Dan Crenshaw

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost).

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Hagedorn).

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Minnesota.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 5273, the Securing America's Ports Act. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation, and I thank my colleague from New Mexico for her work on this legislation. Our ports of entry continue to be a preferred avenue for transnational criminal organizations and drug smugglers to transport narcotics and contraband into the United States. In fact, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized more than 455,000 pounds of narcotics at our ports in fiscal year 2019 alone. The amount of fentanyl seized in 2019 was enough for more than 577 million lethal doses. That is more than the entire population of the United States. H.R. 5273 forces the Department to act on securing the ports of entry by requiring the Secretary to develop a plan to scan all commercial and passenger vehicles entering the United States through land ports using nonintrusive inspection systems or similar systems within 180 days. This bill encourages continued research and development, including consideration of emerging technology, to meet the inspection system plan requirements. H.R. 5273 also requires the Secretary to establish benchmarks to evaluate progress toward 100 percent scanning, estimated costs, anticipated impacts on commerce, and anticipated impacts on border security operations, including staffing considerations. Last year, Congress made a significant investment in funding nonintrusive inspection equipment for implementation across the land borders over a 5-year period, and this bill would ensure an appropriate plan is in place so that rollout runs smoothly, and taxpayer dollars are well spent. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 504, the DHS Field Engagement Accountability Act. This legislation was introduced by my friend and colleague from Nebraska, Representative Don Bacon. I applaud Congressman Bacon's initiative in sponsoring H.R. 504, which requires the Department of Homeland Security to: Develop an engagement strategy for the national network of fusion centers; Performance metrics for DHS personnel deployed to support State and local fusion centers; and, Training for fusion center personnel in the use of available DHS information-sharing systems. Additionally, the bill ensures that DHS component agencies are sharing appropriate information, through secure channels, with fusion center personnel. Representing a border State, I want to ensure that DHS agencies, including Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, have relevant criminal or terrorism information that is accessible to appropriate fusion center personnel. This will enhance coordination and situational awareness throughout the homeland. This bill has already passed the House of Representatives and was passed in the Senate with minor amendments. Passage of the bill today will send H.R. 504 to the President's desk. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to again support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bacon).

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I, again, want to thank Representative Bacon for his work on this legislation, as well as Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Rogers, Senator Johnson, and Senator Peters for moving this bill through the House and Senate committees. The sharing of counterterrorism and other homeland security information with State and local officials is vital in our efforts to protect the homeland. I am proud that we are able to support further enhancing these efforts in a bipartisan manner today. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2932, the Homeland Security for Children Act. This legislation seeks to ensure that the needs of children, one of our most vulnerable populations, are considered in Department of Homeland Security planning. H.R. 2932 directs the Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans to incorporate feedback from children's organizations into departmentwide activities. Furthermore, this bill authorizes the technical expert position within the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, to identify and integrate the needs of children when preparing for, protecting against, responding to, and recovering from natural and manmade disasters. It is imperative that we ensure that those who are unable to advocate for themselves are being represented when disaster strikes. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4737, the Department of Homeland Security Climate Change Research Act. Numerous Federal studies have been conducted that summarize the impacts of climate change on the United States and discuss the nexus between climate change and terrorism. This bill directs DHS' Science and Technology Directorate to evaluate the current Federal research regarding the connection between climate change and homeland security to identify any research gaps and, to the extent practical, conduct additional research to fill those gaps. Mr. Speaker, I encourage Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4432, the Protecting Critical Infrastructure Against Drones and Emerging Threats Act. In the wrong hands, unmanned aerial systems can pose a threat to the American people. At our borders, criminals are using drones to smuggle drugs and surveil law enforcement. Terrorists like ISIS have used them in the past to carry out attacks overseas. We must do more to address this threat, and with this bill we do just that. H.R. 4432 protects the American people from the threat posed by these criminal drone operators. This legislation requires the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at DHS to prepare an assessment of the threat from drones with information gathered from Federal, State, local, and private-sector partners. This bill also requires DHS to establish a secure communications network to receive and analyze information on the threat and a voluntary mechanism for reporting threat information from owners and operators of critical infrastructure. During committee consideration of this bill, I proposed an amendment to allow DHS to produce this information in a classified form, as appropriate. I am pleased that language was included in this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Homeland Security is charged with protecting Americans here at home, and it is critical that the technologies used to carry out this mission are secure. The risk posed by certain foreign drone manufacturers is well documented and presents a national security threat. Chinese-manufactured drones could provide a backdoor for the Chinese Government to access sensitive flight data from drones used by DHS. My bill, H.R. 4753, seeks to address this vulnerability. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has stated that these unmanned aircraft systems are a potential risk to an organization's information and that drones could contain components that could compromise your data. The potential for comprised data to fall into the hands of a foreign government should concern everyone. It threatens to disrupt the law enforcement and national security objectives of DHS. My bill, the Drone Origin Security Enhancement Act, addresses the threat by prohibiting DHS from acquiring unmanned aircraft systems manufactured in a foreign country labeled a strategic competitor by the Department of Defense. This is similar to a prohibition included in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 for the military. Simply put, my bill will ensure that DHS is not using drone equipment from a foreign government that our military already views as a threat. Much like the Department of Defense, DHS and its components have a critical mission. The risk introduced into these missions by foreign- manufactured drones is not something that can be ignored. This legislation addresses this very real threat and will keep our adversaries from compromising the technology we use to keep Americans safe. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from New Mexico for her leadership on this bill. I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 4753, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Homeland Security is tasked with some of the most critical national security functions in the Federal Government. The Department is responsible for securing our borders, defending our cyber networks, safeguarding air travel, and protecting our ports. To carry out these important missions, it is imperative that DHS acquire the proper tools and equipment and maintain proper oversight of such acquisitions. Both the Government Accountability Office and the DHS Office of Inspector General have reported on the persistent challenges that DHS has faced for years in managing its major acquisition programs. The Department's shortcomings in the management of these programs come with a hefty price tag for American taxpayers, to the tune of billions of dollars annually. GAO reviewed acquisitions at DHS in 2016 and found that 8 of 25 major acquisition programs experienced cost overruns, schedule slips, or both. On average, these programs' cost estimates ballooned by $1.7 billion, and the key deadlines were missed by almost a year. Only 3 out of 25 major acquisition programs were on track to meet their original schedule and cost goals. GAO has also found that DHS components have not implemented acquisition policy consistently. In 2012, GAO determined that only 4 out of 66 programs had all the required documents approved in accordance with DHS policy, and in 2015, GAO determined that DHS did not conduct needed operational testing on all acquisition programs. Although DHS has taken steps in recent years to improve acquisition management, this process remains ripe for waste, fraud, and abuse. The Department continues to struggle to ensure that major acquisition programs adhere to their budgets, timelines, and capability goals. To be clear, it is taxpayers who are on the hook for all of this. We must remember that every inefficiency in government spending results in an additional financial burden that must be covered by the citizens of this country. As egregious as the cost overruns may be, the consequences of not providing the proper tools on time are even more dire. If DHS cannot provide proper oversight of its major acquisition programs, then the Department cannot provide the tools they need to execute their missions to keep Americans safe. This bill goes a long way to correct some of the current shortfalls in the acquisition process, which will help ensure we are being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars and protecting the integrity of these programs. It gives new authority over these billion-dollar programs to the Under Secretary for Management as the Chief Acquisition Officer. It fosters more thoughtful management of major acquisition programs using private-sector best practices and bolsters oversight and accountability measures. These changes will help move the necessary tools into the hands of those protecting our homeland in a timely and efficient manner without foisting a financial burden on Americans. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of my bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, I rise today to support the people from the great State of Texas. It has been 2\1/2\ years since Hurricane Harvey. Many of my constituents are still struggling to finance their rebuilding. And it is not as if Texans simply waited on Federal aid. We passed a local bond for $2.5 billion to address recovery and future prevention. Additionally, many took out SBA loans, a low-cost loan to get themselves back on their own feet. Here is the problem: My constituents never thought that taking out an SBA loan, a loan that they would be paying back, would prevent them from also receiving other Federal aid. This problem of dual benefits was addressed in law recently by my friend Representative Garret Graves from Louisiana, but the fix came too late for some. Many victims of disasters who would be eligible for Federal aid such as CDBG-DR are not able to access that aid. This amendment will not be able to provide the estimated nearly $3 billion that the Texas General Land Office believes would be needed to help all of those affected, but my amendment will solve this problem for some of the most vulnerable people who unfairly fell through the bureaucratic cracks. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves).

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and missed the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 54.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise to urge defeat of the previous question so that we can immediately consider my resolution to honor the hard work and dedication of the men and women who made the precision strike on Qasem Soleimani possible. This is an interesting crossroads we find ourselves in. After the successful response by the United States against the escalating aggression from the world's most active and deadly terrorist, Qasem Soleimani, our great country has found itself divided and unsure of itself. Instead of unity and resolve in the face of a clear and common enemy, we have division and self-doubt. What is worse, that division has been sourced from the leadership in this very body. While legitimate questions were raised--what authority was used, what was the reasoning, what sort of intelligence backed this decision-- those questions have long been answered clearly and convincingly. The President has clear authority, a duty in fact, to respond to attacks against American citizens and U.S. forces. That isn't my opinion; that is clear from Article II of the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. The case is made even stronger when you consider this occurred entirely within Iraq, a place where we already have a lawful military operational footprint. The reasoning is quite simple as well: We must make clear that the U.S. will not be attacked indefinitely, that we will respond, and that response will make you regret ever having hit us in the first place. The long history of General Soleimani's actions against the United States throughout the region, and the killing and maiming of thousands of America's sons and daughters, and indications of his future actions make this point even stronger. As to the intelligence, our CIA, our Director of National Intelligence, our Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have repeatedly told us that this intelligence was some of the best they had ever seen, and it removed all doubt that Soleimani was planning large scale imminent attacks. These questions have been answered over and over and over, and yet my colleagues pretend not to hear those answers. After all, the mere thought of agreeing with and supporting our President is repugnant to them even when it is the right thing to do. So instead of applauding these actions that restored American deterrence, delivered justice to hundreds of dead American soldiers and their families, and severely weakened the terrorist organization IRGC Quds Force, my colleagues wring their hands and express regret and disappointment. Instead of applauding the men and women of our military standing in harm's way, instead of recognizing the tireless vigilance of our intelligence community, instead of acknowledging those who have spent years confronting the Iranian threat network directly, my colleagues in this Congress seek to undermine them. I take this personally, since I was one of those servicemembers for so many years. This threat is not new to us, though it may be new to those politicians who have lived comfortably and safely back home, now casting stones from ivory towers, relying on disingenuous judgments and false premises to make a false, politically-driven case to the American people. So I offer this resolution today in order to right that wrong. I offer this to demonstrate to the American people and our servicemembers and members of the intelligence community that this Congress does indeed stand by the decision to rid the world of America's enemies and those who seek to do us harm and stands by those who made justice possible. This resolution simply states the obvious: that General Soleimani was head of one of the most sophisticated terrorist organizations in the world that already committed numerous attacks against the United States and planned to carry out many more within days. This resolution rightfully congratulates our men and women who disrupted this evil chain of attacks, instead of wrongly suggesting to them that their actions were unauthorized and even immoral.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this resolution and put to rest once and for all the false implication that America cannot defend herself when necessary. Madam Speaker, I urge defeat of the previous question.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Harris County Sheriff Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal, who was tragically and senselessly murdered in the line of duty while serving the Houston community. Deputy Dhaliwal's life was devoted to service--to his family, his community, and the residents of Harris County. Deputy Dhaliwal helped coordinate disaster relief efforts after Hurricane Harvey. He worked with at-risk youth to improve their lives. He recently expressed a desire to start a free food bus to help feed the homeless, because he could not imagine people in his community going hungry. In the days before his passing, he expressed his dream of creating a fund for first responders and fallen heroes, which UNITED SIKHS will carry on in his name. Deputy Dhaliwal's service extended beyond his own community. He recently returned from volunteering in Puerto Rico, where he assisted in the recovery efforts after Hurricane Maria. He also recently visited his ancestral village in Punjab to deliver water and other necessities to farmers during a drought. Deputy Dhaliwal was the first Sikh deputy in the Harris County Sheriff's Department's history to wear the Sikh articles of faith, including his dastaar (turban), kesh (unshorn hair), and kara (steel bracelet) on duty, breaking down the barrier between religious observance and uniformed service. He was proud--and his community was proud of him--for receiving his historic religious accommodation to serve. He was a role model for Sikh Americans nationwide who are interested in a career of service to our nation. Deputy Dhaliwal was known for his warm and welcoming personality. He was always willing to go out of his way to make the person with whom he was speaking feel respected. Deputy Dhaliwal was especially warm with children. Since the day of his final patrol, many parents have posted videos of Deputy Dhaliwal interacting with their children. They all ended with a warm hug. As a Houstonian, I am heartbroken over the loss of Deputy Dhaliwal, but as with every tragedy in my hometown, I am proud to see the community come together in the face of adversity. While this display of compassion does not come close to replacing the husband, father, and son his family lost, it is a small way of showing how much Houston appreciates Deputy Dhaliwal and his contributions to our community and the inspiration he created for Sikhs who want to serve our nation. He was a trailblazer and a hero. I urge all who hear and read this to take a moment to remember the life of Deputy Dhaliwal. The world would be a better place if we all lived by the example Deputy Dhaliwal set.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the brave men and women of the Spring Fire Department, a public safety agency that has come a long way in its 66-year history, but never so much as in the past decade. For the first few decades, local residents and businesses passed the hat, and volunteers manned the donated and frequently pre-owned, equipment. As Spring has evolved from a rural railroad stop into a Houston suburb, the fire department has grown alongside the community. In 1997, Spring Fire began employing professional firefighters to supplement their volunteers during the daytime hours. Meeting the expectations of a rapidly growing population is a challenge they meet every day. Six of Spring's nine fire stations were built this decade. Station 74 is the last of the new stations to open for service. Every day, the men and women of the Spring Fire Department provide fire suppression, emergency medical response, and more to over 152,000 people in 62 square miles of northern Harris County. From a fire department where volunteers heard the siren and rushed to a station to pick up a fire engine, Spring has evolved into a combination department that staffs all its nine stations 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Today, the department has a mix of full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters to answer the calls. With a fleet of over two dozen pieces of fire and rescue apparatus, along with more than a dozen support vehicles, Spring firefighters respond to fires, medical emergencies, vehicle accidents, and highwater rescues. Built to withstand strong hurricane-force winds, the new Station 74 is already home to an engine and a tanker. Designed with the future in mind, Station 74 will be able to house more fire equipment, an additional crew, and a District Chief in the years to come. The new Spring Fire Station 74 is a testament to the commitment of the department, their command staff, and the board of Harris County Emergency Services District Number 7 to serve Spring today and in the future. It is my honor to be part of the Spring Fire Station 74 Grand Opening Celebration on October 5. May God bless these crews putting their lives on the line for this community every day, and may God continue to bless Texas and the United States of America.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I urge the Speaker to immediately schedule this important bill.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 542. This bill authorizes the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory in New York City, a one-of-its-kind testing lab for first responders. The NUSTL evaluates and validates emerging technologies for use by first responders. Their work provides valuable information to first responders to increase their ability to save lives and property as departments across the Nation respond to incidents. H.R. 542 will ensure that the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory's work will continue. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation. I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.