Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Extension Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3224) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to extend the authorization of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3224

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 Extension Act of 2023''. SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF THE COUNTERING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

(a) Extension.--

(1) Termination date.--Section 1901 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 591) is amended by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following new subsection:

``(e) Termination.--The Office shall terminate on the date that is two years after the date of the enactment of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Extension Act of 2023.''.

(2) Exception.--The termination date specified in subsection (e) of section 1901 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by paragraph (1), shall not apply to sections 1931 and 1932 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 597 and 597a; relating to the Chief Medical Officer and the medical countermeasures program of the Department of Homeland Security).

(b) Organizational Accountability.--

(1) Employee morale.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office of the Department of Homeland Security shall submit a report to and brief the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate regarding an employee engagement action plan and strategy to continuously improve morale within the Office.

(2) Comptroller general.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a review of and brief the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate regarding the following with respect to the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office of the Department of Homeland Security:

(A) The efforts of the Office to prioritize the programs and activities that carry out the mission of the Office, including research and development.

(B) The consistency and effectiveness of the Office's stakeholder coordination across the mission of the Department, including operational and support components of the Department and State and local entities.

(C) The efforts of the Office to manage and coordinate the lifecycle of research and development within the Office and with other components of the Department, including the Science and Technology Directorate.

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Mr. D'ESPOSITO. 3224.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 3224, the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Extension Act of 2023.

Authorized in 2018, the mission of the Department of Homeland Security's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office is to enable its operational partners at the Federal, State, and local levels to prevent the use of WMDs against the United States of America and to promote readiness for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.

At the Federal level, CWMD works with the United States Customs and Border Protection to acquire radiation portal monitors that scan cargo at U.S. ports of entry, as well as works with the U.S. Coast Guard to procure personal radiation detectors.

At the local level, the CWMD Office achieves its mission of supporting State, local, Tribal, and territorial partners through funding, equipment, and expertise.

In my home State of New York and in many other States across this great country, the CWMD Office operates the Securing the Cities program, which helps build regional capabilities to detect, analyze, and report nuclear and other radioactive materials.

My bill, the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Extension Act of 2023, will extend the sunset clause to ensure that the vital work of the CWMD Office continues.

Additionally, my legislation takes meaningful steps to address some longstanding challenges the office has faced, such as dwindling employee morale, and requires the Assistant Secretary for the CWMD Office to submit a report to Congress on how the office will continuously improve morale and employee engagement within the office.

Further, my bill requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a review of the CWMD Office's coordination with stakeholders and efforts to provide the programs and activities that carry out the office's mission, among other items.

From aviation and border security to emergency response and cybersecurity, the Department of Homeland Security has one common mission, Mr. Speaker, and that is to keep America safe.

The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office facilitates its mission by ensuring that operational partners have the tools and support needed to safeguard the United States of America against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.

Although we hope that we never ever see the day when one of our adversaries deploys a weapon of mass destruction against this great Nation, we cannot neglect the ever-present threat of terrorism that continues to exist today.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this commonsense bill, H.R.

Mr. Speaker, I think that it is very clear that this bill, H.R. 3224, is not a partisan issue. It is one that the American people will benefit from in order to keep this great homeland safe.

Mr. Speaker, I, again, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3224, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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