Department of Homeland Security Climate Change Research Act

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security to research and develop approaches to mitigate identified or potential negative effects of climate change on homeland security, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Department of Homeland Security Climate Change Research Act 2. Climate change research and development (a) In general Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 181 et seq. 324. Climate change research and development (a) In general The Under Secretary for Science and Technology— (1) shall evaluate existing Federal research regarding approaches to mitigate identified or potential negative effects of climate change on homeland security that includes consideration of— (A) the degree to which such identified or potential negative effects affect preparedness and emergency planning and policies, including with respect to preparedness, response to, and recovery from natural disasters; (B) the degree to which the Federal funding structure to respond to major disaster declarations and emergency declarations is appropriately structured to address such identified or potential negative effects; and (C) such other matters as the Under Secretary determines appropriate; and (2) may, subject to the availability of appropriations, conduct research and development on approaches to mitigate such identified or potential negative effects of climate change on homeland security in response to the evaluation under paragraph (1). (b) Scope The scope of the research and development under subsection (a)(2)— (1) shall prioritize mitigating identified or potential negative effects that impact the ability of the Department to carry out operations; and (2) may address the matters described in subsection (a)(1). (c) Consultation and coordination In carrying out this section, the Under Secretary for Science and Technology shall consult, and may, as appropriate, coordinate, with— (1) the heads of— (A) other relevant Federal agencies and departments; and (B) State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments; and (2) relevant owners and operators of critical infrastructure. (d) Climate change defined The term climate change (1) human activity; and (2) altering the composition of the global atmosphere. . (b) Report to congress Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter for three years, the Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on any research and development activities carried out pursuant to section 324 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a). (c) 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 323 the following new item: Sec. 324. Climate change research and development. .

Summary: Department of Homeland Security Climate Change Research Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to evaluate current federal research regarding approaches to mitigate the negative effects of climate change on homeland security. The bill also allows DHS to research and develop approaches to mitigate the negative effects.