Title: Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 2018
Policy area: Emergency Management

Summary:
Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 2018
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.
DHS shall transfer to the office all personnel, budget authority, and assets of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office and the Office of Health Affairs.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6198 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6198

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Countering 
      Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 22, 2018

Mr. Donovan (for himself and Mr. McCaul) introduced the following bill; 
   which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in 
 addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Countering 
      Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, 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 ``Countering Weapons of Mass 
Destruction Act of 2018''.

SEC. 2. COUNTERING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION OFFICE.

    (a) In General.--Title XIX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 591 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in the title heading, by striking ``DOMESTIC NUCLEAR 
        DETECTION OFFICE'' and inserting ``COUNTERING WEAPONS OF MASS 
        DESTRUCTION OFFICE'';
            (2) by striking section 1901 and inserting the following:

``SEC. 1900. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this title:
            ``(1) Assistant secretary.--The term `Assistant Secretary' 
        means the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of 
        Mass Destruction Office.
            ``(2) Office.--The term `Office' means the Countering 
        Weapons of Mass Destruction Office established under section 
        1901(a).
            ``(3) Weapon of mass destruction.--The term `weapon of mass 
        destruction' has the meaning given the term in section 101 of 
        the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 
        1801).

      ``Subtitle A--Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office

``SEC. 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.'';
            (3) by adding at the end the following:

                  ``Subtitle B--Mission of the Office

``SEC. 1921. MISSION OF THE OFFICE.

    ``The Office shall be responsible for coordinating with other 
Federal efforts and developing departmental 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 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.

``SEC. 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, in the section 
        heading by striking ``mission of office'' and inserting 
        ``responsibilities''; and
            (7) by inserting after section 1927, as so redesignated, 
        the following new section:

``SEC. 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') program to enhance the 
ability of the United States 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. Through the STC program the Secretary shall--
            ``(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.--For purposes of sections 1923 through 1927 
        of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as so redesignated by 
        subsection (a), any reference 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 is transferred 
        to the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass 
        Destruction, 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 et seq.) is amended by striking section 516.
            (2) Amendment.--Title XIX of the Homeland Security Act of 
        2002 (6 U.S.C. 591 et seq.), as amended by subsection (a), is 
        further amended by adding at the end the following:

                  ``Subtitle C--Chief Medical Officer

``SEC. 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.--
            (1) In general.--Title VII of the Homeland Security Act of 
        2002 (6 U.S.C. 341 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new section:

``SEC. 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 the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office 
        all personnel, budget authority, and assets of--
                    (A) the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, as in 
                existence on the day before the date of the enactment 
                of this Act; and
                    (B) the Office of Health Affairs, as in existence 
                on the day before the date of the enactment of this 
                Act.
            (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.--Section 103(d) of the Homeland 
        Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 113(d)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (4); and
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph 
                (4).
            (2) National biosurveillance integration center.--Section 
        316(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 195b(a)) 
        is amended by striking ``Secretary shall'' and inserting 
        ``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)) is amended by 
        striking ``the Chief Medical Officer,'' and inserting ``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)) is amended--
                    (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)'' and inserting ``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)) is amended by striking ``Health Affairs,'' 
        and inserting ``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) on--
            (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); and
            (5) 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.''.
                                 <all>