Securing the Cities Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-3493
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Donovan, Daniel M., Jr. [R-NY-11]
Introduced: 2015-09-11
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
Latest action: action_date: 2015-10-21
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-09-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Securing the Cities Act of 2015</strong></p> <p>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. </p> <p>Under such program, the Director shall:</p> <ul> <li> 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;</li> <li>support the development of a region-wide operating capability to detect and report on nuclear and other radioactive materials out of operational control;</li> <li>provide resources to enhance detection, analysis, communication, and coordination to better integrate state, local, tribal, and territorial assets into federal operations;</li> <li> facilitate alarm adjudication and provide subject matter expertise and technical assistance on concepts of operations, training, exercises, and alarm response protocols;</li> <li> 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 </li> <li>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.</li> </ul> <p>The Comptroller General is required to submit an assessment evaluating the effectiveness of the program.</p>

action_date: 2015-10-20
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p>(<strong>Securing the Cities Act of 2015</strong></p> <p>(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. </p> <p>Under such program, the Director shall:</p> <ul> <li> 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;</li> <li>support the development of a region-wide operating capability to detect and report on nuclear and other radioactive materials out of operational control;</li> <li>provide resources to enhance detection, analysis, communication, and coordination to better integrate state, local, tribal, and territorial assets into federal operations;</li> <li> facilitate alarm adjudication and provide subject matter expertise and technical assistance on concepts of operations, training, exercises, and alarm response protocols;</li> <li> 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 </li> <li>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.</li> </ul> <p>The Comptroller General is required to submit an assessment evaluating the effectiveness of the program.</p> <p>(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.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3493 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 11, 2015 Mr. Donovan (for himself, Mr. King of New York , and Mr. McCaul ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security A BILL To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 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, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Securing the Cities Act of 2015 . 2. Securing the Cities program (a) In general Title XIX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 591 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 1908. Securing the Cities program (a) Establishment The Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection 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 such program the Director 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 operational control; (3) provide resources to enhance detection, analysis, communication, and coordination to better integrate State, local, tribal, and territorial assets into Federal operations; (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; and (6) provide any other assistance the Director determines appropriate. (b) Designation of jurisdictions In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Director shall designate jurisdictions from among high-risk urban areas under section 2003, and other cities and regions, as appropriate. (c) Congressional notification The Director 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 new jurisdictions under subsection (b) or other changes to participating jurisdictions. (d) GAO report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the congressional committees specified in subsection (c) an assessment, including an evaluation of the effectiveness, of the STC program under this section. (e) Prohibition on additional funding No funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section. This section shall be carried out using amounts otherwise appropriated or made available for such purpose. . (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 1907 the following new item: Sec. 1908. Securing the Cities program. .

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3493 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 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, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Securing the Cities Act of 2015 . 2. Securing the Cities program (a) In general Title XIX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 591 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 1908. Securing the Cities program (a) Establishment The Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection 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 such program the Director 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 operational control; (3) provide resources to enhance detection, analysis, communication, and coordination to better integrate State, local, tribal, and territorial assets into Federal operations; (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; and (6) provide any other assistance the Director determines appropriate. (b) Designation of jurisdictions In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Director shall designate jurisdictions from among high-risk urban areas under section 2003, and other cities and regions, as appropriate. (c) Congressional notification The Director 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 new jurisdictions under subsection (b) or other changes to participating jurisdictions. (d) GAO report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the congressional committees specified in subsection (c) an assessment, including an evaluation of the effectiveness, of the STC program under this section. (e) Prohibition on additional funding No funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section. This section shall be carried out using amounts otherwise appropriated or made available for such purpose. . (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 1907 the following new item: Sec. 1908. Securing the Cities program. . 3. Model exercises Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection of the Department of Homeland Security shall report to 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 on the feasibility of the Director developing model exercises to test the preparedness of jurisdictions participating in the Securing the Cities program under section 1908 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as added by section 2 of this Act) in meeting the challenges that may be posed by a range of nuclear and radiological threats.

Passed the House of Representatives October 20, 2015. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3493 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 21, 2015 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs AN ACT To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 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, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Securing the Cities Act of 2015 . 2. Securing the Cities program (a) In general Title XIX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 591 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 1908. Securing the Cities program (a) Establishment The Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection 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 such program the Director 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 operational control; (3) provide resources to enhance detection, analysis, communication, and coordination to better integrate State, local, tribal, and territorial assets into Federal operations; (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; and (6) provide any other assistance the Director determines appropriate. (b) Designation of jurisdictions In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Director shall designate jurisdictions from among high-risk urban areas under section 2003, and other cities and regions, as appropriate. (c) Congressional notification The Director 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 new jurisdictions under subsection (b) or other changes to participating jurisdictions. (d) GAO report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the congressional committees specified in subsection (c) an assessment, including an evaluation of the effectiveness, of the STC program under this section. (e) Prohibition on additional funding No funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section. This section shall be carried out using amounts otherwise appropriated or made available for such purpose. . (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 1907 the following new item: Sec. 1908. Securing the Cities program. . 3. Model exercises Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection of the Department of Homeland Security shall report to 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 on the feasibility of the Director developing model exercises to test the preparedness of jurisdictions participating in the Securing the Cities program under section 1908 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as added by section 2 of this Act) in meeting the challenges that may be posed by a range of nuclear and radiological threats.

Passed the House of Representatives October 20, 2015. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 224 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3493 [Report No. 114–295] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 11, 2015 Mr. Donovan (for himself, Mr. King of New York , and Mr. McCaul ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security October 20, 2015 Additional sponsor: Ms. Jackson Lee October 20, 2015 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on September 11, 2015 A BILL To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 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, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Securing the Cities Act of 2015 . 2. Securing the Cities program (a) In general Title XIX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 591 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 1908. Securing the Cities program (a) Establishment The Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection 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 such program the Director 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 operational control; (3) provide resources to enhance detection, analysis, communication, and coordination to better integrate State, local, tribal, and territorial assets into Federal operations; (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; and (6) provide any other assistance the Director determines appropriate. (b) Designation of jurisdictions In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Director shall designate jurisdictions from among high-risk urban areas under section 2003, and other cities and regions, as appropriate. (c) Congressional notification The Director 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 new jurisdictions under subsection (b) or other changes to participating jurisdictions. (d) GAO report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the congressional committees specified in subsection (c) an assessment, including an evaluation of the effectiveness, of the STC program under this section. (e) Prohibition on additional funding No funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section. This section shall be carried out using amounts otherwise appropriated or made available for such purpose. . (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 1907 the following new item: Sec. 1908. Securing the Cities program. . 3. Model exercises Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection of the Department of Homeland Security shall report to 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 on the feasibility of the Director developing model exercises to test the preparedness of jurisdictions participating in the Securing the Cities program under section 1908 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as added by section 2 of this Act) in meeting the challenges that may be posed by a range of nuclear and radiological threats.

October 20, 2015 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed