▶ 0:31:43the quorum being present, the subcommittee will be in order. The subcommittee is meeting today for consideration of 10 bills aimed at enhancing the Department of Homeland Security's coordination with all levels of law enforcement and combating the evolving threats from America's adversaries on US soil.
▶ 0:31:58And these bills are HR 2158, the Countering Transnational Repression Act of 2025, HR 2139, the Strengthening State and Local Efforts to Counter Transnational Repression Act, HR 2116, the Law Enforcement Support and CounterTransnational Repression Act, HR 1327, the Syria Terrorism Threat Assessment Act, HR1508, the DHS Special Events Program and Support Act, HR 2212, the DHS Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program, Law Enforcement
▶ 0:32:28Support Act, HR 2285, the DHS Basic Training Accreditation Improvement Act, and HR 2259, the National Strategy for School Security Act of 2025, HR 1736, the Generative AI Terrorism Risk Assessment Act, and HR 2261, the Strengthening Oversight of DH Intelligence Act. Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare the subcommittee in recess at any point pursuant to committee rule 7D.
▶ 0:32:56Any requests for recorded votes may be postponed. I now recognize myself for an opening statement. Good afternoon and welcome to the first counterterrorism and intelligence subcommittee markup of the 119th Congress. And I want to begin by thanking the ranking member for his cooperation and coordination in preparing for this important subcommittee markup. The bills my Republican colleagues and I offer today are timely and critical pieces of legislation that I believe all members of the committee um will readily support.
▶ 0:33:23I commend my colleagues for their essential and common sense measures including the law enforcement support and transnational repression act, the Syria Terrorism Threat Assessment Act, and the National Strategy for School Security Act. These bills deal deal with issues ranging from foreign terror threats to addressing the threat of transnational repression in the United States by the Chinese Communist Party and the Iranian regime, which has grown significantly in the last few years. These bills also demonstrate an effort to further safeguard our homeland.
▶ 0:33:52And I also want to thank our minority counterparts both for their collaboration on the bills being considered today and for the measures they have put forward to counter terror threats and transnational oppression. I'd now like to recognize the ranking member for an opening Thank you. Uh today we're considering 10 bills uh that will make our country safer.
▶ 0:34:13I want to thank Chairman Fluger and his staff for their partnership in negotiating this bipartisan package of legislation and for starting the new Congress out on a bipartisan and productive note here in the subcommittee. And I look forward to supporting all of the bills being marked up today. Included in this bipartisan package are three bills to address the pressing challenge of transnational repression in the United States. Journalists, activists, and political dissident should not have to fear for their lives while on US soil.
▶ 0:34:43And these bills will strengthen our ability to keep people safe from foreign nations who seek to do them harm for exercising their right to free speech. And I'll speak more on those bills, including my own uh when we get to them. Uh today we're also going to continue uh consider the DHS special events program and support act introduced by former subcommittee member uh Dina Titus of Nevada which will ensure that DHS may continue providing risk assessments and support to high-profile special events across the United States.
▶ 0:35:13Events like the Super Bowl, Boston Marathon, and upcoming World Cup require state and local officials to plan and manage complex security to respond to potential threats. And Miss Titus' bill will ensure that DHS is authorized to continue that support work to those local officials protecting Americans and others at th at those events. The strengthening oversight of DHS Intelligence Act is introduced by Mr.
▶ 0:35:39Hernandez of Puerto Rico is a common sense bill that requires the DHA secretary and DHS chiefs for privacy and civil rights and civil liberties to coordinate on ensuring that DHS intelligence is shared, retained, and disseminated in a manner that protects individuals rights. The DHS Basic Training Accreditation Improvement Act of 2025 is offered by Miss Poe of New Jersey.
▶ 0:36:02It is an important bill because DHS is the largest federal law enforcement agency and her bill works to put all of DHS's law enforcement basic training programs on a path to accreditation. Today, we will also consider six Republican le bills. These bills all enhance our homeland security and attack uh tackle evolving threats from terrorism.
▶ 0:36:23Representative Latrell's bill, the Syria Threat Assessment Act focuses on countering bad actors in Syria, a hotbed for ISIS and uh recruiting for a range of radical Islamic terrorists, generative artificial intelligence, Representative McKenzie's bill, the DHS Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program and Law Enforcement Support Act, and Representative Gonzalez's bill, the National Strategy for School Security Act of 2025.
▶ 0:36:50uh an issue that is particularly resonant for me as a former public school teacher and a parent of young kids as well. So I look forward to supporting all of these bills. I thank the members for their work on them and I look forward to continuing to collaborate productively going forward. I yield back. I thank the ranking member. Other members of the subcommittee are reminded that opening statements may be submitted for the record. Pursuant to notice, I now call up HR 2158, the Countering Transnational Repression Act of 2025.
▶ 0:37:18The bill was circulated in advance and printed copies are available. The clerk so shall designate the bill. HR 2158 offered by Mr. Fluger to amend the Homeland Security Act of objection. The first reading of the bill is dispensed with and it is considered read and open to amendment at any point. I recognize myself to speak uh in favor of this bill.
▶ 0:37:45In the 118th Congress, the Committee on Homeland Security held multiple hearings to examine the threat of transnational repression in the United States, which has grown significantly in the last few years. The committee has heard testimony from victims of transnational oppression, including but not limited to Masi Alen, Annis Caner Freedom, and Dr. Bob Fu, actually a constituent of mine in Midland, Texas, and all of whom have been egregiously targeted on US soil for criticizing authoritarian regimes.
▶ 0:38:12Transnational repression is the act of a foreign government or an individual acting on behalf of a foreign government targeting anyone an individual or any anyone in a community in any other country using violence, assassinations, the threat of violence, digital threats, intimidation, smear campaigns, or the manipulation of legal processes to harass and intimidate individuals that are critical of the nation acting as aggressor.
▶ 0:38:35The Chinese Communist Party, the Iranian regime, and other malignant entities have reached beyond their borders to silence their citizens and Americans who defend human rights and advocate for free speech. These hostile acts directly challenge our nation's sovereignty and the rule of law. DHS must take steps to recognize, assess, and help address this threat, thereby reducing the risk to the people of the United States.
▶ 0:38:57One of the bills we are marking up today, HR2158, is an important measure that would authorize a dedicated transnational repression working group within DHS to analyze and monitor transnational repression and related terrorism threats and DHS to take actions to prevent the repression. The director of homeland security investigations would appoint the head of a working group as HSI already works closely with federal and other partners to investigate allegations of transnational repressions. I want to thank Rep.
▶ 0:39:26Representative Evans for his attention to this critical matter and commend his work on the legislation to implement an essential public service awareness campaign to educate the public on the issue of transnational repression threats and the resources available to the victims of transnational repression. I think this is especially critical now given the operation of illegal overseas police station of the CCP in New New York City.
▶ 0:39:51According to the Justice Department, the CCP through its repressive security apparatus established a secret physical presence in New York City to monitor and intimidate dissident and those critical of its government. And the CCP's actions go far beyond the bounds of acceptable nation state conduct.
▶ 0:40:09Last Congress, I visited and met with the heads of NYPD's intelligence and counterterrorism division to discuss a myriad of security issues, including transnational repression and the NYPD's work related to the Chinese government police stations in Manhattan. It is paramount that we decisively defend the freedoms of all those living in our country from authoritarian repression.
▶ 0:40:31I'm also proud to support ranking member magazineer's measure today, HR 2139 to acquire to require the secretary of homeland security to prioritize strengthening state and local law enforcement capabilities to counter transnational repression and related terrorism threats. All three of these bills passed out of the committee last Congress and since then we have made some minor adjustments to the bills to to improve the practicality and implementation of them.
▶ 0:40:58I thank my colleagues on the subcommittee for moving these critical pieces of legislation. Collectively, these measures reflect a bipartisan commitment to safeguarding American values of free speech and human rights in the face of the CCP and other foreign actors malign activities. Are there any amendments to bill? Hearing none, the question is on reporting the bill HR 2158 to the full committee with a favorable recommendation. All those in favor say I.
▶ 0:41:29I. All oppose, no. In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the motion is agreed to. Without objection, the motion is to reconsider is laid on table. Pursuant to notice, I now call up HR 2139, the strengthening state and local efforts to counter transnational repression act. The bill was circulated in advance and printed copies are available. The clerk shall designate the bill. HR 2139 offered by Mr. Magaziner.
▶ 0:41:58Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with and it is considered read and open to amendment at any point. The gentleman from Rhode Island, Mr. Magazine Magaziner, is recognized for five minutes on the measure. Thank you, Chairman. Throughout the world, those who dare to speak out against repressive governments are met with harassment, imprisonment, and even violence. Those same repressive governments do not just keep to their own borders. The United States is a safe haven for free speech and those fle fleeing political persecution.
▶ 0:42:27And we must have no tolerance for foreign governments targeting people in our country. Last January during this subcommittee's hearing on transnational repression, we heard from witnesses Bob Fu and Caner Freedom about their firsthand accounts of how they were targeted in the US by foreign governments attempting to silence their voices through physical and cyber harassment and intimidation.
▶ 0:42:52Foreign governments such as China, Russia, Iran, Turkey, India, and others are among the largest perpetrators of transnational repression. Just last month, an illegal agent of the Chinese Communist Party was sentenced to prison in New York for his participation in a campaign to threaten, harass, and intimidate a US resident and his family and repatriate repatriate them back to China.
▶ 0:43:17And in October, an unsealed Department of Justice indictment, we learned that a member of Iran's uh Republican uh guard participated in a murder for hire scheme to murder a US citizen and a journalist in the US who was critical of Iran's human rights abuses.
▶ 0:43:35Today we are considering three important bills to help crack down on transnational repression in the United States, including my bill HR 2139, the strengthening state and local efforts to combat transnational repression act. My bill will ensure that state and local law enforcement get the training they need to identify, pursue, and investigate transnational repression in the communities they serve.
▶ 0:43:58Understand, state and local law enforcement agencies are often the eyes and ears best suited to identify and disrupt transnational repression, but they need specialized training in order to know what they are seeing. Under this bill, the Department of Homeland Security will establish transnational repression threat training uh for state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies, including through fusion centers.
▶ 0:44:23The bill also requires that the training include how to identify instances of transnational oppression, what information should be collected and retained, how to identify suspected targets or victims of transnational oppression, best practices for victim safety, and best practices for engaging targeted individuals and communities. The bill will also require that this training be developed in a manner that upholds uh privacy, civil rights, and civil liberty protections.
▶ 0:44:51something that I know we agree on as we work together to include this relevant language in the bipartisan bills we are considering today. In addition to supporting my bill and asking other members to do so, I'm proud to be an original co-sponsor of the other two transnational repression bills uh that we're considering today. Chairman Fluger's combating transnational repression act which we just passed and also representatives Evans bill the law enforcement support uh the law enforcement support and counter transnational repression act.
▶ 0:45:21Uh this bill will give people who are victims of transnational repression a safe way to report their victimization to DHS through the establishment of a public awareness campaign and hotline. And I hope that given the news regarding uh the potential shuttering of the DHS office uh DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, we can work together on ensuring that these protections are still embedded in the department's efforts.
▶ 0:45:46I want to once again thank uh Chairman Fluger, Representative Evans, Representative Goldman, who is a co-sponsor of all these bills as well. Uh this was a bipartisan package that we developed together in the last Congress and passed through committee. Uh, I'm glad that we're sticking with it and doing it again because there are a lot of people out there who are counting on us and I yield back. I thank the gentleman. Uh, does anyone else wish to speak on the bill? Are there any amendments to the bill? Hearing none, the question is on reporting the bill HR 2139 to the full committee with a favorable recommendation.
▶ 0:46:16All in favor say I. I. All oppose? No. In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the motion is agreed to. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Pursuant to notice, I now call up HR 2116, the Law Enforcement Support and CounterTransnational Repression Act. The bill was circulated in advance and printed copies are available. The clerk shall designate the bill. HR 2116 offered by Mr. Evans of Colorado. Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with and it is considered read and open to amendment at any point.
▶ 0:46:46The gentleman from Colorado, Mr. Evans, is recognized. Thank you, Mr. chairman uh and ranking member uh for helping to lead this subcommittee markup and for consideration of my bill HR 2116, the Law Enforcement Support and CounterTransnational Repression Act.
▶ 0:47:00As we've seen highlighted today, we've had multiple instances in the last few years where malign nations like the Chinese Communist Party, Russia, and Iran and their actors and organized crime groups have conspired to conduct acts of transnational repression or foreign intimidation on US soil. Um, and they're designed to target Americans and suppress free speech. And I want to be absolutely clear, the United States will not allow any foreign government to violate our sovereignty or challenge the rule of law.
▶ 0:47:30And so I'm proud to introduce HR 2116, the Law Enforcement Support and Transnational Repression Act, which instructs the DHS to create a public service announcement campaign designed to educate our diaspora communities on the threats posed by transnational repression. In addition, this bill requires DHS to post the FBI's transnational hotline in their public service uh campaigns so that victims can step out of the shadows and help law enforcement help them.
▶ 0:47:58As the ranking member just highlighted, local law enforcement often is the eyes and the ears of our communities. And it's critical that we have the ability to build that trust in those community relationships. And I know that because I was a local law enforcement officer in the Denver metro area for over a decade.
▶ 0:48:14And so I know how critical it is to support victims and strengthen public safety by equipping law enforcement agencies with the knowledge and the tools they need to identify current threats, build those relationships with the communities that they serve, so that perpetrators can be identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, which ultimately prevents harm in our communities.
▶ 0:48:35The Denver metro area is home to many diverse and resilient diaspora and immigrant communities who've shared with me deeply moving stories of fleeing authoritarian regimes and malicious organizations in their home countries. And so I'm committed to ensuring that people in my community can enjoy personal safety and their first amendment rights as they pursue the American dream.
▶ 0:48:56This legislation along with the bills offered by Chairman Fluger and ranking member uh Magaziner are critical first steps in making sure that American neighborhoods are protected and are equipped with the tools necessary to protect one another and counter transnational repression and other acts of foreign intimidation on US soil. And with that, Mr. Chairman, yield back. I thank the gentleman. Does anyone else wish to speak on the bill? Are there any amendments to the bill?
▶ 0:49:22Hearing none, the question is on reporting the bill HR 2116 to the full committee with a favorable recommendation. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose say no. In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it. The motion is agreed to. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Pursuant to notice, I now call up HR 1327, the Syria Terrorism Threat Assessment Act. The bill was circulated in advance and printed copies are available. The clerk shall designate. HR1327 offered by Mr. Latrrell.
▶ 0:49:52Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with and is considered read and open to amendment at any point. The gentleman from Texas, Mr. Latrell is recognized. Thank you, Chairman Fluger and Ranking Member Magazineer for bringing this critical bill before the counterterrorism and intelligence subcommittee today. I'd also like to thank Mr. Korea for working alongside me on this piece of legislation. The last few months have shed light on the political uncertainty Syria is currently faced with. The region remains volatile and has become a breeding ground for violent extremist groups.
▶ 0:50:18The instability has allowed terrorist organizations to establish footholds, exacerbating national security challenges. The malign groups are using every tool at their disposal in sending bad actors our way. The Syrian Terrorism Threat Assessment Act ensures the Department of Homeland Security conducts an assessment of terrorist threats to the United States posed by individuals in Syria with an affiliation to a foreign terrorist organization or a specially designated global terrorist organization. By doing so, we can better examine and mitigate emerging threats from these regions.
▶ 0:50:48Foreign jihadist networks and other extremist groups are actively exploiting online platforms and other means to remotely radicalize and mobilize individuals to help plan and carry out terrorist attacks on American soil. Thank you again, chairman and ranking member for bringing this important bill to the subcommittee. Once again, thank you chairman I mean Mr. Korea for supporting this. I yield back. I thank the gentleman. Does anyone else wish to speak on the bill? Are there any amendments to the bill?
▶ 0:51:14Hearing none, the question is on reporting the bill HR 1327 to the full committee with a favorable recommendation. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose, no. In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the motion is agreed to. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Pursuant to notice, I now call up HR1508, the DHS Special Events Program and Support Act. The bill was circulated in advance. Printing copies are available.
▶ 0:51:41The clerk shall designate HR1508 offered by Mr. Magaziner to amend the Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with and is considered read and open to amendment at any point. The gentleman from Rhode Island, Mr. Magaziner is recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 0:51:56I'm I'm really here to present um a bill that is uh sponsored by Congresswoman Dena Titus of Nevada, a former member of this subcommittee uh along with Richard Hudson of New York uh North Carolina and uh our own Nelly Poe of New Jersey. This is the HR uh 1508 DHS Special Events Program and Support Act. This act would authorize the special event assistant rating program known as the SEIR program within DHS.
▶ 0:52:25A program which has done great work for public safety all across the country. From state fairs to the college football national championship to New Year's Eve in Times Square, large gathering events require security planning to ensure that attendees are kept safe. Under the SEIR program, state, local, tribal, and territorial officials may request a risk assessment to determine the likelihood of potential threats like a terrorist attack or other hazard to a specific event.
▶ 0:52:53For events with a rating of one, the most serious rating, DHS helps coordinate the security resources. The DHS Special Events Program and Support Act also seeks to improve the SEIR program by standardizing the process by which federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial officials can request a SEIR rating and allowing for expedited assessment or reassessment of special event ratings.
▶ 0:53:16Just some of the bill's supporters include the US Travel Association, the National Emergency Management Association, the International Association of Emergency Managers, and the National Football League. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleagues for supporting this bipartisan measure that works to provide the best protection for all of the large-scale events that Americans enjoy across the country. And I yield back. I thank the gentleman. Does anyone else wish to speak on the bill? Are there any amendments to the bill?
▶ 0:53:45Hearing none, the question is on reporting the bill HR508 to the full committee with a favorable recommendation. All those in favor I. I. I. All oppose, no. In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the motion is agreed to. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Pursuant to notice, I now call up HR 2212, the DHS Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program and Law Enforcement Support Act. The bill was circulated in advance and printed copies are available.
▶ 0:54:12The clerk shall designate HR2212 offered by Mr. McKenzie to objection. The first reading of the bill is dispensed with and it is considered read and open to amendment at any point. The gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. McKenzie, is recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. More than two decades after the attacks on September 11th, 2001, terrorists around the country still are threats to our safety.
▶ 0:54:43Our national security relies on the ability to share the right information with the right people at the right time. Accomplishing this requires consistent collaboration among federal, state, local, tribal, territorial entities, as well as the private sector and international partners. For years, DHS has consistently struggled to share information effectively, though necessitating legislative action to address the issue.
▶ 0:55:11In fact, it was just several years ago when various inspectors general, including the Department of Homeland Security and Justice, completed a report titled Review of Domestic Sharing of Counterterrorism Information that noted that DHS intelligence enterprise was not as effective and valuable as it could be. This was attributed to a lack of unity throughout DHS.
▶ 0:55:34uh the intelligence enterprise, various staffing issues within uh DHS's office of intelligence and analysis, and problems with the review and approval process of internal intelligence products and issues accessing classified systems and locations. The report further stated that the DHS intelligence enterprise was fragmented with elements operating independently with few repercussions of incentives to coordinate better outside of actual events.
▶ 0:56:05This was that was their quote. So underscoring the necessity for legislative action, these challenges continue to exist in which the sharing of counterterrorism information among law enforcement agencies and in particular within DHS could be strengthened.
▶ 0:56:22It's important that we work to share this information effectively so that DHS components understand each other's roles, responsibilities, contributions, and especially the involvement of multiple entities when they're trying to work together. So, one way that we can do this is through HR2212, the DHS Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program and Law Enforcement Support Act. It's a critical step to address these gaps and improve coordination within DHS.
▶ 0:56:52The bill, which unanimously passed the House on a bipartisan basis previously, would codify DHS's intelligence rotational assignment program to enhance needed inter agency participation in the program and again bring together all of this information uh so that people understand where it's coming from and they can better work together and understand the overall big picture of things.
▶ 0:57:16DHS analysts within the department intelligence component like Customs and Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Secret Service would work with other eligible components, and they would all be eligible to participate. As a result, this would further increase coordination and communication on border security, terrorism, and other threats to homeland security, which would in turn obviously lead to a more complete picture of threats around homeland security.
▶ 0:57:46So, I think it's a great uh improvement, a step that I think we should all be on board with supporting, and I appreciate again the opportunity to talk about this important legislation today. With that, I yield back. I thank the gentleman. Does anyone else wish to speak on the bill? Are there any amendments to the bill? Hearing none, the question is on reporting the bill HR 2212 to the full committee with a favorable recommendation. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose, no. The opinion of the chair, the eyes have it. The motion is agreed to.
▶ 0:58:15Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Pursuant to notice, I now call up HR2285, the DHS Basic Training Accreditation Improvement Act of 2025. The bill was circulated in advance and printed copies are available. The clerk shall designate HR 2285 offered by Mrs. Miss Poe. Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with and is considered read and open to amendment at any point.
▶ 0:58:40The gentle lady from New Jersey, Miss Poe, is Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and to our ranking member, Mr. Magazer. Um, let me just begin by saying that the Department of Homeland Security is the largest federal law enforcement agency with 80,000 officers and agents.
▶ 0:59:02Like all law enforcement, DHS officers and agents must successfully complete basic training programs. The federal law, the federal law enhancement training accreditation or fleet uh board is an independent body charged with accrediting all federal law enforcement training.
▶ 0:59:24And although Flea uh accreditation is not required, many federal law enforcement trainingmies are accredited, including the Transportation Security Administration training center in my home state of New Jersey. Accredit accreditation uh improves the quality of training, minimizes liability and training costs, and supports organizational and operational success.
▶ 0:59:55Unfortunately, not all of DHS basic training programs are accredited. Some have not even some have not been uh for years. In fact, my bill seeks to change just that. It requires DHS to report to Congress annually on the accreditation status of each of its basic training program until all of them are accredited.
▶ 1:00:21For programs that are not accredited, DHS must report the reasons for obtaining or maintaining accreditation, the activities, if any, taken to achieve accreditation, and the expected timeline to achieve My bill also directs DHS to engage in research to help state, local, tribals, and territorial law enforcement
▶ 1:00:51officers better access training opportunities, including the uh those that enhance national preparedness and responses to terrorism. Our brave law enforcement officers deserve our very best. My bill will improve the law enforcement training program to give officers the tools to continue to keep our community safe. I want to thank all of my colleagues for your consideration and support of this bill.
▶ 1:01:22Mr. Chairman, thank you so very much. I yield back. I thank the gentle lady. Does anyone else wish to speak on the bill? Are there any amendments to the bill? Hearing none, the question is on reporting the bill HR 2285 to the full committee with a favorable recommendation. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose, no. In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the motion is agreed to. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table.
▶ 1:01:47Pursuant to notice, I now call up HR 2259, the National Strategy for School Security Act of 2025. The bill was circulated in advance and printed copies are available. The clerk shall designate HR 2259 offered by Mr. Tony Gonzalez of Texas. Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with and is considered read and open to amendment at any point. The gentleman from Texas, Mr. Gonzalez, is now recognized. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 1:02:12I'm pleased that the subcommittee has convened today to mark up HR 2259, the bipartisan national school safety, the national strategy for school safety, school security act. Uh, over three years ago, we had the worst shooting uh in Texas history in ualdi in my district at that time. Uh, we were scrambling. Um, I remember very vividly I got a call from the gentleman sitting next to me, Morgan Latrell, and he asked me, "What could I do? What could he do to help?
▶ 1:02:39I previously had gotten a call from local law enforcement and they didn't have a place to sleep that night." And so I asked him, I'm like, "Yeah, you can help me by helping get a 100 CS." And guess what? The next day, magically, Morgan Latrell was in Uval, Texas delivering a 100 CS. Why do I tell that story? It's not fair. I was a newly minted member of Congress and he was a private citizen. It's not fair that that was the response that was needed during that time. Since then, there was a critical incident review that took place.
▶ 1:03:10Multiple reports have been have indicated some of the things that could be fixed. But honestly, nothing has changed. If the if it was if the same thing were to occur in his district, he'd be calling I'd be calling him and asking him what I could do to help. We have to we have a we have a duty and an obligation to review and take these reports and findings serious. My bill does exactly that. The bill requires better federal coordination efforts across our agencies.
▶ 1:03:34The lack of coordination at the federal level has been highlighted as a major shortcoming in school security posture. My bill would direct the Department of Homeland Security to take into account the resources and findings of federal agencies related to school security and emergency preparedness. It's no different than a hurricane hits. When a hurricane hits, DHS sends FEMA and it's all hands- on deck. A school shooting is no different than that.
▶ 1:03:58By submitting a national strategy, we update this annually to serve as a framework to secure elementary and secondary schools nationwide. From this, our school districts nationwide can better develop and improve their own emergency plans to keep our kids safe. I encourage all my colleagues in this subcommittee to support this common sense bill. Thank you, chairman. I yield back. I thank the gentleman. Does anyone else wish to speak on the bill? Are there any amendments to the bill? Hearing none, the question is on reporting the bill HR 2259 to the full committee with a favorable recommendation.
▶ 1:04:29All those in favor say I. I. All oppose, no. In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the motion is agreed to. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Pursuant to notice, I now call up HR 1736, the Generative AI Terrorism Risk Assessment Act. The bill was circulated in advance and printed copies are available. The clerk shall designate HR 1736 offered by Mr. Fluger. Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with.
▶ 1:04:58It is considered read and open to amendment at any point. I now recognize myself to speak in favor of the bill. The committee on homeland security subcommittee on counter counterterrorism and intelligence recently held a hearing to examine how foreign terrorist organizations use the internet online networks and generative AI or Genai to recruit and radicalize lonewolf actors. The threat of this radicalization has grown significantly over the last decade. The committee heard testimony from police experts Dr.
▶ 1:05:27Aaron Zelen, Dr. Davidid Gartenstein Ross, and Mr. Daniel Flesh on how FTO's use the internet and online networks for radicalization and recruitment. The panel of experts all agreed that FTO's use of Genai has the potential to impact our national security significantly. Genai is defined as a subset of artificial intelligence that uses generative models to produce text, images, videos, or other forms of data.
▶ 1:05:54FTO's use Gen AI for online radicalization by producing highly convincing videos that fabricate events and manipulate the perception of recruits. Known terrorist organizations such as ISIS and al-Qaeda have gone as far as to have workshops and train members of their organizations on its use while stressing the effectiveness of the technology. It's important that DHS carry out common sense threat assessments to determine how we can better combat this issue and ultimately safeguard our homeland.
▶ 1:06:23One of the bills we are marking up today, HR1 1736, is an important measure that would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct annual assessments on terrorism threats to the US posed by terrorist organizations like ISIS and al-Qaeda utilizing or attempting to utilize generative artificial intelligence applications.
▶ 1:06:42I think this is a common sense bill and it's important and timely given the ISIS inspired car ramming terror attack we had just months ago in New Orleans with the suspect not only being an American citizen but a former member of the military who was influenced and fell victim to online radicalization. Several days after the attack, ISIS noted in their weekly newsletters that the ISIS propaganda had inspired the attack and praised ISIS backers as critical to encouraging and promoting further terrorist attacks against America.
▶ 1:07:11I want to thank all my colleagues on the subcommittee for advancing this crucial piece of legislation. I believe it reaffirms our commitment to safeguarding our country and our citizens while effectively countering the enduring and emerging threats posed by jihadi and other terrorist groups targeting our nation. Does anyone else wish to I yield back. Does anyone else wish to speak on bill? Are there any amendments to the bill? Hearing none.
▶ 1:07:37The question is on reporting the bill HR 1736 to the full committee with a favorable recommendation. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose? No. In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the motion is agreed to. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Pursuant to notice and now call up HR 2261. The strengthening oversight of DHS Intelligence Act. The bill was circulated in advance and printed copies are available.
▶ 1:08:04The clerk shall designate HR2261 offered by Mr. Hernandez to amend the Homeland Security Act. Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with and it is considered read and open to amendment at any point. The gentleman from Puerto Rico, Mr. Hernandez is recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Ranking Member. I am pleased that today the subcommittee is considering my bill HR 2261, the strengthening oversight of DHS Intelligence Act.
▶ 1:08:29Since its inception, the HSS's Office of Intelligence and Analysis, or INA, has been the sole office charged with delivering Homeland Security information and intelligence to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement. State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement are on the front lines working to keep Americans safe. And to do the best job possible, it is critical that they receive reliable intelligence, particularly during terrorist attacks or natural disasters.
▶ 1:08:58The DHS Intelligence Enterprise delivers that critical information. The strengthening oversight of DHS Intelligence Act ensures that the information and intelligence distributed by DHS to protect our communities does not infringe upon Americans constitutional rights. There must be oversight mechanisms and safeguards to protect the privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties of Americans in the production and dissemination of DHS intelligence.
▶ 1:09:25This bill requires that all DHS intelligence products be reviewed by the DHS chief privacy officer and the DH DHS officer for civil rights and civil liberties. Additionally, my bill would require the privacy and civil rights and civil liberties officers train senior DHS intelligence personnel on privacy rights, civil rights, and civil liberties protections.
▶ 1:09:50Put simply, under my bill, DHS intelligence information that is shared, retained, and disseminated must be done in a manner consistent with the protection of Americans rights. Now, Mr. Chairman, I understand that it is being reported that the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties has been shut down through reductions in the workforce.
▶ 1:10:14I know that you see the value of DHS offices and components coordinating with the DHS office for civil rights and civil liberties to safeguard individuals privacy, civil rights and civil liberties as evident by the coordination clause included in your bill being marked up today, the Generative AI Terrorism Risk Assessment Act. So, I'll just say that I hope we can all work together on maintaining this important function. I thank my colleagues for their support on this measure and I yield back. I thank the gentleman.
▶ 1:10:44Does anyone else wish to speak on the bill? Are there any amendments to the bill? Hearing none, the question is on reporting the bill HR 2261 to the full committee with a favorable recommendation. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose, no. In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the motion is agreed to. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the Without objection, the staff is authorized to make any required technical or conforming changes to reflect the actions of the subcommittee.
▶ 1:11:15Um, this concludes our subcommittee markup. And I I just want to say uh that while this markup may have looked easy and it went smoothly and it didn't take a lot of time, uh it was anything but easy in the background. Uh and I want to thank the ranking member. I want to thank uh both staffs from the majority and the minority for working hard to come to an agreement and to really set the tone.
▶ 1:11:39Uh this is the first subcommittee markup um on this committee and I think it does set the tone that on this particular uh topic that we want to safeguard American interests that we want to do the best for the homeland security uh of this nation that we can come together in a bipartisan way. uh and I hope that this will lead us down a path of vigorous rigorous debate on things that uh that we may have differences on but with the end goal of expecting a better product.
▶ 1:12:08Um and when we can come together like you've seen today with 10 bills that are all bipartisan that pass by voice um then that's a great way to uh to be able to do business and and I hope the rest of uh our colleagues on other committees can also look at this as an example. Lastly, I want to thank the staff director for this subcommittee, Mr. Michael Corin, who this is his last markup, and if you don't mind giving him a round of applause for his help and professionalism.
▶ 1:12:39This concludes the consideration of the bills noticed by the committee for today. There are no uh there being no further business. Without objection, the subcommittee stands