Date: 2013-06-05
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I was intending on offering an amendment dealing with Border Security Centers of Excellence. I will not offer that amendment. and I would like to just indicate that I look forward to working with the ranking member and the chairman. As we move to a comprehensive immigration reform. Border Security Centers of Excellence are universities that look to the highest technology of how we can secure America. They undertake research and education initiatives designed to meet the needs of the Department of Homeland Security. border security. and immigration in a global context. They develop and use cuttingedge research methodologies focused on unique science and technology policy issues. and they develop educational programs in order to educate current and future practitioners. which is really crucial. and researchers in the relevant disciplines. If we want to secure America. we need the technology and the expertise. As a ranking member on the Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee. I can assure you that as we look to the new metrics of border security in the northern and southern border. we need personnel. And my amendment was going to ensure that we allow Congress to gather the information needed by Congress to establish more universities. or opportunities for more universities and colleges to participate as Border Security Centers of Excellence. In my own community. Houston Community College. Texas Southern University. University of Houston. a number of campuses could be engaged as Border Security Centers of Excellence. Texas Southern University. for example. received from my initiative a Transportation Security Center of Excellence that was established under that particular legislation. the Transportation Security Administration legislation. So I would like to make sure that we look forward to doing that. I do want to indicate. as we pass the amendment dealing with no knives on planes. that I had introduced legislation with Mr. GRIMM that allowed Administrator Pistole an indefinite amount of time to consult with stakeholders. I. frankly. believe that legislation helped turn the corner for the thoughtful position that Mr. Pistole has now taken. I think the amendment that we passed today was by voice and was common sense and makes a good. important statement. I also think the idea of emphasizing the importance of U.S. air marshals in my previous amendment that was accepted is important and to reemphasize the importance of the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the traveling public in order to ensure that it assesses highrisk places of departure so that air marshals can be used effectively. efficiently. and with funding. With all of that. I believe the amendments that have been put upon the floor today and that I have discussed and offered contribute positively to the ultimate direction of security in this country. As I conclude. I hope that we will be able to have more Border Security Centers of Excellence. and I look forward to working with this committee and the authorizing committee to ensure that in comprehensive immigration reform we have the technology. the personnel. the training. the research. and the education to make it work as it should. With that. I yield back the balance of my time. Madam Chair. thank you for this opportunity to explain my proposed amendment. which simply gives the Secretary of Homeland Security the flexibility to conduct the study on the feasibility of expanding the membership of universitybased Homeland Security Centers of Excellence. The mission of the Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence is to: Undertake research and education initiatives designed to meet the needs of the Department of Homeland Security. border security and immigration in a global context. Develop and use cuttingedge research methodologies focused on the unique science. technology. and policy issues within this domain. Develop educational programs in order to educate current and/or future practitioners and researchers in the relevant disciplines. and to help define emerging education areas. Under current law composition of membership of Homeland Security Centers. the number of centers is limited by law and can only be enlarged by Congress. This amendment allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a study to gather information needed by Congress in determining eligibility of more universities. In my congressional district. 18th Congressional District of Houston. TX. there are a number of institutions that have the expertise in research and staffing that would be in addition to this consortium involved in the Border Security Center of Excellence. such as the University of Houston and Texas Southern University. My amendment would just simply allow the United States to benefit from the expertise from new Homeland Security Centers of Excellence. I look forward to working toward adding more Border Security Centers of Excellence. The Acting CHAIR (Ms. Foxx). The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Georgia