Daniel Donovan

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the exchange of letters. House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC, December 10, 2018. Hon. Greg Walden, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: On December 3, 2018, the H.R. 7213-- Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 2018 was introduced. This bill was additionally referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Since similar language passed the House of Representatives by voice vote earlier this year, I ask that you allow the Committee on Energy and Commerce to be discharged from further consideration of the bill so that it may be scheduled by the Majority Leader. This discharge in no way affects your jurisdiction over the subject matter of the bill, and it will not serve as precedent for future referrals. In addition, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I would support your request to have the Committee on Energy and Commerce represented on the conference committee. Finally, I would be pleased to include this letter and your response in the Congressional Record. Thank you for consideration of my request, and I look forward to further opportunities to work with you the remainder of this Congress. Sincerely, Michael T. McCaul, Chairman.

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record an exchange of letters between the chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security on the bill, H.R. 7213.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Energy and Commerce be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 7213) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Theodore Strange for his actions during the New York City Marathon. On November 4, 2018, Dr. Strange was running his 25th New York City Marathon. Crossing the 14-mile mark, he stopped to eat some orange slices given to him by a friend on the sidelines. Resuming the race shortly after, he crossed the Queensboro Bridge and passed the 16-mile marker. It was just then when Dr. Strange heard cries for help. Kristin Elfering, an engineer from North Oaks, Minnesota, had bent over to tie her shoelaces and couldn't get up from the ground. With his medical instincts kicking in, Theodore noticed that Ms. Elfering was unwell. Blue in the face, foaming at the mouth, and without a pulse, Dr. Strange immediately started performing CPR and then called for a police officer to bring him a defibrillator. Unresponsive after the first shock, he tried three more times until Kristin luckily responded with a pulse. She eventually was taken to the hospital with a blood clot in her artery. Not to be outdone, after saving Ms. Elfering's life, Theodore actually finished the marathon in five hours and 16 minutes. For his selfless actions, Dr. Strange was honored by the New York Knicks as a community hero. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Dr. Theodore Strange for his noble actions in saving another life without a moment's hesitation. I am proud to not only have Dr. Strange as my personal physician, but my constituent, as well. He is a true and selfless hero.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues from Hawaii and Arizona for their support. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of H.R. 6666, a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to grant an easement to the city of New York for operation and maintenance of the Staten Island seawall project, following its completion. I have lived on Staten Island my entire life and was there with my fellow residents as Superstorm Sandy devastated our community. New York suffered an astronomical $19 billion in damages, and nearly 1.2 million of my neighbors were without power. We lost 43 New Yorkers during that storm, 24 of them from Staten Island and several more from a portion of the district that I represent in Brooklyn. This project will help my constituents to recover. This will be transformative for tens of thousands of Staten Islanders, as it will give them the comprehensive flood protection and flood insurance relief that they need. When the project is 50 percent complete, many people will begin to receive discounts in their flood insurance premiums. When the project is completed, most of the families living on the other side of this project will have no requirement to have flood insurance coverage at all. It will be a truly life-changing project for them. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the House approve this legislation under a suspension of the rules so that the seawall project can bring these benefits to my neighbors on Staten Island.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1055, to affirm strong United States-Liberian ties and support for democratic principles, and call for full implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations, including the establishment of an Extraordinary Criminal Tribunal for Liberia. My district, Staten Island and South Brooklyn, is home to thousands of Liberians who have fled the turbulence of civil war. My constituents have directly told me how important it is to them that Liberia establish an extraordinary war crimes tribunal. At this very moment, people who have committed unspeakable war crimes hold positions in the Liberian Government. Murder, rape, mutilation, torture, unfortunately, Liberia has seen it all. Although it has been decades since these atrocities have occurred, wounds cannot be healed without justice for victims. Moreover, this lack of accountability is leading Liberia into a slow creep backwards towards the murderous mayhem of its civil war days. Without the justice Liberians are rightfully clamoring for, I fear there will be further violence and turbulence. This is why it is so crucial to call upon Liberia to establish a war crimes tribunal. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I have had the great pleasure of working with Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel and the chairman of my subcommittee, Mr. Smith of New Jersey. The bipartisan manner in which they have conducted committee business in order to move impactful and consequential legislation is something truly to be admired and replicated. Thank you, Chairman Royce. Thank you to Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, Chairman Smith, and my Democratic coleader, Congressman Hank Johnson, and all of our other cosponsors for supporting this resolution. I would also like to thank the committee staff, especially Meg Gallagher, Sean ONeill, and Marie Spear, for their work on this matter. I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution and continue to seek justice across the globe.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6198) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Homeland Security was created in response to the September 11th terrorist attacks and the threats to the homeland posed by al-Qaida and other terrorist groups. As we pause this week to honor those we lost and the heroic first responders who answered the call that day, we recognize that the scope of the threat we face has changed dramatically since that time and has become much more diverse and diffuse. We know that the terrorist groups have long strived to employ chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials in their attacks. There have been documented reports of ISIS using mustard gas in Syria, as well as sarin and chlorine gas used by the Syrian Government. A plot to release hydrogen sulfide via an improvised chemical dispersion device was uncovered by the Australian Federal Police. A laptop, reportedly retrieved from an ISIS hideout in Syria in 2014, contained plans for bubonic plague and a document that discussed the advantages of using biological weapons. The rapid evolution of new biological techniques, such as CRISPR CAS9, posed potential threats as the new techniques can be used for good or evil. As the world of threats continues to evolve and becomes more complex, it is incumbent upon the Department of Homeland Security to continuously assess whether or not it is optimally organized to best confront the variety of threats it is expected to counter. Last year, former Acting Secretary Elaine Duke determined that the Department was, in fact, not organized to best address these threats. As a result, on October 6, she notified the committee of her intent to use her 872 reorganization authority to establish a Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, or CWMD, Office, headed by an Assistant Secretary for CWMD. This reorganization took effect last December. However, the Secretary realized that the use of her 872 authority would only take her so far, and legislative changes are necessary to fully integrate the CWMD Office. The bill we are considering today will take the Department the rest of the way in developing an integrated, effective organization to counter CBRN threats. The bill seeks to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security has the structure, authority, and tools it needs to counter the threat of weapons of mass destruction. It consolidates the Office of Health Affairs and the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office into a new Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office to ensure coordination and unity of effort at the Department of Homeland Security on these threats. Current DHS Secretary Nielsen has indicated that this bill is one of her top legislative priorities, noting that it will: ``Provide DHS crucial, legal authorities to protect the homeland . . . and enable DHS to more quickly obtain, test, and deploy effective counter-WMD tactics and technologies.'' Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from Secretary Nielsen in support of this bill. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC, August 30, 2018. Hon. Paul Ryan, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives, Washington,

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, the bill we are considering today is similar in intent to the Department of Homeland Security CBRNE Defense Act, which passed the House by voice last Congress. Similar legislation was approved by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs earlier this year, and I am hopeful we will work together to swiftly get this important bill to the President for his signature. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Walden of the Energy and Commerce Committee for working with me to bring this bill to the floor. I urge all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 6198, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC, September 10, 2018. Hon. Michael T. McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman McCaul: I am writing to notify you that the Committee on Energy and Commerce will forgo action on H.R. 6198 so that it may proceed to the House floor for consideration. This is done with the understanding that the Committee's jurisdictional interests over this and similar legislation are in no way diminished or altered. In addition, the Committee reserves the right to seek conferees on the bill and expects your support when such a request is made. Please include a copy of this letter outlining our mutual understanding with respect to H.R. 6198 in the Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the House floor. Sincerely, Greg Walden, Chairman.

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security.

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6198, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to sponsor the RAWR Act, Rescuing Animals With Rewards, H.R. 6197. The RAWR Act will help ensure that taking down terrorists and transnational criminal organizations engaged in wildlife trafficking and poaching will be a top Rewards priority. Combating terrorism is of the utmost importance, not just to my constituents, not just to New Yorkers, but to the entire Nation. It is an issue that transcends party lines. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter of support from the Wildlife Conservation Society and a letter of support and endorsement from the Humane Society of the United States, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, and Humane Society International. Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, September 12, 2018. Hon. Daniel M. Donovan, Jr., House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Congressman Donovan: The Wildlife Conservation Society writes to express our support for H.R. 6197, the RAWR Act, as a way to help crack down on the destabilizing criminal trafficking that threatens both wildlife and U.S. economic and security interests. The RAWR Act would allow the U.S. Department of State to add wildlife trafficking, as defined by the END Wildlife Trafficking Act, to the list of transnational criminal activities for which it may provide monetary rewards to informants and tipsters. As the founders of the 96 Elephants campaign, dedicated to stopping the killing, trafficking and demand for illegal wildlife, we would applaud this change. Wildlife trafficking is a serious national security issue. The transnational organized criminal groups that profit from illegal wildlife products are the same ones trafficking in weapons, narcotics and people. This activity destabilizes regions important for U.S. economic interests and undermines the good governance and the rule of law. Targeting wildlife trafficking is essential if we want future generations to live in a world that is still home to our most iconic animals. The demand for ivory, rhino horn, tiger skins, and other products is causing those endangered species and many others to rapidly diminish. WCS works globally to disrupt wildlife trafficking networks and the criminals that run them, creating and sharing intelligence products with government enforcement agencies, and improving communications at the national and international scale to implement proactive enforcement activities. The passage of the RAWR Act would add an effective new tactic to the efforts to stop wildlife trafficking. We appreciate all your work on international conservation issues, from taking part in last year's ivory crush in New York's Central Park to leading on the push for U.S. government investments in global anti-trafficking programs, which has been of invaluable assistance in securing the world's endangered wildlife.

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday was the 17th anniversary of September 11. It was a stark reminder of the danger terrorism poses to the Nation every single day. The district I represent, Staten Island and South Brooklyn, which is home to many of New York's bravest and finest, suffered hundreds of casualties on September 11. Since then, New York remains the world's number one target for terrorism. As a nation, we have become a more resilient and determined nation to mitigate threats against us; but as we have choked off other resources of money, terrorists have increasingly turned to wildlife trafficking as a way to fund their heinous endeavors. Any step that we can take that will lead to the capture and conviction of anyone engaged in wildlife trafficking, especially terrorists, is a step in the right direction. Reports indicate that crimes related to illegal wildlife trafficking generate billions of dollars a year. These illicit funds turn into terrorist financing, fuel instability, and help arm groups in Africa. The prices that wildlife traffickers can fetch for hunting and ruthlessly killing animals are staggering. Conservation groups estimate that a kilogram of raw ivory can be worth as much as $2,100, while a kilogram of rhino horn can be worth $65,000. I am confident that the Foreign Affairs Committee and the House of Representatives will continue to fight against this problem. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my chairman, Chairman Royce, for his support on this bill and the ranking member and my colleague from New York, Eliot Engel. I thank my friend, Congressman Castro, for co- leading with me, and I thank the House leadership for bringing this bill to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the staff of the Foreign Affairs Committee, especially Meg Gallagher and Sean O'Neill, who put much work into this act.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Corporal Alex Neube. After joining the United States Army in 1951, Mr. Neube was deployed to Korea, where he fought courageously and quickly ascended to the rank of Corporal. During his tour of duty in the Korean War, he was involved in an intense firefight with opposing forces in which he was injured. Yet after recovering in a military hospital, Corporal Neube would return to the battlefield to complete the valiant effort of liberating our ally and defending democracy. After the completion of his tour in 1953, he returned to the United States, and was placed in the ready reserves where he remained until honorably discharged in 1957. Upon his exit from the military, he married Estelle Mangin. Together, they would raise six children. Growing through adolescence with the values of his father, their youngest, Brian, was inspired to enlist in the United States Air Force, where he would remain until 2014, retiring at the rank of Master Sergeant. Corporal Neube is the perfect example of an ideal soldier. Honor. Duty. Sacrifice. These values embody everything Corporal Neube stands for. Without the courage of Americans like him, we would have no one to uphold our values and defend our freedoms so that our democratic ideals may exist in peace. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize such a deserving man, Corporal Alex Neube. I thank him for his patriotism, and I salute him for everything he has done for this great nation.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4991) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4991, the Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act. H.R. 4991 authorizes the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory, NUSTL, within the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate. Located in New York City, NUSTL has been a critical resource in protecting our homeland since 1947. Today, NUSTL is a one-of-its-kind test and evaluation laboratory for the first responder community. I had the opportunity to visit NUSTL last year and saw firsthand the impressive work being done there on a daily basis. During my visit, I witnessed NUSTL's work to test and validate equipment used by our first responders to protect our communities. NUSTL has conducted more than 1,000 assessments on current and emergency first responder equipment. I also learned about NUSTL's radiological and nuclear research and development, which focuses on response and recovery efforts. Additionally, last November, Chief Timothy Rice from the New York City Fire Department testified before the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, which I chair, on the importance of NUSTL to FDNY's daily operations. Chief Rice highlighted that the fire department's relationship with NUSTL has ``strengthened the department's ability to save life and property, and ultimately, make the people of New York and millions of visitors to the region safer each day.'' Simply put, this bill will authorize the test and evaluation and research and development activities currently being conducted at NUSTL. Given the current threat environment, we need to ensure that DHS continues to support our first responders, and this bill will do just that. H.R. 4991 will ensure that the valuable work being done at NUSTL will continue for years to come. I want to recognize the tireless efforts of the staff at NUSTL to support first responders and secure our homeland. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that this bill is supported by the American Federation of Government Employees, and I include in the Record their letter dated June 15, 2018. American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Washington, DC, June 15, 2018. Dear Representative, On behalf of the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE), which represents more than 700,000 federal and DC government workers who serve the American people in 70 different agencies, including 20 employees at the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL), I am writing to indicate our support of H.R. 4991, the Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act. This bill would provide for the authorization of this important program. The National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) works primarily on testing technologies used by first responders. The scientists and engineers at NUSTL ensure first responders are safe and equipped to perform their duties. They support the training of first responders to use radiation detection equipment to interdict a terrorist act involving radiological dispersion devices (RDDs) or improvised nuclear devices (INDs). They also publish reports that allow first responders to purchase radiation and explosives detection equipment best suited for their needs. They ensure unmanned aerial vehicles or drones are not used as weapons. NUSTL labs give police officers, fire fighters and other first responders the opportunity to test drive technological equipment and offer feedback for how to make it safer and more effective. NUSTL allows first responders to test prototypes of products in the pipeline at DHS to help improve them. They also offer training about how to respond to emergencies and natural disasters. NUSTL employees' work keeps first responders safe and up to date with the latest technologies. NUSTL ensures our communities are safe and thriving. AFGE strongly supports H.R. 4991, the Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act. Thank you, Thomas S. Kahn, Director, Legislative Affairs Department.

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in voting for the Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Washington, DC, June 14, 2018. Hon. Michael T. McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning H.R. 4991, the ``Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act,'' which your Committee ordered reported on June 6, 2018. H.R. 4991 contains provisions within the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Rule X jurisdiction. As a result of you having consulted with the Committee regarding revisions to the bill, and in order to expedite this bill for floor consideration, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will forego action on the bill. This is being done on the basis of our mutual understanding that doing so will in no way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with respect to the appointment of conferees, or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation. I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding, and would request that you include a copy of this letter and your response in the Congressional Record during the floor consideration of this bill. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Sincerely, Lamar Smith, Chairman.

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, Mr. Langevin from Rhode Island, for his help in this matter. And I once again urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 4991, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting the Shielding Public Spaces from Vehicular Terrorism Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DONOVAN

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5762) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize a Joint Task Force to enhance integration of the Department of Homeland Security's border security operations to detect, interdict, disrupt, and prevent narcotics, such as fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, from entering the United States, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the opioid epidemic continues to devastate communities across this Nation every day. One hundred fifteen Americans die every single day from an opioid overdose. Opioid abuse doesn't discriminate. It touches people from every age group, race, class, gender, and background. In my home State of New York, more than 3,000 lives were lost in 2016 alone. Mr. Speaker, 3,000. Some Americans are becoming addicted after taking doctor-prescribed doses for an injury or surgery. Others are trying them in illicit forms and are becoming addicted. Opioids are highly addictive and overprescribed. It is a major part of this epidemic. Another disturbing trend we are seeing is illicit drugs being laced with fentanyl, which is 100 times more powerful than morphine, leading to accidental overdoses. I have seen estimates concluding that more than 2 million of our fellow Americans are addicted to opioids. Too many lives have been lost, and too many families have been destroyed. As we work to confront the epidemic, we must prevent the abuse of opioids, stop the flow of opioids into the United States, and treat those Americans who have become addicted. Last week, the House passed 35 bills to address the opioid epidemic through stronger prevention, treatment, and enforcement activities. Today, we continue that work. H.R. 5762 would further enable law enforcement to stop the flow of opioids such as fentanyl from entering the United States. This bill would create a joint task force within the Department of Homeland Security to organize opioid interdiction efforts across multiple components and agencies. The task force would coordinate the assets and personnel of Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Coast Guard, and other resources to track, interdict, and prevent the illicit flow of opioids through the United States in a unity of effort campaign. It will also leverage domestic and international partners to provide a multifaceted approach to tackling this issue. Most illicit opioids are produced in China, being smuggled by mail, where vulnerabilities in the postal system are exploited. We are also seeing increased traffic from Mexico, with opioids hidden in vehicles and cargo entering through our ports of entry. The joint task force approach to the opioid epidemic is effective because it fosters information sharing and exchange between all relevant stakeholders to combat the opioid epidemic. There is no quick or easy solution to this epidemic, though H.R. 5762 is a step in the right direction. It empowers the Department of Homeland Security and its mission partners to tackle the opioid crisis head-on by organizing a joint task force focused on preventing opioids from reaching our communities. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join me in voting for H.R. 5762, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5762. I thank my friend from Rhode Island for his leadership on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.