Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 2018

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 2018 2. Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (a) In general Title XIX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 591 (1) in the title heading, by striking Domestic Nuclear Detection Office Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (2) by striking section 1901 and inserting the following: 1900. Definitions In this title: (1) Assistant Secretary The term Assistant Secretary (2) Intelligence community The term intelligence community 50 U.S.C. 3003(4) (3) Office The term Office (4) Weapon of mass destruction The term weapon of mass destruction 50 U.S.C. 1801 A Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office 1901. Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (a) Establishment There is established in the Department a Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. (b) Assistant Secretary The Office shall be headed by an Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, who shall be appointed by the President. (c) Responsibilities The Assistant Secretary shall serve as the Secretary’s principal advisor on— (1) weapons of mass destruction matters and strategies; and (2) coordinating efforts to counter weapons of mass destruction. (d) Details The Secretary may request that the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the directors of other Federal agencies, including elements of the intelligence community, provide for the reimbursable detail of personnel with relevant expertise to the Office. ; (3) by adding at the end the following: B Mission of the Office 1921. Mission of the Office The Office shall be responsible for coordinating with other Federal efforts and developing departmental strategy and policy to plan for, detect, and protect against the importation, possession, storage, transportation, development, or use of unauthorized chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear materials, devices, or agents in the United States and to protect against an attack using such materials, devices, or agents against the people, territory, or interests of the United States. 1922. Relationship to other department entities and Federal agencies (a) In general The authority of the Assistant Secretary under this title shall neither affect nor diminish the authority or the responsibility of any officer of the Department or of any officer of any other department or agency of the United States with respect to the command, control, or direction of the functions, personnel, funds, assets, and liabilities of any entity within the Department or any Federal department or agency. (b) Federal Emergency Management Agency Nothing in this title or any other provision of law may be construed to affect or reduce the responsibilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the Administrator or the Agency, including the diversion of any asset, function, or mission of the Agency or the Administrator of the Agency. ; (4) by striking section 1905; (5) by redesignating sections 1902, 1903, 1904, 1906, and 1907 as sections 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, and 1927, respectively, and transferring such sections to appear after section 1922, as added by paragraph (3); (6) in section 1923, as so redesignated— (A) in the section heading by striking Mission of Office Responsibilities (B) in subsection (a)(11), by striking Domestic Nuclear Detection Office Office (7) in section 1925, as so redesignated, in subsection (a), in the first sentence, by striking section 1902 section 1923 (8) in section 1926, as so redesignated— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— (i) by striking Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection Assistant Secretary (ii) by striking paragraphs (6) and (7) of section 1902(a) section 1923 (B) in paragraph (2), by striking paragraphs (6) and (7) of section 1902(a) section 1923 (9) in section 1927, as so redesignated— (A) in subsection (a)(1)(C), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking Director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office Assistant Secretary (B) in subsection (c), by striking section 1902 section 1923 (10) by inserting after section 1927, as so redesignated, the following new section: 1928. Securing the Cities program (a) Establishment The Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, shall establish the Securing the Cities STC (1) assist State, local, tribal, and territorial governments in designing and implementing, or enhancing existing, architectures for coordinated and integrated detection and interdiction of nuclear or other radiological materials that are out of regulatory control; (2) support the development of a region-wide operating capability to detect and report on nuclear and other radioactive materials out of regulatory control; (3) provide resources to enhance detection, analysis, communication, and coordination to better integrate into Federal operations State, local, tribal, and territorial assets; (4) facilitate alarm adjudication and provide subject matter expertise and technical assistance on concepts of operations, training, exercises, and alarm response protocols; (5) communicate with, and promote sharing of information about the presence or detection of nuclear or other radiological materials among appropriate Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial governments, in a manner that ensures transparency with the jurisdictions served by such program; (6) provide augmenting resources, as appropriate, to enable State, local, tribal, and territorial governments to sustain and refresh their capabilities developed under the STC program; and (7) provide any other assistance the Secretary determines appropriate. (b) Designation of jurisdictions In carrying out the STC program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall designate jurisdictions from among high-risk urban areas under section 2003, and other cities and regions, as appropriate. (c) Congressional notification The Secretary shall notify the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate not later than three days before the designation of a new jurisdiction in accordance with subsection (b) or any other change to participating jurisdictions. . (b) References and construction (1) In general Any reference in any law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to— (A) the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office shall be deemed to be a reference to the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office; and (B) the Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection shall be deemed to be a reference to the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. (2) Construction Sections 1923 through 1927 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as so redesignated by subsection (a), shall be construed to cover the chemical and biological responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. (3) Authority The authority of the Director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office to make grants or enter into cooperative agreements is transferred to the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, and such authority shall be construed to include grants for all purposes of title XIX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by this Act. (c) Chief Medical Officer (1) Repeal Title V of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 311 (2) Amendment Title XIX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 591 C Chief Medical Officer 1931. Chief Medical Officer (a) In general There is in the Office a Chief Medical Officer, who shall be appointed by the President. The Chief Medical Officer shall report to the Assistant Secretary. (b) Qualifications The individual appointed as Chief Medical Officer shall be a licensed physician possessing a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of medicine and public health. (c) Responsibilities The Chief Medical Officer shall have the responsibility within the Department for medical issues related to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, including— (1) serving as the principal advisor on medical and public health issues to the Secretary, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Assistant Secretary, and other Department officials; (2) providing operational medical support to all components of the Department; (3) as appropriate, providing medical liaisons to the components of the Department, on a reimbursable basis, to provide subject matter expertise on operational medical issues; (4) coordinating with Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, the medical community, and others within and outside the Department, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the Department of Health and Human Services, with respect to medical and public health matters; and (5) performing such other duties relating to such responsibilities as the Secretary may require. . (3) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by striking the item relating to section 516. (d) Workforce health and medical support Title VII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 341 710. Workforce health and medical support (a) In general The Under Secretary for Management shall be responsible for workforce-focused health and medical activities of the Department. The Under Secretary for Management may further delegate these responsibilities, as appropriate. (b) Responsibilities The Under Secretary for Management, in coordination with the Chief Medical Officer, shall— (1) provide oversight and coordinate the medical and health activities of the Department for the human and animal personnel of the Department; (2) establish medical, health, veterinary, and occupational health exposure policy, guidance, strategies, and initiatives for the human and animal personnel of the Department; (3) as deemed appropriate by the Under Secretary, provide medical liaisons to the components of the Department, on a reimbursable basis, to provide subject matter expertise on occupational medical and public health issues; (4) serve as the primary representative for the Department on agreements regarding the detail of Commissioned Corps officers of the Public Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services to the Department, except that components and offices of the Department shall retain authority for funding, determination of specific duties, and supervision of such detailed Commissioned Corps officers; and (5) perform such other duties relating to such responsibilities as the Secretary may require. . (e) Transfers; abolishment (1) Transfers The Secretary of Homeland Security shall transfer to— (A) the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office all functions, personnel, budget authority, and assets of— (i) the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, as in existence on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act; and (ii) the Office of Health Affairs, as in existence on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, except for the functions, personnel, budget authority, and assets of such office necessary to perform the functions specified in section 710 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (relating to workforce health and medical support), as added by this Act; and (B) to the Directorate of Management of the Department of Homeland Security all functions, personnel, budget authority, and assets of the Office of Health Affairs, as in existence on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, that are necessary to perform the functions of such section 710. (2) Abolishment Upon completion of all transfers pursuant to paragraph (1)— (A) the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office of the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Health Affairs of the Department of Homeland Security are abolished; and (B) the positions of Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection are abolished. (f) Conforming amendments (1) Other officers Paragraph (4) of section 103(d) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 113(d) A Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection An Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (2) National Biosurveillance Integration Center Section 316(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 195b(a) Secretary shall Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, shall (3) International cooperation Section 317(f) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 195c(f) the Chief Medical Officer, the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, (4) Functions transferred Section 505(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 315(b) (A) by striking paragraph (4); (B) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4); and (C) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated, by striking through (4) through (3) (5) Coordination of Department of Homeland Security efforts related to food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against terrorism Section 528(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 321q(a) Health Affairs, the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, (g) Department of Homeland Security chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear activities Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act and once every year thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide a briefing and report to the appropriate congressional committees (as defined in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 101 (1) the organization and management of the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear activities of the Department of Homeland Security, including research and development activities, and the location of each activity under the organizational structure of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office; (2) a comprehensive inventory of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear activities, including research and development activities, of the Department of Homeland Security, highlighting areas of collaboration between components, coordination with other agencies, and the effectiveness and accomplishments of consolidated chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear activities of the Department of Homeland Security, including research and development activities; (3) information relating to how the organizational structure of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office will enhance the development of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear priorities and capabilities across the Department of Homeland Security; (4) a discussion of any resulting cost savings and efficiencies gained through activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2); (5) information on how the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office is coordinating with the Under Secretary of Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security on research and development activities; and (6) recommendations for any necessary statutory changes, or, if no statutory changes are necessary, an explanation of why no statutory or organizational changes are necessary. (h) Clerical amendments The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended— (1) by inserting after the item relating to section 709 the following: Sec. 710. Workforce health and medical support. ; and (2) by striking the item relating to title XIX (including items relating to section 1901 through section 1907) and inserting the following: Title XIX—Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office Sec. 1900. Definitions. Subtitle A—Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office Sec. 1901. Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. Subtitle B—Mission of the Office Sec. 1921. Mission of the Office. Sec. 1922. Relationship to other department entities and Federal agencies. Sec. 1923. Responsibilities. Sec. 1924. Hiring authority. Sec. 1925. Testing authority. Sec. 1926. Contracting and grant making authorities. Sec. 1927. Joint annual interagency review of global nuclear detection architecture. Sec. 1928. Securing the Cities program. Subtitle C—Chief Medical Officer Sec. 1931. Chief Medical Officer. . September 7, 2018 Reported from the Committee on Homeland Security September 7, 2018 Committee on Energy and Commerce

Summary: Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 2018 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, headed by an Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary shall serve as the principal advisor to DHS on weapons of mass destruction matters and strategies, and on coordinating efforts to counter weapons of mass destruction. The office shall coordinate DHS strategy and policy to plan, detect, and protect against the importation, possession, storage, transportation, development, or use of unauthorized chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear materials, devices, or agents. The Assistant Secretary shall establish the Securing the Cities program to detect and prevent terrorist attacks and other high consequence events utilizing nuclear or other radiological materials that pose a high risk to homeland security in high-risk urban areas. The bill establishes in the office a Chief Medical Officer who shall serve as the principal advisor to DHS on medical and public health issues. The DHS Under Secretary for Management shall be responsible for workforce-focused health and medical activities of DHS. DHS shall: (1) transfer to the office all personnel, budget authority, and assets of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office and the Office of Health Affairs; and (2) provide a briefing and report to Congress on DHS chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear activities.