginning in 

2017, submit to each committee specified in subparagraph 

(B) a report that contains the evaluation described in subparagraph (A). 

ø(10)¿ (12) JOINT DUTY TRAINING PROGRAM.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— 

(i) establish a joint duty training program in the Department for the purposes of— 

(I) enhancing coordination within the Department; and 

(II) promoting workforce professional development; and 

(ii) tailor such joint duty training program to improve joint operations as part of the Joint Task Forces. 

(B) ELEMENTS.—The joint duty training program established under subparagraph (A) shall address, at a minimum, the following topics: 

(i) National security strategy. 

(ii) Strategic and contingency planning. 

(iii) Command and control of operations under joint 

command. 

(iv) International engagement. 

(v) The homeland security enterprise. 

(vi) Interagency collaboration. 

(vii) Leadership. 

(viii) Specific subject matters relevant to the Joint 

Task Force, including matters relating to the missions 

specified in section 888, to which the joint duty training program is assigned. 

(C) TRAINING REQUIRED.— (i) DIRECTORS AND DEPUTY DIRECTORS.—Except as 

provided in clauses (iii) and (iv), an individual shall 

complete the joint duty training program before being 

appointed Director or Deputy Director of a Joint Task 

Force. 

(ii) JOINT TASK FORCE STAFF.—Each official serving 

on the staff of a Joint Task Force shall complete the 

joint duty training program within the first year of assignment to such Joint Task Force. 

(iii) EXCEPTION.—Clause (i) shall not apply to the 

first Director or Deputy Director appointed to a Joint 

Task Force on or after the date of the enactment of 

this section. 

(iv) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive the application of clause (i) if the Secretary determines that such 

a waiver is in the interest of homeland security or necVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:02 Jun 22, 2018 Jkt 079006 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6601 E:\HR\OC\HR755.XXX HR755
11 

essary to carry out the mission for which a Joint Task 

Force was established. 

ø(11)¿ (13) NOTIFICATION OF JOINT TASK FORCE FORMATION.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days before establishing a Joint Task Force under this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to the majority leader of the Senate, 

the minority leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the 

House of Representatives, the majority leader of the House 

of Representatives, the minority leader of the House of 

Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 

the Senate a notification regarding such establishment. 

(B) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may waive the 

requirement under subparagraph (A) in the event of an 

emergency circumstance that imminently threatens the 

protection of human life or property. 

ø(12)¿ (14) REVIEW.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 31, 2018, and 

January 31, 2021, the Inspector General of the Department shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security 

and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 

the Senate a review of the Joint Task Forces established 

under this subsection. 

(B) CONTENTS.—The reviews required under subparagraph (A) shall include— 

(i) an assessment of the effectiveness of the structure of each Joint Task Force; and 

(ii) recommendations for enhancements to such 

structure to strengthen the effectiveness of each Joint 

Task Force. 

ø(13)¿ (15) SUNSET.—This section expires on September 30, 

2022. 

(c) JOINT DUTY ASSIGNMENT PROGRAM.—After establishing the 

joint duty training program under subsection (b)(10), the Secretary 

shall establish a joint duty assignment program within the Department for the purposes of enhancing coordination in the Department 

and promoting workforce professional development. 

* * * * * * * 

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