SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Department of Homeland Security CBRNE Defense Act 
of 2015’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; Table of contents. 
Sec. 2. CBRNE Office. 
Sec. 3. Chemical Division. 
Sec. 4. Biological Division. 
Sec. 5. Nuclear Division. 
Sec. 6. Explosives Division. 
Sec. 7. Savings provisions. 
Sec. 8. Clerical amendments. 
SEC. 2. CBRNE OFFICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Homeland Security Act of 
2002 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
title: 
‘‘TITLE XXII—CBRNE OFFICE 
‘‘Subtitle A—Chemical, Biological, 
Radiological, Nuclear, and Ex-
plosives Office 
‘‘SEC. 2201. CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, NU-
CLEAR, AND EXPLOSIVES OFFICE. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Department a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, 
and Explosives Office (referred to in this title as the 
‘CBRNE Office’). The CBRNE Office shall be comprised 
of the Chemical Division, the Biological Division, the Nu-
clear Division, and the Explosives Division. The CBRNE 
Office may include a Health Division. 
‘‘(b) MISSION
OF OFFICE.—The mission of the 
CBRNE Office is to coordinate, strengthen, and provide 
chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives 
(CBRNE) capabilities in support of homeland security. 
‘‘(c) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The Office shall be 
headed by an Assistant Secretary for the Chemical, Bio-
logical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives Office (re-
ferred to in this title as the ‘Assistant Secretary’), who 
shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice 
and consent of the Senate. 
‘‘(d) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Assistant Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(1) develop, coordinate, and maintain overall 
CBRNE strategy and policy for the Department; 
‘‘(2) develop, coordinate, and maintain for the 
Department periodic CBRNE risk assessments; 
‘‘(3) serve as the primary Department rep-
resentative for coordinating CBRNE activities with 
other Federal departments and agencies; 
‘‘(4) provide oversight for the Department’s 
preparedness for CBRNE threats; 
‘‘(5) provide support for operations during 
CBRNE threats or incidents; and
‘‘(6) carry out such other responsibilities as the 
Secretary determines appropriate, consistent with 
this title. 
‘‘(e) OTHER OFFICERS.—The Director of the Chem-
ical Division, the Director of the Biological Division, the 
Director of the Nuclear Division, and the Director of the 
Explosives Division shall report directly to the Assistant 
Secretary. 
‘‘SEC. 2202. COMPOSITION OF THE CBRNE OFFICE. 
‘‘The Secretary shall transfer to the CBRNE Office, 
the functions, personnel, budget authority, and assets of 
the following: 
‘‘(1) The Office of Health Affairs as in exist-
ence on the day before the date of the enactment of 
this title, including the Chief Medical Officer author-
ized under section 516, and the National Biosurveil-
lance Integration Center authorized under section 
316. 
‘‘(2) The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office 
authorized under title XIX, as in existence on the 
date before the date of the enactment of this title 
(and redesignated as the Nuclear Division). 
‘‘(3) CBRNE threat awareness and risk assess-
ment activities of the Science and Technology Direc-
torate.
‘‘(4) The CBRNE functions of the Office of 
Policy and the Office of Operations Coordination. 
‘‘(5) The Office for Bombing Prevention of the 
National Protection and Programs Directorate, as in 
existence on the day before the date of the enact-
ment of this title. 
‘‘SEC. 2203. HIRING AUTHORITY. 
‘‘In hiring personnel for the CBRNE Office, the Sec-
retary shall have the hiring and management authorities 
provided in section 1101 of the Strom Thurmond National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (5 U.S.C. 
3104 note; Public Law 105–261), except that the term 
of appointments for employees under subsection (c)(1) of 
such section may not exceed 5 years before granting any 
extension under subsection (c)(2) of such section. 
‘‘SEC. 2204. GRANTS, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS, AND 
OTHER TRANSACTIONS AND CONTRACTS. 
‘‘The Assistant Secretary, in carrying out the respon-
sibilities under this title, may distribute funds through 
grants, cooperative agreements, and other transactions 
and contracts. 
‘‘SEC. 2205. TERRORISM RISK ASSESSMENTS. 
‘‘(a) TERRORISM RISK ASSESSMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary 
shall, in coordination with relevant Department com-
ponents and other appropriate Federal departments 
and agencies, develop, coordinate, and update peri-
odically terrorism risk assessments of chemical, bio-
logical, radiological, and nuclear threats. 
‘‘(2) COMPARISON.—The Assistant Secretary 
shall develop, coordinate, and update periodically an 
integrated terrorism risk assessment that assesses 
all of the threats referred to in paragraph (1) and, 
as appropriate, explosives threats, and compares 
each such threat against one another according to 
their relative risk. 
‘‘(3) INCLUSION
IN
ASSESSMENT.—Each ter-
rorism risk assessment under this subsection shall 
include a description of the methodology used for 
each such assessment. 
‘‘(4) UPDATES.—Each terrorism risk assess-
ment under this subsection shall be updated not less 
often than once every 2 years. 
‘‘(5) PROVISION TO CONGRESS.—The Assistant 
Secretary shall provide a copy of each risk assess-
ment under this subsection to the Committee on 
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Homeland Security and Gov-
ernmental Affairs of the Senate not later than 30 
days after completion of each such assessment.
‘‘(b) METHODOLOGY.—In developing the terrorism 
risk assessments under subsection (a), the Assistant Sec-
retary, in consultation with appropriate Federal depart-
ments and agencies, shall— 
‘‘(1) assess the proposed methodology to be 
used for such assessments; and 
‘‘(2) consider the evolving threat to the United 
States as indicated by the intelligence community 
(as such term is defined in section 3(4) of the Na-
tional Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4))). 
‘‘(c) USAGE.—The terrorism risk assessments re-
quired under subsection (a) shall be used to inform and 
guide allocation of resources for chemical, biological, radi-
ological, and nuclear threat activities of the Department. 
‘‘(d) INPUT AND SHARING.—The Assistant Secretary 
shall, for each terrorism risk assessment under subsection 
(a)— 
‘‘(1) seek input from national stakeholders and 
other Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial of-
ficials involved in efforts to counter chemical, bio-
logical, radiological, and nuclear threats; 
‘‘(2) ensure that written procedures are in place 
to guide the development of such assessments, in-
cluding for input, review, and implementation pur-
poses, among relevant Federal partners;
‘‘(3) share such assessments with Federal, 
State, local, tribal, and territorial officials with ap-
propriate security clearances and a need for the in-
formation in the classified versions of such assess-
ments; and 
‘‘(4) to the maximum extent practicable, make 
available an unclassified version of such assessments 
for Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial offi-
cials involved in prevention and preparedness for 
chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear events. 
‘‘SEC. 2206. CBRNE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC MES-
SAGING. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in coordination 
with the Assistant Secretary, shall develop an overarching 
risk communication strategy for terrorist attacks and 
other high consequence events utilizing chemical, biologi-
cal, radiological, or nuclear agents or explosives that pose 
a high risk to homeland security, and shall— 
‘‘(1) develop threat-specific risk communication 
plans, in coordination with appropriate Federal de-
partments and agencies; 
‘‘(2) develop risk communication messages, in-
cluding pre-scripted messaging to the extent prac-
ticable;
‘‘(3) develop clearly defined interagency proc-
esses and protocols to assure coordinated risk and 
incident communications and information sharing 
during incident response; 
‘‘(4) engage private and nongovernmental enti-
ties in communications planning, as appropriate; 
‘‘(5) identify ways to educate and engage the 
public about CBRNE threats and consequences; 
‘‘(6) develop strategies for communicating using 
social and new media; and 
‘‘(7) provide guidance on risk and incident com-
munications for CBRNE events to State, local, trib-
al, and territorial governments, and other stake-
holders, as appropriate. 
‘‘(b) COMMUNICATION
DURING
RESPONSE.—The 
Secretary shall provide appropriate timely, accurate infor-
mation to the public, governmental partners, the private 
sector, and other appropriate stakeholders in the event of 
a suspected or confirmed terrorist attack or other high 
consequence event utilizing chemical, biological, radio-
logical, or nuclear agents or explosives that pose a high 
risk to homeland security. 
‘‘(c) REPORTS.— 
‘‘(1) DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS.—Not later than 
120 days after the date of the enactment of this
title, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Homeland Security and Gov-
ernmental Affairs of the Senate a report on current 
and future efforts of the Department to develop the 
communication strategy required under subsection 
(a). 
‘‘(2) FINALIZATION.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date the report required under paragraph 
(1) is submitted, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate the 
communication strategy required under subsection 
(a). 
‘‘SEC. 2207. CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, NU-
CLEAR, AND EXPLOSIVES INTELLIGENCE AND 
INFORMATION SHARING. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary of Intel-
ligence and Analysis of the Department shall— 
‘‘(1) support homeland security-focused intel-
ligence analysis of terrorist actors, their claims, and 
their plans to conduct attacks involving chemical, bi-
ological, radiological, or nuclear materials or explo-
sives against the United States;
‘‘(2) support homeland security-focused intel-
ligence analysis of global infectious diseases, public 
health, food, agricultural, and veterinary issues; 
‘‘(3) support homeland security-focused risk 
analysis and risk assessments of the homeland secu-
rity hazards described in paragraphs (1) and (2) by 
providing relevant quantitative and nonquantitative 
threat information; 
‘‘(4) leverage existing and emerging homeland 
security intelligence capabilities and structures to 
enhance prevention, protection, response, and recov-
ery efforts with respect to a chemical, biological, ra-
diological, nuclear, or explosives attack; 
‘‘(5) share appropriate information regarding 
such threats to appropriate State, local, tribal, and 
territorial authorities, as well as other national bio-
security and biodefense stakeholders; and 
‘‘(6) perform other responsibilities, as assigned 
by the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) COORDINATION.—Where appropriate, the Under 
Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis shall coordinate 
with the heads of other relevant Department components, 
including the Assistant Secretary, members of the intel-
ligence community, including the National Counter Pro-
liferation Center and the National Counterterrorism Cen-
ter, and other Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial 
authorities, including officials from high-threat areas, to 
enable such entities to provide recommendations on opti-
mal information sharing mechanisms, including expedi-
tious sharing of classified information, and on how such 
entities can provide information to the Department. 
‘‘(c) REPORT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this section and annu-
ally thereafter for 5 years, the Secretary shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate a report on— 
‘‘(A) the intelligence and information shar-
ing activities under subsections (a) and (b) and 
of all relevant entities within the Department to 
prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond 
to, mitigate, and recover from terrorist attacks 
and other high consequence events utilizing 
chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear 
agents or explosives that pose a high risk to 
homeland security; and 
‘‘(B) the Department’s activities in accord-
ance with relevant intelligence strategies.
‘‘(2) ASSESSMENT
OF
IMPLEMENTATION.— 
Each report required under paragraph (1) shall also 
include— 
‘‘(A) a description of methods established 
to assess progress of the Office of Intelligence 
and Analysis in implementing this section; and 
‘‘(B) such assessment of such progress. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY.—The term 
‘intelligence community’ has the meaning given such 
term in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 
1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4)). 
‘‘(2) NATIONAL BIOSECURITY AND BIODEFENSE 
STAKEHOLDERS.—The term ‘national biosecurity 
and biodefense stakeholders’ means officials from 
Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial authori-
ties and individuals from the private sector who are 
involved in efforts to prevent, protect against, pre-
pare for, respond to, mitigate, and recover from a 
biological attack or other phenomena that may have 
serious health consequences for the United States, 
including infectious disease outbreaks.’’. 
(b) AFTER ACTION AND EFFICIENCIES REVIEW.— 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting
through the Assistant Secretary for the Chemical, Biologi-
cal, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives Office of the 
Department of Homeland Security (established pursuant 
to section 2201 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, 
as added by subsection (a) of this section), shall submit 
to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that— 
(1) reviews the functions and responsibilities of 
the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and 
Explosives Office of the Department (established 
pursuant to section 2201 of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a) of this sec-
tion) to identify and eliminate areas of unnecessary 
duplication; 
(2) provides a detailed accounting of the man-
agement and administrative expenditures and activi-
ties of the Office, including expenditures related to 
the establishment of the CBRNE Office, such as ex-
penditures associated with the utilization of the Sec-
retary’s authority to award retention bonuses pursu-
ant to Federal law; 
(3) identifies any potential cost savings and ef-
ficiencies within the CBRNE Office or its divisions; 
and
(4) identifies opportunities to enhance the effec-
tiveness of the management and administration of 
the CBRNE Office to improve operational impact 
and enhance efficiencies. 
(c) CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, NU-
CLEAR, AND EXPLOSIVES RESEARCH
AND DEVELOP-
MENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall assess the organizational structure of 
the management and execution of the Department of 
Homeland Security’s chemical, biological, radio-
logical, nuclear, and explosives research and develop-
ment activities, and shall develop and submit to the 
Committee on Homeland Security, the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology, and the Committee 
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Homeland Security and Gov-
ernmental Affairs and the Committee on Appropria-
tions of the Senate at the time the President sub-
mits the budget under section 1105 of title 31, 
United States Code, for the fiscal year that follows 
the issuance of the Comptroller General review re-
quired pursuant to subsection (d) a proposed organi-
zational structure for the management and execution
of such chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, 
and explosives research and development activities. 
(2) 
ORGANIZATIONAL
JUSTIFICATION.—The 
Secretary of Homeland Security shall include in the 
assessment required under paragraph (1) a thorough 
justification and rationalization for the proposed or-
ganizational structure for management and execu-
tion of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and 
explosives research and development activities, in-
cluding the following: 
(A) A discussion of the methodology for 
determining such proposed organizational struc-
ture. 
(B) A comprehensive inventory of chem-
ical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explo-
sives research and development activities of the 
Department of Homeland Security and where 
each such activity will be located within or out-
side such proposed organizational structure. 
(C) Information relating to how such pro-
posed organizational structure will facilitate and 
promote coordination and requirements genera-
tion with customers. 
(D) Information relating to how such pro-
posed organizational structure will support the
development of chemical, biological, radiological, 
nuclear, and explosives research and develop-
ment priorities across the Department. 
(E) If the chemical, biological, radiological, 
nuclear, and explosives research and develop-
ment activities of the Department are not co-lo-
cated in such proposed organizational structure, 
a justification for such separation. 
(F) The strategy for coordination between 
the Under Secretary for Science and Tech-
nology and the Assistant Secretary for the 
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and 
Explosives Office on chemical, biological, radio-
logical, nuclear, and explosives research and de-
velopment activities. 
(G) Recommendations for necessary statu-
tory changes. 
(3) LIMITATION ON ACTION.—The Secretary of 
Homeland Security may not take any action to reor-
ganize the structure referred to in paragraph (1) un-
less the Secretary receives prior authorization from 
the Committee on Homeland Security and the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate permitting any such action. 
(d) GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REVIEW 
OF CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, NUCLEAR, 
AND EXPLOSIVES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVI-
TIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of 
the United States shall conduct a review of the orga-
nizational structure of the Department of Homeland 
Security’s management and execution of chemical, 
biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives re-
search and development activities. 
(2) SCOPE.—The review required under para-
graph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) An assessment of the organizational 
structure for the management and execution of 
chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and 
explosives research and development activities 
of the Department of Homeland Security, in-
cluding identification of any overlap or duplica-
tion of effort. 
(B) Recommendations to streamline and 
improve the organizational structure of the De-
partment’s management and execution of chem-
ical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explo-
sives research and development activities. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
General 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 the review required 
under this subsection. 
(e) DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ANALYZED BY 
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO STATE, 
LOCAL, TRIBAL, AND PRIVATE ENTITIES WITH RESPON-
SIBILITIES RELATING TO HOMELAND SECURITY.—Para-
graph (8) of section 201(d) of the Homeland Security Act 
of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘and 
to agencies of State’’ and all that follows through the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘to State, local, tribal, terri-
torial, and appropriate private entities with such respon-
sibilities, and, as appropriate, to the public, in order to 
assist in preventing, protecting against, preparing for, re-
sponding to, mitigating, and recovering from terrorist at-
tacks against the United States.’’. 
(f) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended—
(1) in paragraph (2) of section 103(a) (6 
U.S.C. 113(a)), by striking ‘‘Assistant Secretary for 
Health Affairs, the Assistant Secretary for Legisla-
tive Affairs, or the Assistant Secretary for Public 
Affairs,’’ and inserting ‘‘Assistant Secretary for Leg-
islative Affairs or the Assistant Secretary for Public 
Affairs,’’; 
(2) in section 302 (6 U.S.C. 182)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (13) and 
(14) as paragraphs (14) and (15), respectively; 
and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (12) the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(13) collaborating with the Assistant Secretary 
for the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, 
and Explosives Office on all chemical, biological, and 
explosives research and development activities;’’; 
(3) in subsection (b) of section 307 (6 U.S.C. 
187), by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(8) CBRNE DEFENSE.—The Director shall 
coordinate with the Assistant Secretary for the 
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Ex-
plosives Office on all chemical, biological, and explo-
sives research and development activities.’’; and
(4) in subsection (c) of section 516 (6 U.S.C. 
321e)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by inserting ‘‘, including the health impacts of 
chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear 
agents and explosives’’ after ‘‘natural disas-
ters’’; 
(B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(2) coordinating the Department’s policy, 
strategy, and preparedness for pandemics and 
emerging infectious diseases;’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘Under 
Secretary for Science and Technology’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Assistant Secretary for the Chemical, 
Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explo-
sives Office’’. 
SEC. 3. CHEMICAL DIVISION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title XXII of the Homeland Se-
curity Act of 2002, as added by section 2 of this Act, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subtitle: 
‘‘Subtitle B—Chemical Division 
‘‘SEC. 2211. CHEMICAL DIVISION. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
CBRNE Office a Chemical Division, headed by a Director
of the Chemical Division (in this subtitle referred to as 
the ‘Director’). 
‘‘(b) MISSION AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Direc-
tor shall be responsible for coordinating departmental 
strategy and policy relating to terrorist attacks and other 
high-consequence events utilizing chemical agents that 
pose a high risk to homeland security, including the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) Developing and maintaining the Depart-
ment’s strategy against chemical threats. 
‘‘(2) Serving as the Department representative 
for chemical threats and related activities with other 
Federal departments and agencies. 
‘‘(3) Providing oversight of the Department’s 
preparedness, including operational requirements, 
for chemical threats. 
‘‘(4) Enhancing the capabilities of Federal, 
State, local, tribal, and territorial governments, and 
private entities as appropriate, against chemical 
threats. 
‘‘(5) Evaluating and providing guidance to Fed-
eral, State, local, tribal, and territorial governments, 
and private entities as appropriate, on detection and 
communication technology that could be effective in
terrorist attacks and other high-consequence events 
utilizing chemical agents. 
‘‘(6) Supporting and enhancing the effective 
sharing and use of appropriate information gen-
erated by the intelligence community (as such term 
is defined in section 3(4) of the National Security 
Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4))), law enforcement 
agencies, other Federal, State, local tribal, and terri-
torial governments, and foreign governments, on 
chemical threats. 
‘‘SEC. 2212. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director may, subject to the 
availability of appropriations for such purpose, partner 
with high-risk urban areas or facilities to conduct dem-
onstration projects to enhance, through Federal, State, 
local, tribal, and territorial governments, and private enti-
ties, capabilities of the United States to counter terrorist 
attacks and other high-consequence events utilizing chem-
ical agents that pose a high risk to homeland security. 
‘‘(b) GOALS.—The Director may provide guidance 
and evaluations for all situations and venues at risk of 
terrorist attacks and other high-consequence events uti-
lizing chemical agents, such as at ports, areas of mass 
gathering, and transit facilities, and may—
‘‘(1) ensure all high-risk situations and venues 
are studied; and 
‘‘(2) ensure key findings and best practices are 
made available to State, local, tribal, and territorial 
governments and the private sector. 
‘‘(c) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION.—The Director 
shall notify the Committee on Homeland Security of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Home-
land Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate not 
later than 30 days before initiating a new demonstration 
project.’’. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
the United States shall submit to the Committee on 
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate an assessment of the Department 
of Homeland Security’s programs and activities related to 
terrorist attacks and other high-consequence events uti-
lizing chemical agents that pose a high risk to homeland 
security. 
SEC. 4. BIOLOGICAL DIVISION. 
Title XXII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, 
as added by section 2 of this Act and as amended by sec-
tion 3 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the 
end the following new subtitle: 
‘‘Subtitle C—Biological Division 
‘‘SEC. 2221. BIOLOGICAL DIVISION. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
CBRNE Office a Biological Division, headed by a Director 
of the Biological Division (in this subtitle referred to as 
the ‘Director’). 
‘‘(b) MISSION AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Office 
shall be responsible for coordinating departmental strat-
egy and policy relating to terrorist attacks and other high- 
consequence events utilizing biological agents that pose a 
high risk to homeland security, including the following: 
‘‘(1) Developing and maintaining the Depart-
ment’s strategy against biological threats. 
‘‘(2) Serving as the Department representative 
for biological threats and related activities with 
other Federal departments and agencies. 
‘‘(3) Providing oversight for the Department’s 
preparedness, including operational requirements, 
for biological threats. 
‘‘(4) Enhancing the capabilities of Federal, 
State, local, tribal, and territorial governments, and 
private entities as appropriate, against biological 
threats.
‘‘(5) Supporting and enhancing the effective 
sharing and use of appropriate information gen-
erated by the intelligence community (as such term 
is defined in section 3(4) of the National Security 
Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4))), law enforcement 
agencies, other Federal, State, local, tribal, and ter-
ritorial governments, and foreign governments, on 
biological threats. 
‘‘(6) Achieving a biological detection program. 
‘‘(7) Maintaining the National Biosurveillance 
Integration Center, authorized under section 316.’’. 
SEC. 5. NUCLEAR DIVISION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title XXII of the Homeland Se-
curity Act of 2002, as added by section 2 of this Act and 
as amended by sections 3 and 4 of this Act, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new subtitle: 
‘‘Subtitle D—Nuclear Division 
‘‘SEC. 2231. NUCLEAR DIVISION. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall include 
within the CBRNE Office the Nuclear Division under title 
XIX, headed by the Director of the Nuclear Division (in 
this subtitle referred to as the ‘Director’) pursuant to sec-
tion 1901. 
‘‘(b) MISSION AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—In addition 
to the responsibilities specified in title XIX, the Director
shall also be responsible for coordinating departmental 
strategy and policy relating to terrorist attacks and other 
high-consequence events utilizing nuclear or other radio-
logical materials, and for coordinating Federal efforts to 
detect and protect against the unauthorized importation, 
possession, storage, transportation, development, or use of 
a nuclear explosive device, fissile material, or radiological 
material in the United States, and to protect against an 
attack using such devices or materials against the people, 
territory, or interests of the United States, in accordance 
with title XIX.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
Title XIX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is 
amended— 
(1) in the title heading, by striking ‘‘DOMES-
TIC NUCLEAR DETECTION OFFICE’’ and 
inserting ‘‘NUCLEAR DIVISION’’; 
(2) in section 1901 (6 U.S.C. 591)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘DOMES-
TIC NUCLEAR DETECTION OFFICE’’ and in-
serting ‘‘NUCLEAR DIVISION’’; 
(B) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘There 
shall be established in the Department a Do-
mestic Nuclear Detection Office’’ and inserting
‘‘There is in the Department a Nuclear Divi-
sion, located in the CBRNE Office’’; and 
(C) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘Director 
for Domestic Nuclear Detection, who shall be 
appointed by the President’’ and inserting ‘‘Di-
rector of the Nuclear Division’’; 
(3) in subsection (a) of section 1902 (6 U.S.C. 
592)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1)— 
(i) by inserting after ‘‘responsible for’’ 
the following: ‘‘coordinating departmental 
strategy and policy relating to terrorist at-
tacks and other high-consequence events 
utilizing nuclear or other radiological mate-
rials, and for’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘to protect’’ and in-
serting ‘‘protecting’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (11), in the matter pre-
ceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘Domestic 
Nuclear Detection Office’’ and inserting ‘‘Nu-
clear Division’’; 
(4) by repealing section 1903 (6 U.S.C. 593); 
(5) in section 1906 (6 U.S.C. 596)—
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Domestic Nuclear De-
tection’’ and inserting ‘‘the Nuclear Divi-
sion’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘paragraphs (6) and 
(7) of’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘para-
graphs (6) and (7) of’’; 
(6) in section 1907 (6 U.S.C. 596a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Annual’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘Biennial’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘each year’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘every 2 years’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘previous year’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘previous 2 years’’; 
(D) in the heading of subsection (a), by 
striking ‘‘ANNUAL’’ and inserting ‘‘BIENNIAL’’; 
and 
(E) subsection (b)— 
(i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘AN-
NUAL’’ and inserting ‘‘BIENNIAL’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (1), by inserting 
‘‘odd-numbered’’ after ‘‘each’’; and
(iii) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘an-
nual’’ and inserting ‘‘biennial’’; and 
(7) by adding at the end the following new sec-
tion: 
‘‘SEC. 1908. DOMESTIC IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GLOBAL 
NUCLEAR DETECTION ARCHITECTURE. 
‘‘In carrying out the mission of the Office under sub-
paragraph (A) of section 1902(a)(4), the Director of the 
Nuclear Division shall provide support for planning, orga-
nization, equipment, training, exercises, and operational 
assessments to Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial 
governments to assist such governments in implementing 
radiological and nuclear detection capabilities in the event 
of terrorist attacks or other high-consequence events uti-
lizing nuclear or other radiological materials that pose a 
high risk to homeland security. Such capabilities shall be 
integrated into the enhanced global nuclear detection ar-
chitecture referred to in such section 1902(a)(4), and shall 
inform and be guided by architecture studies, technology 
needs, and research activities of the Office.’’. 
(c) REFERENCE.—Any reference in any law, regula-
tion, or rule to the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office or 
the Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection of the De-
partment of Homeland Security shall be deemed to be a
reference to the Nuclear Division or the Director of the 
Nuclear Division, respectively, of the Department. 
SEC. 6. EXPLOSIVES DIVISION. 
Title XXII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, 
as added by section 2 of this Act and as amended by sec-
tions 3, 4, and 5 of this Act, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following new subtitle: 
‘‘Subtitle E—Explosives Division 
‘‘SEC. 2241. EXPLOSIVES DIVISION. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 
the CBRNE Office an Explosives Division, headed by a 
Director of the Explosives Division (in this subtitle re-
ferred to as the ‘Director’). 
‘‘(b) MISSION AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Direc-
tor shall be responsible for coordinating departmental 
strategy and policy relating to terrorist attacks and other 
high-consequence events utilizing explosives that pose a 
high risk to homeland security, including the following: 
‘‘(1) Developing and maintaining the Depart-
ment’s strategy against explosives threats. 
‘‘(2) Serving as the Department representative 
for explosives threats and related activities with 
other Federal departments and agencies.
‘‘(3) Providing oversight of the Department’s 
preparedness, including operational requirements, 
for explosives threats. 
‘‘(4) Enhancing the capabilities of Federal, 
State, local, tribal, and territorial governments, and 
private entities as appropriate, to counter terrorist 
attacks and other high-consequence events utilizing 
explosives. 
‘‘(5) Evaluating and providing guidance to Fed-
eral, State, local, tribal, and territorial governments 
and appropriate private entities on detection and 
communication technology that could be effective 
during terrorist attacks or other high-consequence 
events utilizing explosives. 
‘‘(6) Supporting and enhancing the effective 
sharing and use of appropriate information gen-
erated by the intelligence community (as such term 
is defined in section 3(4) of the National Security 
Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4))), law enforcement 
agencies, other Federal, State, local, tribal, and ter-
ritorial government agencies, and foreign govern-
ments, on explosives threats.’’. 
SEC. 7. SAVINGS PROVISIONS. 
Nothing in this Act shall change the authority of the 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency to lead the emergency management system of the 
United States. Nothing in this Act shall alter the responsi-
bility of the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of 
Homeland Security to serve as the principal advisor to the 
Secretary of Homeland Security and the Administrator of 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency on medical 
and public health issues pursuant to paragraph (1) of sec-
tion 516(c) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 321e(c)). 
SEC. 8. CLERICAL AMENDMENTS. 
The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 is amended— 
(1) by striking the item relating to title XIX 
and inserting the following new item: 
‘‘TITLE XIX—NUCLEAR DIVISION’’; 
(2) by striking the item relating to section 1901 
and inserting the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 1901. Nuclear Division.’’; 
(3) by striking the item relating to section 
1903; 
(4) by adding after the item relating to section 
1907 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 1908. Domestic Implementation of the global nuclear detection architec-
ture.’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘TITLE XXII—CBRNE OFFICE
‘‘Subtitle A—Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives 
Office 
‘‘Sec. 2201. Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives Office. 
‘‘Sec. 2202. Composition of the CBRNE Office. 
‘‘Sec. 2203. Hiring authority. 
‘‘Sec. 2204. Grants, cooperative agreements, and other transactions and con-
tracts. 
‘‘Sec. 2205. Terrorism risk assessments. 
‘‘Sec. 2206. CBRNE communications and public messaging. 
‘‘Sec. 2207. Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives intel-
ligence and information sharing.’’. 
‘‘Subtitle B—Chemical Division 
‘‘Sec. 2211. Chemical Division. 
‘‘Sec. 2212. Demonstration projects.’’. 
‘‘Subtitle C—Biological Division 
‘‘Sec. 2221. Biological Division.’’. 
‘‘Subtitle D—Nuclear Division 
‘‘Sec. 2231. Nuclear Division.’’. 
‘‘Subtitle E—Explosives Division 
‘‘Sec. 2241. Explosives Division.’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives December 10, 
2015. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 3875 
AN ACT 
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to 
establish within the Department of Homeland 
Security a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, 
Nuclear, and Explosives Office, and for other 
purposes.