Securing the Cities Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-3493
Sponsor: Rep. Donovan, Daniel M., Jr. [R-NY-11]
Introduced: 2015-09-11 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Emergency planning and evacuation
Homeland security
Intergovernmental relations
Law enforcement administration and funding
Nuclear weapons
Radiation
State and local government operations
Terrorism
Urban and suburban affairs and development

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-11
text: 

Securing the Cities Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection to establish the Securing the Cities 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. 
 
Under such program, the Director shall:
 
 
 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;
 
support the development of a region-wide operating capability to detect and report on nuclear and other radioactive materials out of operational control;
 
provide resources to enhance detection, analysis, communication, and coordination to better integrate state, local, tribal, and territorial assets into federal operations;
 
 facilitate alarm adjudication and provide subject matter expertise and technical assistance on concepts of operations, training, exercises, and alarm response protocols;
 
 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; and 
 
designate participating jurisdictions from among high-risk urban areas and other cities and regions, as appropriate, and notify Congress at least three days before designating or changing such jurisdictions.
 
 
The Comptroller General is required to submit an assessment evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

action_date: 2015-10-20
text: 
(
Securing the Cities Act of 2015

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection to establish the Securing the Cities 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. 
 
Under such program, the Director shall:
 
 
 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;
 
support the development of a region-wide operating capability to detect and report on nuclear and other radioactive materials out of operational control;
 
provide resources to enhance detection, analysis, communication, and coordination to better integrate state, local, tribal, and territorial assets into federal operations;
 
 facilitate alarm adjudication and provide subject matter expertise and technical assistance on concepts of operations, training, exercises, and alarm response protocols;
 
 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; and 
 
designate participating jurisdictions from among high-risk urban areas and other cities and regions, as appropriate, and notify Congress at least three days before designating or changing such jurisdictions.
 
 
The Comptroller General is required to submit an assessment evaluating the effectiveness of the program.
 
(Sec. 3) This section requires the Director to report to Congress on the feasibility of developing model exercises to test the preparedness of jurisdictions participating in the program in meeting the challenges that may be posed by a range of nuclear and radiological threats.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-21
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2015-10-20
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 411 - 4 (Roll no. 550). (text: CR H6988)
action_date: 2015-10-20
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2015-10-20
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 411 - 4 (Roll no. 550).(text: CR H6988)
action_date: 2015-10-20
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7010)
action_date: 2015-10-20
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2015-10-20
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3493.
action_date: 2015-10-20
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6988-6989)
action_date: 2015-10-20
text: Mr. Donovan moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2015-10-20
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 224.
action_date: 2015-10-20
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 114-295.
action_date: 2015-10-20
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 114-295.
action_date: 2015-09-30
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2015-09-30
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies.
action_date: 2015-09-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2015-09-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-09-11
text: Introduced in House