Department of Homeland Security Climate Change Research Act
Bill: H.R.3756 | Sponsor: Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. (D-NY)
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Department of Homeland Security Climate Change Research Act
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to evaluate current federal research and development regarding approaches to mitigate the consequences of climate change on homeland security, identify research and development gaps, and conduct additional research and development to fill those gaps.

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 evaluate existing Federal research regarding 
approaches to mitigate climate change on homeland security to identify 
areas for further research within the Department, research and develop 
 approaches to mitigate the consequences of climate change on homeland 
                   security, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Homeland Security 
Climate Change Research Act''.

SEC. 2. CLIMATE CHANGE PLANNING, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND 
              PROTECTION AND PREPAREDNESS.

    (a) In General.--Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 322. 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 the consequence of climate change on 
        homeland security to identify areas for additional research and 
        development pursuant to paragraph (2) with respect to--
                    ``(A) any connection between climate change and 
                homeland security, including how the resulting 
                competition for resources, economic distress, and 
                social discontent has contributed to, among other 
                outcomes, acts of terrorism;
                    ``(B) the degree to which climate change is 
                reflected in terrorism preparedness and emergency 
                planning and policies, including with respect to 
                preparedness, response to, and recovery from natural 
                disasters; and
                    ``(C) the degree to which the Federal funding 
                structure to respond to major disaster declarations and 
                emergency declarations is adequately structured to meet 
                the demands of responding to and recovering from acts 
                of terrorism and natural disasters that are aggravated 
                by climate change; and
            ``(2) shall, to the extent practicable, conduct research 
        and development on approaches to mitigate the consequences of 
        climate change on homeland security in response to finding 
        pursuant to paragraph (1).
    ``(b) Scope.--The scope of the research and development under 
subsection (a)(2) shall include the following:
            ``(1) Any connection between climate change and homeland 
        security, including how the resulting competition for 
        resources, economic distress, and social discontent can 
        contribute to, among other outcomes, acts of terrorism.
            ``(2) The degree to which climate change is reflected in 
        terrorism preparedness and emergency planning and policies, 
        including with respect to preparedness, response to, and 
        recovery from natural disasters.
            ``(3) The degree to which the Federal funding structure to 
        respond to major disaster declarations and emergency 
        declarations is adequately structured to meet the demands of 
        responding to and recovering from acts of terrorism and natural 
        disasters that are aggravated by climate change.
    ``(c) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the Under 
Secretary for Science and Technology shall consult with the heads of 
other relevant agencies and departments of the Federal Government, 
first responders, and relevant owners and operators of critical 
infrastructure.
    ``(d) Climate Change Defined.--The term `climate change' refers to 
detectable changes in one or more climate system components that is 
directly or indirectly attributed to--
            ``(1) human activity; and
            ``(2) altering the composition of the global atmosphere.''.
    (b) 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 321 the following new item:

``Sec. 322. Climate change research and development.''.

SEC. 3. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act 
and annually thereafter for 3 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 
322 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by this Act.
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