Don Bacon

Mr. BACON

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5733, the DHS Industrial Control Systems Capabilities Enhancement Act of 2018. Industrial control systems are the critical interface between digital controls and a physical process. These systems are ubiquitous in our modern society and are utilized in all 16 sectors of our Nation's critical infrastructure. Whether they are used in managing the operations of electric power generators, water treatment facilities, medical devices, manufacturing facilities, or transportation networks, disruptions or damage to these systems have the potential to cause catastrophic and cascading consequences to our Nation's national security, our economic security, and our public health and safety. The Department of Homeland Security's National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center, or NCCIC, has a key role in addressing the security of both information technology and operational technology, including the industrial control systems. DHS, through the NCCIC, currently provides operators of industrial control systems across critical infrastructure sectors with support. They do this with malware and vulnerability analysis, incident response, and briefings on emerging threats and vulnerabilities. H.R. 5733 codifies DHS' current role and directs them to maintain existing capabilities to identify and address threats and vulnerabilities to products and technologies intended for use in automated control of critical infrastructure processes. This legislation also supports DHS' function to secure ICS technologies by allowing NCCIC to provide cybersecurity technical assistance to ICS end users, product manufacturers, and other stakeholders to mitigate and identify vulnerabilities. DHS operates a central hub for ICS information exchange, technical expertise, operational partnerships, and ICS-focused cybersecurity capabilities. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5733 to codify the work that DHS performs in mitigating industrial control system vulnerabilities, while ensuring that private industry has a permanent place for assistance to address cybersecurity risks. I want to thank Chairman McCaul and Chairman Ratcliffe for their support of this legislation, as well as Congressman Langevin for his amendment in committee. This is a bipartisan effort. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I just want to say it has been a pleasure working with Mr. Langevin not only on the Homeland Security Committee, but also on the Armed Services Committee. We have partnered on quite a few things, and it is wonderful to make a difference with him. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, first, I again want to thank my colleague from Rhode Island for his partnership on this, and his comments were absolutely right. The Russians and the Chinese are both working to be able to attack our energy grid, among other parts of our infrastructure, and we need to be prepared. And it doesn't start on day one of a war. It starts now, when we have the time to prepare. The next December 7 will not be like Pearl Harbor with aircraft and torpedoes and bombs coming to attack our Pacific Fleet. It is going to be preceded by a cyber attack that is going to try to shut down our energy grid and other parts of our infrastructure, and the time to prepare is now. This bill starts that process, or continues that process, so that we are prepared. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BACON

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Flag Day; the day in 1777 that the Second Continental Congress adopted the red, white and blue. Old Glory as we call her, flies proudly across our country and represents the home of the free and the brave. As the song `Grand Old Flag' says, the flag is the ``emblem of the land I love.'' I love the land that I protected in uniform for nearly 30 years. The land that has given me freedom of speech and religion. The land that has allowed me to work hard in a profession of my choice and provide for my family. It's also the land that encourages our youth to be proud of our flag. In fact, two young patriotic friends of mine are sharing their love for Old Glory by encouraging youth in America to host Flag Day events. William and Morgan Iler, who are eleven and seven respectively, are encouraging states to host events in their state, where children will get together at their own event and read the Declaration of Independence. As the next generation stands for liberty, they are showing Americans that we are the greatest nation in the world. By doing this on Flag Day they are also recognizing that Old Glory is the symbol of freedom, recognizing the home of the free and the brave. I salute and recognize these young patriots and other children who are participating in this event to recognize the red, white and blue and the freedoms she represents.

Mr. BACON

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Ruth Henrichs, a dedicated public servant from my own district in Omaha, Nebraska. Ms. Henrich's dedication to serving all people and treating them with justice and kindness is a model for all. It was early in her career as the CEO at Lutheran Family Services when Ruth was profoundly moved by their mission statement, which is ``To Express God's Love for All People.'' For Ruth, the most important word in that sentence is ``all,'' and for the next 41 years of service, 33 of those years as the president and CEO, this mission was Ruth's rock. Ruth received her bachelor in social welfare in 1972 and her master of social work in 1976, both from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. When she first started at Lutheran Family Services, Ruth walked into one of the treatment facilities and saw a man with a big tattoo on his arm that read ``Born to Lose.'' Ruth wondered, how many people come here every day with ``Born to Lose'' tattoed on their heart? At that moment, Ruth realized she was born to help others. Ruth's list of accolades and awards include: Outstanding Young Women of America, Who's Who of American Women, Social Worker of the Year, Champion for Kids and Families' Lifetime Service Award, Women of Distinction Award, and the Milagro Award. Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska recognized her 25 years of service by establishing the Ruth A. Henrichs Leadership Development Fund. With a passion for helping all, Ruth has served many boards and organizations at all levels, from being a member to chairperson. She has spent a lifetime dedicated to social service and her personal modus operandi: ``To spend your life in service, to express God's love for people.'' That is what Ruth believes and that is what she has done for so long. Ruth has made a positive impact in our local community of Omaha, in our State of Nebraska and, indeed, our country. She has made an impact where it matters most, the lives of others.

Mr. BACON

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Foster Youth Shadow Day. Today, I have Wini visiting us from Omaha, Nebraska. She is a junior at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, studying criminal justice, with a minor in communications. Wini is in Washington, D.C., along with more than 100 young adults participating in the seventh annual Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day. Currently, there are more than 400,000 youth in the foster care system, and we need to make sure the system is working well for all of our children. I look forward to learning from Wini so I can better advocate for these children in Congress as the newest co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth. As a foster parent myself, I know how important it is for every child to have a safe, supportive, and loving family. Wini is an inspiration for all of us, as she wants to attend law school and continue using her voice as an advocate for young people. Thank you for being here today, Wini. I know you have a bright future ahead of you, because you have an indomitable spirit, you have heart, and you have character.

Mr. BACON

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week to show support of those who put their lives on the line every day to protect Nebraskans and all Americans. These law enforcement professionals protect the life, limb, and property in assigned patrol areas during long hours, keeping them away from their own families. To those on the front line of our safety, it is not about the pay, the hours, or the conditions they work in; it is about making the world a better and safer place. Because of this, I have introduced three pieces of legislation to support those who serve on the front lines. H.R. 1970, the Kerrie Orozco Act, allows the immediate relatives of first responders who die in the line of duty to continue to process their immigration application in a timely manner, despite the death of their loved one. H.R. 5134, the STOP Straw Purchases Act, will increase punishment for those who purchase guns for someone who is prohibited from possessing one. H.R. 4896 allows each State to extend the training requirements for those carrying under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act from every 12 months to up to 36 months because they already received extensive training. I want to thank those who have served for their dedication to protect and serve and to defend our communities. Your service will not be forgotten.

Mr. BACON

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Chabot for his leadership for the part of our country that is the engine of our economy, small businesses, of which 47 percent of our American workers are a part. So we appreciate his leadership. I also want to thank the ranking member for her support of this bill. I appreciate the bipartisan effort to get this bill done. In fact, they both summarized the benefits of this bill very well. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4754, the Change Order Transparency for Federal Contractors Act. This bill is a commonsense, preventative measure designed to protect small businesses from loss by providing them with critical information up front, prior to submitting a bid on a Federal construction project. Ultimately, and this is the bottom line, this legislation is about the Federal Government paying its bills on time. Currently, small businesses are flying blind. Before they bid, they have no knowledge of an agency's change order process or history of payment. Construction is an inherently complex industry that inevitably requires changes to the original plan. Construction contractors must deal with this inevitability, but without knowledge of their customer's business practices, they cannot formulate accurate offers or sufficiently plan their operations prior to bidding. As a result, they may unknowingly place their business in jeopardy by working with an agency with a poor track record of timely payment. This is not a hypothetical problem. In our committee, we have heard businesses over and over again go through this problem. We have to address it. Actual businesses should not have to worry about being paid by the Federal Government on time. While large contractors may have the resources and capital to absorb some of the loss, small businesses struggle to stay afloat as they wait for payment. In addition to financing the cost of the changed work, small businesses are forced to pay their own bills while waiting for the agency to act. This includes payroll, material costs, and even taxes. This problem is compounded and made even worse for small subcontractors, who are often the last in line to receive payment. H.R. 4754 will provide prospective Federal construction contractors and subcontractors with the information they need prior to submitting a bid. Agencies would be required to publish, as part of their solicitation, detailed information about their change order processes and timely payment data. This information could preserve the role of small contractors as part of our industrial base by making Federal contracts more attractive to small businesses and make the process more competitive. A more competitive bidding process for Federal contractors would benefit both small businesses and taxpayers. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation.

Mr. BACON

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize three amazing kids: Arianna, Julius, and Kaydin, who join me today on the floor. All three are taking part in Take Our Children to Work Today hosted by Tuesday's Children. This is my second year participating in this wonderful event, and both times it has brightened my day. Tuesday's Children provides support to children whose parents passed away in the military or due to terrorism. More than 15,000 individuals directly impacted by the events of September 11 have been supported by Tuesday's Children, and more than 6,000 individuals are currently served by Tuesday's Children's First Responder Alliance program today. In my 30 years in the Air Force, I was able to meet with the families of loved ones who passed. I know how important organizations like Tuesday's Children are for our Nation's youth. Today, it is about kids like Arianna, Julius, and Kaydin. They are shadowing me this morning and seeing what life is like in Congress. Julius is 9 years old. He is from Maryland and enjoys robotics and LEGOs. Kaydin, from Pennsylvania, is 10 years old, and is a big New York Giants fan. I tried to make him a Chicago Bears fan, but I couldn't do it. Finally, Arianna is from Maryland. She is 7 years old, and loves to play tennis. I hope they enjoy their time in Washington and remember this day as a very special one, because they are special. I look forward to spending more time with them this afternoon.

Mr. BACON

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 2, which proposes a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and I am proud to be a cosponsor. For too long, the United States Government has overdrawn its checking account, and we must stop or we leave our children, our grandchildren and great-grandchildren saddled with debt. In Nebraska, we balanced our budget and even have a cash reserve on hand of around $500 million. This is the Nebraska way, and we need to make it the American way. Our State law forbids the carrying over of a deficit from one year to the next. This has resulted in Nebraska being ranked sixth for best fiscal condition in the Nation. We need a forcing function that balances the Federal budget like we have in Nebraska. What Nebraska does, so can we with our Federal budget. While H.J. Res. 2 will require the President to submit a proposed budget to Congress where spending does not exceed receipts, there are some safeguard measures in the event spending would need to exceed revenue. A requirement for a three-fifths vote of both Chambers would be required to raise the debt ceiling, but Congress can waive that three-fifths requirement for any fiscal year the U.S. is engaged in military conflict that causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security and is declared by a joint resolution of both legislative bodies. If I could balance my checkbook at home, why can't the United States? If the State of Nebraska can balance their budget and have a cash reserve, why can't the United States? Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.J. Res. 2 to put our great Nation on the path to debt recovery.

Mr. BACON

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5079) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security to develop an engagement strategy with fusion centers, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the gentlewoman from New Jersey for her comments and her support making this bill a bipartisan bill. Part of the work that we are doing is we are going to improve 70 different fusion centers with this bill and standardize the performance of all of them. Mr. Speaker, once again, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5079, the DHS Field Engagement Accountability Act. The sharing of counterterrorism and other homeland security information with State and local officials is vital in our efforts to protect the homeland. Fusion centers as hubs for information sharing and analysis play a critical role in the domestic homeland security information-sharing environment. Over the years, there have been vast improvements in DHS' support for these key stakeholders, including the Nebraska Information Analysis Center, known as NIAC, in my home State of Nebraska. H.R. 5079, the DHS Field Engagement Accountability Act, builds on ongoing efforts to hold DHS more accountable for supporting fusion centers and fully utilizing them as a resource to the Federal Government. First, it requires DHS to develop a strategy for engagement with fusion centers. With the maturation of the national network, many fusion centers have adopted an all-threats, all-hazards mission to ensure they are keeping pace with the changing threat environment. A strategy that incorporates all the components of the Department will ensure DHS is supporting and leveraging fusion centers effectively and efficiently. Second, this bill mandates performance metrics to hold DHS personnel in the field accountable. Among other responsibilities, these personnel serve as ambassadors of the Department and are integral in shaping and strengthening the relationship between fusion centers and DHS. As such, the Department must have appropriate performance objectives and metrics in place to ensure greater transparency in the expectations of these officers and accountability when issues arise. Finally, this bill requires additional training and improvements for both the classified and unclassified information-sharing systems that the Department makes available to fusion centers and other law enforcement agencies. While DHS has made strides in facilitating fusion center access to information and information systems, there are gaps in the Department's efforts to ensure these partners are adequately trained to utilize these systems. So, for example, while all fusion centers now have access to DHS' classified HSDN, many fusion center personnel are not proficient in this system, and DHS does not currently provide any standardized, in- person HSDN training. Granting the appropriate clearances and credentials to access DHS systems is just as important as ensuring competency when using these systems. Additionally, I have learned that many DHS components do not routinely share analytic products on the Homeland Security Information Network-Intelligence portal, and many documents are not posted on a timely basis. It is incumbent on the Department to ensure the appropriate policies and metrics are in place to incentivize component use of this critical information-sharing program. In that regard, I am pleased to report that, as of this month, both the Federal Protective Service and the United States Coast Guard have started participating on the HSIN-Intel Partner Products page. I encourage other components of the Department that do not participate to follow suit. This is a commonsense bill with bipartisan support that will enhance DHS' relationship with State and local fusion centers across the country. In short, we have learned many lessons this past year in analyzing and studying fusion centers. This bill fixes the multiple problems that we have encountered. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BACON

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5131) to improve the effectiveness of Federal efforts to identify and address homeland security risks to surface transportation, secure against vehicle-based attacks, and conduct a feasibility assessment of introducing new security technologies and measures, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5131, the Surface Transportation Security Improvement Act of 2018, as amended. As you may be aware, TSA was created in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11. While the impetus behind its creation was the threat to aviation security, TSA is responsible for securing all transportation modes, including surface transportation assets such as railroads, mass transit, pipelines, buses, and ports. Given the persistent threats facing aviation in the post-9/11 era, TSA's main focus has been securing the aviation sector. However, in recent years, threats emanating against surface transportation modes, especially mass transit hubs, have steadily increased. Attacks against these surface targets often require less sophistication than attacks against aviation, making them especially attractive to lone wolves or homegrown violent extremists. Surface transportation systems are also a very attractive target due to their large volume of daily ridership and open infrastructure. The most recent example of an attack targeting surface is the attempted suicide bombing in December 2017 at New York City's Port Authority Bus Terminal. Given the current threat environment, a review of TSA's approach to securing all transportation modes and an assessment of the degree to which surface transportation security should be prioritized is certainly warranted. Specifically, this bill mandates a GAO review of the national strategy for transportation security, the development of risk-based priorities for all transportation modes, and a feasibility assessment of utilizing security technologies for surface transportation assets. Furthermore, the bill requires TSA to disseminate best practices for enhancing security against vehicle-based terrorist attacks and authorizes a surface-focused Innovation Task Force. Finally, the bill requires a threat assessment of certain security technologies tied to foreign countries and a strategy for TSA's surface transportation inspectors. In the face of emerging threats, it is imperative that Congress ensure TSA is adequately executing its mission to protect all transportation modes, not just aviation. I thank the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security, Mrs. Watson Coleman, for authoring this legislation, as well as the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Katko, for his support and leadership on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, again, I want to commend the gentlewoman from New Jersey's work on this bill and Mr. Katko, the chairman of the subcommittee. This is obviously very important. Airports aren't the only target. We have bus transportation, we have seen those targeted in Europe; our rail centers are also targets. We have seen that in Europe, and we have seen indications of those attacks being planned here as well. Once again, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BACON

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4467) to require the Federal Air Marshal Service to utilize risk- based strategies, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4467, the Strengthening Aviation Security Act of 2018. Described by Chairman McCaul in his State of National Security Address as ``the crown jewel of ISIS and other terrorist groups,'' the American aviation industry remains a key target of terrorism. The Transportation Security Administration has made great strides in securing commercial flights, but the threat of evolving terror tactics requires a comprehensive, multilateral approach informed by data collected from industry. The TSA's risk management strategy for passenger aviation security is characterized by a multilayered approach, whereby the TSA deploys a variety of security countermeasures to detect and deter threats. Federal air marshals, also known as FAMs, are armed law enforcement officers deployed on passenger flights as part of the TSA's comprehensive security strategy to protect air passengers and crews against criminals and terrorists. Due to the high volume of passenger flights and limited resources at the TSA, it is imperative that FAM deployment is risk-based and strategic in order to achieve the greatest security value. However, a recent GAO report from September 2017 found that the TSA does not measure data on the efficacy and deterrence value of FAMs. Without viable metrics, it is impossible for the TSA to truly employ a calculated risk management strategy for passenger aviation security. Accordingly, the Strengthening Aviation Security Act of 2018 requires the Federal Air Marshal Service to utilize risk-based strategies for international and domestic flight coverage. This bill ensures that FAMs are deployed in a manner that adds strategic value to the TSA's multilayered security approach. As amended, the bill also requires the TSA to take their risk-based approach a step further by ensuring that FAMs are seated in tactical positions when deployed on the aircraft. Strategic seating arrangements will provide FAMs with a distinct advantage in the event of a threat to aviation security and ensure that they are more relevant to the important mission for which they are tasked. The Strengthening Aviation Security Act emphasizes the importance of intelligence-driven, risk-based decisions to make the best use of the Federal Air Marshal Service's resources and personnel. I thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Jody B. Hice) for authoring this legislation, as well the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Katko, for his work on this bill. Additionally, I wish to thank the chairman of the full committee, Mr. McCaul, for moving the bill through the committee process. This bill will promote public confidence in the security of the Nation's aviation system and ensure that armed Federal law enforcement officers are deployed on passenger flights, where they are most needed. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Jody B. Hice), the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this bill makes total sense. If you are going to use Federal air marshals where they are needed most, it should be analytical and scientific-based so that we get the most bang for the buck. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.