Will Hurd

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, threat equals capabilities plus intent. ISIS has demonstrated that it has both the capabilities and the intent to attack the homeland. ISIS has expanded far beyond Iraq and Syria. It has affiliates that have carried out deadly attacks in Egypt, Libya, Afghanistan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and France. Groups and individuals have pledged their support to ISIS in numerous other places, including the Philippines, the Palestinian territories, Nigeria, and Sudan. Tracking foreign fighters who travel to Iraq and Syria alone is not enough to mitigate the threat they pose to our national security. Terrorist safe havens around the globe are potential petri dishes for bad guys aiming to do bad things to the U.S. ISIS has explicitly encouraged fighters who cannot make it to Iraq and Syria to join their struggle in other locations. It is imperative that our intelligence and defense efforts aim at tracking and stemming the flow of fighters to and from all terrorist safe havens, even those outside of Iraq and Syria. I was an undercover officer in the CIA, and I understand how important it is to track threat indicators early. We cannot wait until one of these foreign fighters in a terrorist safe haven attempts an attack. We must preempt rather than react. This legislation supports our intelligence community's efforts to do just that. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3869) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require State and local coordination on cybersecurity with the national cybersecurity and communications integration center, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The need to address cybersecurity at the State and local levels is of the utmost importance. From our local DMV offices and courthouses to our critical infrastructure, the exploitable vulnerabilities and possible consequences are alarming. Yet, in the cybersecurity realm, State and local governments often do not have access to the technical capabilities and training that the Federal Government does. My bill, H.R. 3869, the State and Local Cyber Protection Act, is a critical step in the resolution of this problem. In 2010, the National Governors Association released a statement on the importance of cybersecurity in protecting the ability of Federal, State, and local governments to perform their vital functions. They stated: ``Due to the breadth and scope of the State role in entitlement services, facilitating travel and commerce, regulatory oversight, licensing and citizen services, states gather, process, store, and share extensive amounts of personal information. From cradle to grave, the states are the nexus of identity information for individuals. This makes the states prime targets for external and internal cyber threats.'' Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility involving all levels of government and the private sector. While much has been done over the last several years to improve the Nation's cybersecurity, a number of challenges remain. This bill would allow State and local governments access to the assistance, training, and tools, voluntarily and upon request, that are required to secure our Nation's information systems at every level. This bill instructs the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center, the NCCIC, at the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate with States and locals on securing their information systems. The NCCIC will do so by assisting in the identification of system vulnerabilities and possible solutions for State and local information security systems. They will be developing a Web portal to communicate available tools for States and locals, providing technical training for State and local cybersecurity analysts, providing assistance and implementing cybersecurity tools upon request, providing privacy and civil liberties training, and informing States and locals on the current cybersecurity guidelines already developed at the Federal level. Lastly, the State and Local Cyber Protection Act would require the NCCIC to seek feedback from State and local governments once the law is implemented and voluntary assistance has begun in order to gauge the effectiveness of these efforts and to ensure that progress is being made. The Department of Homeland Security has a substantial responsibility to States and locals in the cyber realm as State and local systems host a wide range of sensitive PII and critical infrastructure data, making them especially attractive for cyberattacks. By reinforcing the relationship between DHS and State and local governments, we are supporting and urging for the continued development of cyber protection for our State and local governments. I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, so I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I concur with the gentlewoman. Once again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3869. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th birthday of Esther Ortiz Cardenas of Del Rio, Texas. A beloved mother of 12 children, grandmother of 29 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren and 8 great, great grandchildren, Mrs. Cardenas is a woman known for her devout faith, her hard work and her generous hospitality. Whether it was cooking from scratch, making clothes for the family, tending chickens, creating home-made soap or tending her garden to put food on the table, she always worked hard to ensure her family never wanted for anything. Knowing that God would always provide, Mrs. Cardenas never hesitated to feed the hungry or help others who were in need. When faced with troubled times, she turned to God, believing in answered prayers. Surrounded by her family and friends, Mrs. Cardenas celebrated 100 years on November 28th of this year. Mrs. Cardenas is without question, a Proverbs 31 woman--a blessing to her family and her community. On behalf of the Twenty-Third Congressional District of Texas, congratulations to Esther Ortiz Cardenas on turning 100 years young and may you celebrate many more.

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Landmark Inn State Historic Site of Castroville, Texas, on the completion of its extensive restoration efforts. The Landmark Inn State Historic Site, which is a Texas Historical Commission property, preserves an important part of Texas' history. The Landmark Inn not only protects the cultural and natural value of this area, but also ensures that future generations of Texans will be able to enjoy its rich history. The Landmark Inn gives unique insight into the lives of Texas' earliest settlers. The city of Castroville was established on September 3, 1844, by entrepreneur Henri Castro and a group of settlers from the Alsace region of France. One of its earliest inhabitants was a man named Cesar Monod, who was elected Mayor of Castroville in 1852 and built a combined home and store to serve travelers along the San Antonio-El Paso road. In 1853, a merchant named John Vance bought the property and built living quarters for his visitors onto the existing store, including galleries, a family residence, and even a multistory bathhouse. This became the Vance Hotel. Several other entrepreneurs, including George L. Haass and Laurent Quintle, built a dam on the property that diverted water from the Medina River to power a gristmill. Finally, in 1925, Jordan T. Lawler converted the gristmill into Castroville's very first electric power plant. It is over a hundred years later in 1981 that the Landmark Inn was dedicated as a historically designated site. The 23rd Congressional District of Texas stretches from San Antonio to El Paso, along over 820 miles of the border, and includes Castroville, a gem that is home to over 2,600 residents. The Landmark Inn provides an opportunity for today's Texans to deepen their understanding of Castroville's early pioneers. Those dedicated to the Landmark Inn's restoration emulate the hard work and values evident in this great city's founders. The level of excellence shown in preserving the rich history of this site is a reflection of the residents of Castroville and their values, and their devotion to tradition serves as a source of pride for the entire city and the 23rd Congressional District of Texas. It is my honor to represent Castroville, and I wish continued success to the Landmark Inn in its future endeavors.

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, so I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2795) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a study on the circumstances which may impact the effectiveness and availability of first responders before, during, or after a terrorist threat or event, as amended.

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

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today to support H.R. 2795, the First Responder Identification of Emergency Needs in Disaster Situations. Our country continues to be resilient because of the men and women who keep us safe every day by putting their lives on the line. We can thank them by ensuring they have sufficient resources to do their jobs. H.R. 2795 will take a national snapshot of the current policies and programs that support first responders and their families in the event of a terrorist attack. By requiring the Government Accountability Office to report this national snapshot to Congress and to the Department of Homeland Security, we will have a better understanding of the support surrounding our first responders and their families. Both the National Association of State Emergency Medical Services Officials and the International Association of Fire Chiefs are endorsing this legislation because it promotes the critical work our first responders are always prepared to do despite the challenges they face. Events like the Ebola scare that hit the U.S. in 2014 alerted us to the impact these events have not only had on our first responders, but also on their families. I thank Ms. Jackson Lee for introducing this legislation and for working with the Committee on Homeland Security to promote this important issue. I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remaining time. I, once again, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2795. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the two disapproval resolutions that the House will consider today. Mr. Speaker, many of our bellies are still full from Thanksgiving and now we are thinking about what we are going to buy our loved ones and family for Christmas. Let me tell you what families in Texas do not want for Christmas, and that is higher energy bills. But that is what we are going to get if EPA's proposed rules for new and existing power plants go into effect. Many families in Texas are already living paycheck to paycheck. They are looking for ways to put a little extra aside so they can have a nice Christmas. But the EPA's rule for power plants will do more than just raise their electricity rates. Higher rates increase the cost of many other products and services that families need to buy. During this weak economic recovery, families struggling to pay bills or still looking for good-paying jobs simply can't afford for their cost of living to go up. Folks in my district have had enough of this kind of executive overreach by the White House. They have had enough of the excessive red tape that just seems to keep on coming from Federal bureaucracies like the EPA. They know it destroys jobs and economic growth; and in this case, it also puts our national security at risk. This new red tape by the EPA will hamper American energy security, and American energy security is a critical component of American national security. The EPA's plan is an unnecessary attempt to eliminate reliable and affordable energy. Let's help make sure our families, our veterans, and our senior citizens don't face higher energy bills. I encourage my colleagues to support S.J. Res. 23 and 24.

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. Justice is a powerful word. For those who have been wronged, justice can bring peace and closure. For those guilty of harming the innocent, justice is absolutely necessary to ensure the authority of our laws. Without justice, truth becomes irrelevant. If America is going to continue to be the greatest nation in the world, it is imperative that we pursue justice. But the Iran nuclear deal does the exact opposite. It rewards lawlessness and corruption. It tells Iran that they can be unjust to our own citizens and the current administration will allow them to get away with it. Iran is responsible for sponsoring terrorism that has led to the death of thousands of Americans. When the families of these Americans sought justice in the court, Iran was found guilty and ordered to make reparations. The family of Cyrus Elahi from Dallas, Texas, was awarded more than $300 million after Cyrus was assassinated for criticizing the Iranian Government. Judgments like this have added up to billions of dollars that Iran owes the families of American victims. But is this administration forcing Iran to pay? Are they demanding justice for Americans like Cyrus? No. Instead, this administration is handing over an estimated $100 billion to Iran. That is not justice. That is outrageous.

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1626) to reduce duplication of information technology at the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. HURD of Texas. 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. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1626. Call me crazy, but it just doesn't make sense to me to have Federal agencies using multiple IT systems that do the same thing. As chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Information Technology Subcommittee and a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I see these cost overruns and hear stories of duplicative systems on a daily basis. It is a ridiculous and outrageous waste of taxpayer dollars. This year, the GAO's annual High Risk report designated information technology as a new area of high risk within the government. Federal agencies spend nearly $80 billion a year on IT projects, and nearly 80 percent of them are on outdated and legacy systems. In the Department of Homeland Security, there are more than 600 IT systems in FEMA alone. The DHS IT Duplication Reduction Act is designed to change that. My bill requires the DHS Chief Information Officer to identify all IT systems in the Department, figure out which ones are redundant, and then come up with a strategy to reduce their number. Mr. Speaker, when I was building a cybersecurity firm in the private sector, things like this didn't happen because there is no way that a small business trying to grow would ever waste their money like this. Washington should have the same mentality, especially since this money being wasted isn't Washington's in the first place. I believe Washington can and should be much better stewards of the dollars taxpayers have entrusted to them. It is past time to change the ``it is not my money, so let's spend it'' culture here in Washington that leads to this kind of waste. Taxpayers should be able to trust that every dollar is being used carefully and thoughtfully on effective and efficient government that works for them. I believe this legislation is a good start in reining in Federal IT spending and getting our government back on track. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Thompson, Congresswoman Watson Coleman, and my colleagues on the Homeland Security Committee for their support on this bill. I, once again, urge all my colleagues to support this strong, bipartisan piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the San Elizario High School Eagles for their victory in the Texas Class 4A Boys State Soccer Championship. Hard work and dedication over the years led the Eagles to this victory and allowed them to finish out the season with eighteen wins, four losses and three ties. The journey started in 2009 and culminated on April 17, 2015, when the Eagles secured their win against the Liberty Hill Panthers with a 4 to 2 victory. Eight years ago, the Eagles won sectional rounds, beating the state champs at Del Valle High School. The next year, they secured a district championship and Area title. Following a winning season, they earned three playoff trophies in 2013. With successes like these behind them, they went into this season with an unmatched drive to win. On that Friday in April, when the final score showed 4 to 2, the roar in the stands could be heard throughout the city. The wishes of good luck from citizens across San Elizario were received, and the Eagles delivered. Our District expands from San Antonio to El Paso, and within its vast area lies San Elizario, home to 13,000. The city is beaming with pride for the team, the young men's family and friends, and their high school. For every member of the team, there were countless community members supporting them in the stands as they went on to win game after game in the playoffs, culminating with the raising of the trophy. In a city with a small population, the Eagles have created a lasting legacy that will not be forgotten. The Eagles' level of excellence as a whole is a reflection of the individual players and their desire for success and dedication to hard work. Head Coach Max Sappenfield was able to lead the Eagles, and the young men demonstrated to him and each other the kind of teamwork worthy of a state championship. This victory is a result not only from talent, but also from hours spent on the field, the strategic planning behind each game, and fine tuning the skills of each player. The Eagles' dedication and sacrifices have truly paid off, and is a source of pride for the entire city and the 23rd Congressional District of Texas. It is my honor to represent San Elizario High School, and I wish continued success to the team and each of its members in their future endeavors.

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment, which will benefit the students at several fine institutions in the 23rd Congressional District of Texas. One thing that everybody here wants is a healthy economy. We want the American economy to continue to be the strongest in the world, and if American businesses are going to compete and win in a global economy, we have to have the best trained and best equipped workforce possible. This means our institutions of higher learning need to be fully capable of offering their students the opportunities to learn the skills that are going to drive a 21st century economy, and that means STEM degrees must be a priority for our colleges and universities. This amendment will allow institutions that are designated as Hispanic- Serving Institutions to have access to grant programs with the National Science Foundation that they have been limited from participating in in the past. There are 47 institutions like this in the State of Texas, and more than a dozen of them serve students in my district. This increased access to grants will help increase the recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of Hispanic students pursuing degrees in STEM fields. That is good for these students; that is good for our universities, our communities, our businesses, and our economy. I want to thank the gentleman from New York, Mr. Crowley, for introducing this amendment. I encourage my colleagues to support it.

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 2252) to clarify the effective date of certain provisions of the Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2014, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment, No. 58. As chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Information Technology, over the past 5 months, one thing has become painfully clear to me: the IT infrastructure of the Federal Government is behind the times, and those who maintain our already-outdated systems have a difficult job due to red tape and bureaucratic hurdles. Compounding this issue and making it worse is the fact that there is a shortage of high-skilled labor in IT security both in the public and private sectors. My amendment would modify existing law to allow all personnel identified as critical to network defense within DOD and DHS who have received the appropriate training to take the necessary exams, backing their skills with certification. A large number of these individuals receive the valuable training needed to protect our networks and defend cyber domains, but their skills are not always backed by certification. This not only means there is little accountability in the system, but also that those who choose to leave the Federal Government have a hard time explaining their qualifications to potential employers. This amendment solves both of these issues by providing internationally recognized certification to individuals in critical roles. More importantly, this amendment would not seek any additional funding to implement this policy change. This change will enhance U.S. national security, ensure value of taxpayer investments in IT training, and even help our veterans transition their hard-earned skills to civilian employment once their service has ended. I thank the chairman for his support and commend him for his work on this bill.