Yvette Clarke

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, our adversaries are showing no signs of slowing their efforts to undermine U.S. interests in cyberspace. Most often, hackers exploit known vulnerabilities. The Federal Government can and should support efforts to address and mitigate known vulnerabilities. H.R. 2980 would do just that. I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for her foresight, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, 5 years ago a Government Accountability Office survey found that 12 out of 12 Federal agencies used obsolete information technology. In other words, 12 out of 12 Federal agencies were using software or hardware for which vendors no longer provided support, updates, or patches. The Federal Government is hardly alone. It has been widely reported that State and local governments and critical infrastructure owners and operators across the country rely on legacy technology. We have seen malicious cyber actors wreak havoc by exploiting known vulnerabilities. H.R. 2980 would authorize CISA to develop and distribute playbooks to provide procedures and mitigation strategies for the most critical, known vulnerabilities, especially those affecting software or hardware that is no longer supported by a vendor. The playbooks would be available to Federal agencies, industry, and other stakeholders. The bill, as introduced by the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), also authorizes the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, in consultation with CISA, to establish a competition program for industry, individuals, academia, and others to provide remediation solutions for cybersecurity vulnerabilities that are no longer supported. Importantly, in response to recent cyberattacks, H.R. 2980 prioritizes efforts to address vulnerabilities of industrial control systems of critical infrastructure that may be targeted, like water systems and pipelines. H.R. 2980 is no substitute for investing in new technology, but it will provide important support to government and private sector entities that cannot replace legacy technology or rapidly patch known vulnerabilities because of resource limitations or other system complications. Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2980, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 1 minute.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, as Americans prepared for their 4th of July holiday weekends, a Russian-based cybercrime crime group launched a ransomware attack that would affect up to 1,500 small- and medium-sized businesses and local governments. The Kaseya ransomware attacks followed a series of cyberattacks, including one that resulted in the shutdown of 5,500 miles of pipeline on the East Coast. The unfortunate reality is that the rate and ferocity of cyberattacks show no signs of ebbing. State actors and cybercriminals alike use cyber tools to advance their goals, regardless of whether they are driven by geopolitical considerations or profiteering. Together, the Federal Government and its State, local, and private sector partners must do everything in their power to defend our networks while deterring and raising the cost of cyberattacks. At the same time, we must have tested, exercised cyber-incident response plans in place in the event a malicious hacker successfully gains access to a victim network. Last year's National Defense Authorization Act included language directing DHS, in coordination with interagency partners, to conduct four exercises over the next 12 years to test the resiliency, response, and recovery of the U.S. to a significant cyber incident impacting critical infrastructure. Such exercises are critical to understanding our national resilience to cyberattacks and where we need to invest in improving capability. H.R. 3223 would complement the capstone exercise program authorized last year. It directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, together with sector risk management agencies, to develop an exercise program that is designed to more regularly test and assess systemic preparedness and resilience to cyberattacks against critical infrastructure. The authorization includes requirements for the development of model exercises that State and local governments or private sector entities could readily adapt. Our collective resilience to cyberattacks demands that we regularly assess and improve our ability to respond to cyberattacks. The exercise program authorized by H.R. 3223 will help State and local governments and private sector critical infrastructure entities to do just that. So I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3223, and I reserve the balance of my time

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin).

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, the country is experiencing an unprecedented number of significant cyberattacks. From hospitals to schools to pipelines and a meat processing plant, nothing is immune. The key to ensuring we are resilient to cyberattacks is to ensure that we have trained and tested cyber incident response plans. H.R. 3223, the CISA Cyber Exercise Act, is critical in that effort. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3223, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3264) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require research and development to identify and evaluate the extent to which critical domain risks within the United States supply chain pose a substantial threat to homeland security, and for other purposes.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 3264, the Domains Critical to Homeland Security Act. America's economy depends on diverse and resilient supply chains that ensure an uninterrupted flow of goods and services to the Nation. Disruptions, whether caused by natural disasters or manmade events, can reduce the availability and integrity of critical supplies. This has significant Homeland Security implications. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed vulnerabilities in the Nation's medical supply chains, which caused persistent shortages for personal protective equipment and testing supplies; most of which is manufactured overseas. And the recent ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline showed how a brief shutdown of a major gas pipeline can drive up prices and lead to gas shortages. H.R. 3264 would authorize DHS to conduct research and development into supply chain risks for critical domains of the U.S. economy. The research would include a risk analysis for each critical domain to identify weaknesses that pose a substantial homeland security threat. The bill would also require DHS to report on the results of its research annually through fiscal year 2026. This report will allow the public and private sectors to take meaningful action to mitigate risk and to ensure the long-term economic security of the United States. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 3264 to improve America's economic and homeland security, and I thank the gentleman from New York for his forward-leaning legislation in introducing this bill. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1850, the Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act. First responders across the Nation are facing unprecedented challenges. Over the past year, the unrelenting demands of COVID-19 have placed great strain on our hometown heroes. In the West, first responders have had the added challenge of battling devastating wildfires; and in the East, they are in the midst of a dangerous hurricane season. Compounding these challenges is a terrorism threat landscape that, according to the Department of Homeland Security, has ``evolved significantly and become increasingly complex and volatile in 2021.'' Given the complexity of the challenges our men and women on the front lines face, it is critical that they have the most reliable and effective technology and equipment to respond. When it comes to delivering innovative technological solutions, the first responder community looks to the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory in New York City. NUSTL, as it has come to be known, serves a unique mission in the Federal Government. It is the only Federal lab that is solely dedicated to researching and developing technology to help first responders safely and effectively respond to emergencies that range from natural disasters and industrial incidents to active shooters and terrorist attacks. New innovative emergency response technologies are constantly being deployed, but to keep our first responders safe, they must first be tried and tested. Enactment of H.R. 1850 would ensure that NUSTL can continue to carry out this vital role in Homeland Security. Specifically, it would ensure that NUSTL could continue to conduct simulated scenarios with first responders to test new emergency systems, support research for innovative technology, and assist first responders in evaluating new tools. In recent years, despite NUSTL's recognized value to the Nation, we saw the Trump administration repeatedly propose shuttering it. Thankfully, Congress rejected those shortsighted proposals and redoubled its support for this vital institution. Looking ahead, we must not only permanently authorize NUSTL by enacting H.R. 1850, but we must also continue to prioritize funding for the lab so it can continue its critical work. Once again, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Washington, DC, July 8, 2021. Hon. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Thompson: I am writing to address the jurisdictional interests of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (``Science Committee'') in H.R. 1850, the ``Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act.'' While the Science Committee has claimed jurisdiction over versions of this bill introduced in previous Congresses, I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this legislation before the House in an expeditious manner, and, accordingly agree not to insist on a sequential referral. This is, of course, conditional on our mutual understanding that nothing in this legislation or my decision to forgo sequential referral waives, reduces, or otherwise affects the jurisdiction of the Science Committee, and that a copy of this letter and your response will be included in the bill report to be filed by the Committee on Homeland Security and included in the Congressional Record when the bill is considered on the House Floor. Finally, I ask that you support the appointment of Science Committee conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this, or similar legislation. Thank you for your attention on this matter. Sincerely, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairwoman.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice).

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1850 is a bill to protect our protectors. At the very least, those on the front lines deserve to go to work with the certainty that their equipment will work when they need it the most. They should not have to ask themselves: Will it function under pressure? Can it take the heat? We owe it to the nearly 2 million Americans who put their lives on the line to protect us to ensure that NUSTL is operational and resourced to test their equipment. This fall, we will be observing the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that shook this Nation to its core. The 9/11 attack was not only the single deadliest terrorist attack in human history, but it was the deadliest incident ever for firefighters and law enforcement officers in the United States. Mr. Speaker, 343 New York City firefighters, 23 NYPD officers, and 37 Port Authority officers died that day. By enacting H.R. 1850, we can ensure that as threats continue to grow and change, NUSTL will be there to provide critical technical support to our first responder community. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice) for this legislation, and I ask that my colleagues support this bipartisan legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3263) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish in the Department of Homeland Security a medical countermeasures program, and for other purposes.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3263, the DHS Medical Countermeasures Act. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3263 seeks to establish a medical countermeasures program to facilitate the readiness and protection of personnel and working animals in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosives attack; disease outbreak; or pandemic. H.R. 3263 requires DHS' chief medical officer, or CMO, to provide programmatic oversight of the medical countermeasures program and establish a medical countermeasures working group comprised of relevant DHS components. Additionally, the bill requires the CMO to utilize DHS chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear risk assessments, and CDC guidance, to determine the types and quantities of medical countermeasures to stockpile. H.R. 3263, first introduced in the 114th Congress, was developed due to concerns about the possibility of a severe pandemic that could cause illnesses and fatalities and destabilize the operations of DHS. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought these concerns to the forefront. DHS is responsible for protecting our homeland, but the Department can only do that if it has a safe workforce. Many of the more than 240,000 employees are out on the front lines due to the nature of their responsibilities. Furthermore, critical supply shortages of personal protective equipment earlier in the pandemic, which affected the Federal Government and State and local governments, also severely impacted DHS operations. H.R. 3263 is informed by an August 2014 DHS inspector general report. It is also informed by testimony provided during multiple House Homeland Security Committee hearings. Enactment of this bill will improve DHS' ability to protect the well- being of DHS personnel so they can fulfill their mission: protecting our homeland. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am prepared to close after the gentleman from New York closes. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the American people, our Republic, my colleagues, congressional staff, Capitol Police officers, and the late Officer Brian Sicknick, in support of H.R. 3233, the National Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol Complex Act. Let me be very clear: What took place on January 6 in the United States Capitol Building was an act of domestic terrorism. To witness this hallowed place, the seat of our democracy, being breached and invaded by a mob of incensed blood-thirsty individuals, sycophants, all as we barricaded ourselves in our offices and on this floor, fearing for our lives, was devastating beyond belief. It was an attack on our democracy. Full stop. This commission is necessary to ensure all parties involved are brought to justice and the American people are made aware of the facts and causes that led to this heinous act of domestic terrorism.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today with profound sadness to mourn the loss and celebrate the life of Ms. Mary Bishop, director of constituent services for the Ninth District of New York and my dear friend. Mary has been with our office and me for more than 15 years. She was extraordinary and compassionate, with a heart of gold. She embodied what it meant to be an advocate for the people, and her passing has been felt across our district. On a personal note, I will dearly miss Mary. We celebrated together, laughed together, and shared a passion for the people of the Ninth District together. Mary Bishop worked hard, played hard, and was a God- fearing Caribbean American woman who loved her family immensely. On behalf of the people of the Ninth District and the Clarke family, I want to extend my thoughts and prayers to the family, loved ones, friends who were touched by the life and legacy of the incomparable Mary Bishop. In closing, when I think of Mary, I am reminded of Mahalia Jackson's ``If I Can Help Somebody.'' If I can help somebody as I travel along, If I can help someone with a word or a song, If I can help somebody from doing wrong, Then my living shall not be in vain. My dear friend Mary, your living was not in vain. You will be dearly missed.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 126. members recorded pursuant to house resolution 8, 117th congress Allred (Wexton) Barragan (Beyer) Cardenas (Gallego) Costa (Correa) Crenshaw (Fallon) Donalds (Cammack) Gonzalez (OH) (Timmons) Gosar (Greene (GA)) Grijalva (Garcia (IL)) Khanna (Gomez) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Langevin (Lynch) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Leger Fernandez (Jacobs (CA)) Lieu (Beyer) Lowenthal (Beyer) Meng (Clark (MA)) Mfume (Connolly) Moulton (Perlmutter) Napolitano (Correa) Omar (Bush) Payne (Pallone) Porter (Wexton) Rush (Underwood) Sewell (DelBene) Speier (Scanlon) Stefanik (Katko) Trahan (Lynch) Watson Coleman (Pallone) Welch (McGovern) Wilson (FL) (Hayes) Wilson (SC) (Timmons)

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, as an original co-lead of this legislation, I rise today in support of the bill that is near and dear to my heart, H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. As the proud daughter of Jamaican immigrants, I understand the need for the American Dream and Promise Act, and more importantly, we need a humane and dignified 21st century immigration system. Comprehensive immigration reform is what is required. Let me be very clear, crystal clear: Our immigration system is broken, and the time has come for the values of our Nation to be reflected in our immigration policy. However, this is not just a moral issue. It is an economic one, as well. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, essential workers are the lifeblood of our economy. They have risked their lives during a global pandemic to serve, support, and protect American communities. We have relied on them during this crisis, and it is time to give them a way out of the shadows. Let's pass H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. Let's see it through the Senate, and let's get it signed into law.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, due to last-minute congressional business, I was unable to vote on this measure. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``yea'' on rollcall No. 80 (PPP Extension Act of 2021).

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kentucky for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise once again in support of the American Rescue Plan Act. This monumental and comprehensive legislation will bring a sustained critical relief to the American people: $1,400 in the direct payments to the most economically distressed Americans, cutting child poverty in half, $26 billion for emergency rental assistance, and $7.25 billion in new money for the PPP program. New York City was the outbreak epicenter of the virus. We experienced unprecedented loss and economic devastation. But the American Rescue Plan; Brooklyn, New York; and the Nation can look forward to a future beyond devastating pandemic. No amount of gaslighting, alternative facts, fear-mongering, and conspiracy theories will fool the American people. President Biden and the Democrats to the rescue.