Michael McCaul

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Chairman, I support this amendment, which establishes the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium, consisting of university partners and other stakeholders who proactively coordinate to assist State and local officials in cybersecurity preparation and the prevention of cyber attacks. The amendment directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Directorate to update curriculum for first responders, provide technical assistance where possible, and conduct simulations and other training to help State and local officials be better prepared for cyber attacks. The amendment directs the consortium to consist of academic, nonprofit, and government partners to deliver the best training possible, which will further advance the overall goal of H.R. 1731, to strengthen the resiliency of Federal and private networks and, thus, protect the data of the American people more effectively. I am a strong proponent of this type of consortium. I am pleased that the gentleman from Texas brought this amendment. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hurd).

Mr. McCAUL. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Chairman, I support the gentleman's amendment. The gentleman is correct. Small- and medium-sized businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, yet they often cannot dedicate the resources to address cybersecurity issues. Making self-assessment tools available to these businesses will allow them to determine their levels of cyber risk and manage the risk through appropriate prevention. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, Mr. Chairman, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Will the gentleman yield on that point?

Mr. McCAUL. Again, I just want to clarify what I believe to be the record, and that was I was not opposed to this amendment going to the floor for a full and fair debate. I respect the gentleman's interpretation of that. I simply was not opposed to this going to the floor, and I think it deserves a full debate, as we saw yesterday as well.

Mr. McCAUL. Will the gentleman yield again?

Mr. McCAUL. I must say that, obviously, since the time the Rules Committee discharged the amendment, there has been tremendous opposition from industry, which concerns me, about the participation in this program and the success of this program if the sunset provision is allowed to go forward, just to clarify my point of view.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Chairman, I support this enhancement that allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to consult with stakeholders and to submit a report on how best to align federally funded cybersecurity research and development activities with private sector efforts to protect privacy and civil liberties, while assuring the security and resilience of the Nation's critical infrastructure. The promotion of research and development activities to design resilient critical infrastructure that includes cyber threat infrastructure and that also includes cyber threat consideration in its plan is important as we build the fences against the cascading effect of cyber attacks on critical infrastructures. Again, I want to thank the gentlewoman for bringing this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Chair, I reserve a point of order.

Mr. McCAUL. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. McCAUL. I support this amendment, which would authorize and codify the current EINSTEIN Program operated in the Department of Homeland Security. The EINSTEIN Program, as deployed, makes available the capability to protect Federal agency information and information systems. The Einstein Program includes technologies to diagnose, detect, prevent, and mitigate cybersecurity risks involving Federal information systems. I would also like to thank my colleague and fellow chairman, Mr. Chaffetz, of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee for working with the Committee on Homeland Security on this important issue.

Mr. McCAUL. As an advocate for civil liberties and privacy rights, I did not oppose the inclusion of his amendment here today on the floor, and that was for good reason. I believe that we need an open and fair debate on this measure, this amendment. We need transparency in the process here on the floor. My committee has undertaken that since day one as we assembled this bill in a bipartisan fashion. While, normally, I do support sunset provisions, I think, in this case, submitting a sunset provision to this vital national security program would not be in our best interest. I have heard, time and time again, from industry and other stakeholders that a sunset would stifle the sharing of this valuable cyber threat information. It would undermine everything that we are trying to do here today as we try to incentivize participation and investment in this voluntary program. While I do have tremendous respect for the gentleman and his point of view on this, I will vote ``no'' and oppose this amendment.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hurd), a member of the Homeland Security Committee.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Chair, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1560, the Protecting Cyber Networks Act. I would like to first thank Chairman Nunes for his great leadership and collaboration with my committee and Judiciary on this bill, and also the ranking member, Adam Schiff, a good friend as well, for his great work in the direction that this bill has gone. I think it has gone in the right direction. Also I know former Ranking Member Dutch Ruppersberger was here. I want to thank him for his leadership over the many years on this important issue of cybersecurity. Madam Chair, this legislation comes at a critical time of rising cyber threats and attacks on our digital networks. Cyber breaches and attacks are affecting Americans' privacy, security, and prosperity. Individuals are having their most private information compromised. Businesses are seeing their intellectual property stolen and their networks damaged. The Federal Government's sensitive information is being targeted. The country's critical infrastructure is being probed by foreign enemies. Detecting and defending against these digital assaults requires timely and robust information sharing between the public and private sectors. This exchange of data is crucial to connecting the dots, identifying cyber attacks, and shutting them down. The Protecting Cyber Networks Act will enable private companies to share cyber threat information on a voluntary basis with the Federal Government. This bill provides essential liability protection for sharing cyber threat indicators through trusted civilian agency portals. Again, Madam Chair, I commend Chairman Nunes for his important work on this bill and thank him for his great partnership in working together to have these two complementary bills, as tomorrow I will bring to the floor a pro-security, pro-privacy bill, the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act of 2015, which further reinforces the role of the Department of Homeland Security's National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center as the hub for cyber threat information sharing. Chairman Nunes and I have worked in lockstep to remove obstacles preventing greater cyber threat information sharing across the private and public sectors. I commend the staff on both sides of the aisle, who have operated in tandem as we crafted these cybersecurity bills. I would also like to acknowledge Chairman Goodlatte for devising the House's standard liability exemption language for this week's cybersecurity bill. These bills represent a unified front in the House for strengthening cybersecurity while ensuring Americans' privacy, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor an important friend and staunch ally of the United States: Taiwan, as we celebrate the 36th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) of 1979. This important legislation remains to be the cornerstone of U.S.-- Taiwan relations. It stipulates that it is the policy of the United States to ``make available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.'' In 2001, the Bush Administration agreed to help Taiwan obtain eight diesel-electric submarines. Fourteen years later, Taiwan's submarine fleet continues to consist of four submarines, two of Dutch construction from the 1980s, and two ex-U.S. Navy Guppy-class boats built at the end of World War II. As Beijing has not disavowed the use of force to one day take possession of Taiwan, as Beijing has rapidly expanded and modernized its military across the board since the beginning of this century, and as the balance of military power in the Taiwan Strait continues to shift in Beijing's favor, the rationale for Taiwan to acquire a robust submarine force in order to defend itself from any amphibious threats is obvious. Late last year, Taiwan decided that it can wait no longer, and is moving ahead with plans to design its own submarine fleet. I believe the U.S. Government should allow American shipbuilders and submarine- technology manufacturers to work with Taiwan, both to assess Taiwan's capabilities and to bid on systems work. Finally, I urge the Obama Administration to encourage other manufacturers of diesel-electric subs to work with Taiwan, regardless of pressure from Beijing. As we celebrate the 36th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, I am honored to have had the opportunity today to lend my voice to the chorus of support for reaffirming our nation's strong bond with the government and people of Taiwan, and I ask my colleagues to support this important issue over the course of this Congress.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 720, the Gerardo Hernandez Airport Security Act of 2015. This bipartisan legislation will help airports nationwide improve their emergency response plans, in order to be better prepared for security incidents like the tragic shooting that occurred at Los Angeles International Airport on November 1, 2013. This legislation will enhance airport security by requiring the Transportation Security Administration to assess security incident preparedness at airports across the country, train its own employees on how to effectively respond to active shooter incidents, develop plans for testing emergency communications equipment, and act as a clearinghouse for airport security best-practices. I had the opportunity to travel to LAX nearly a year ago for a site visit and field hearing led by the gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. Hudson. During that trip, the Committee gained a better understanding of how relatively easy it is for someone with malicious intent to wreak havoc at one of the world's busiest airports and how important it is to have adequate emergency plans in place to respond to any security incident that may occur. I would like to commend the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security, Mr. Katko and the former Chairman of the Subcommittee, Mr. Hudson for their diligent efforts to address this important issue, and their dedication to strengthening the state of airport security nationwide. I also wish to commend the bipartisan efforts of both the Ranking Member of the Full Committee, Mr. Thompson, and the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Miss Rice, whose support of this legislation is greatly appreciated. Identical language to H.R. 720 was approved by the Committee on Homeland Security last Congress and subsequently passed the House by voice vote. I urge support for this critical measure.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of H.R. 719, the TSA Office of Inspection Accountability Act of 2015, sponsored by the gentleman from New York, Mr. Katko. This bill would increase accountability at TSA and save precious taxpayer dollars by requiring the agency to correctly designate criminal investigators within the TSA Office of Inspection who are charged with conducting covert tests, inspections, and investigating misconduct among fellow TSA employees. This bill stems from a 2013 DHS Inspector General (IG) report that found TSA's Office of Inspection does not operate efficiently and does not ensure that its criminal investigators are spending the majority of their time conducting criminal investigations, even though they are receiving premium law enforcement pay and related benefits. The bill addresses the IG's findings by requiring a thorough review of the type of work carried out by TSA criminal investigators, which could save millions of taxpayer dollars over the next several years in law enforcement pay, vehicles, training, and other benefits. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this common sense, bipartisan bill, and would like to thank the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Katko, as well as the Congressman from South Carolina, Mr. Sanford, for their leadership on this issue. I would also like to thank the ranking member of the full committee, Mr. Thompson, and the ranking member of the subcommittee, Miss Rice, for their support of this legislation. H.R. 719 is substantively identical to H.R. 4803, legislation approved by the Committee on Homeland Security last Congress that subsequently passed the House by voice vote. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 719.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. If the gentlelady would just yield on this point, too, this is a bill not built from bureaucrats in Washington, down. This is a bill designed by talking to Border Patrol agents, to the border sheriffs who support this bill, to the ranchers. What a great presentation we received from John Ladd and his father, Jack, in Arizona. I will never forget, when you had the press conference, John Ladd was saying: You know, for the first time, I have real hope. They said: Well, Members have come down here before. He said: Not this many and not of this caliber of leadership, and for the first time I have hope. I don't want to let those ranchers down. I want to get this job done for the ranchers, the border sheriffs, and the agents who spend day in and day out in very tough conditions.

Mr. McCAUL. Let me thank my colleague from Arizona for her great leadership. I think this House is well served to have the first female pilot who has served in combat. We thank you for your service, and I can probably tell a few more stories of bravery about you. I am very fortunate to have you on this committee. Mr. Speaker, this is an issue of grave importance to the Nation. As chairman of Homeland Security, when I go home, it is the number one issue, and the number one question I get back home is: Mr. Chairman, when are you going to secure that border? I believe we have an opportunity in this Congress to finally get this thing done and to get it done in the right way and the smart way. People say: Why is it so important? In 10 years in the Congress and as a Federal prosecutor prior to that in dealing with this issue, I have seen the scourge of drug cartels, of human trafficking, the poisoning of our kids with drugs, and the potential threat of a terrorist attack in the United States. I don't want that on this Congress' head. We do have an opportunity to act. We have a bill that was passed out of committee, and I think it does several things. One, it finally directs and tells the Department of Homeland Security how to get this mission done sector by sector. As the gentlewoman knows, Arizona is very different from San Diego and is very different from Texas, which is where we saw 60,000 children crossing last summer. We know that a surge is probably on its way again if we don't act in this Congress soon. We also know, with the spread of ISIS overseas, that the threat is real. With the event of the Jordanian's being lit on fire yesterday, it is a wake-up call that we need to act and that we need to act soon in the Congress to protect the American people. This is more than Homeland Security--it is national security. It is really not an immigration issue. This bill is about securing the border in a smart way. When I was in Afghanistan and Pakistan, I met with General Allen. They didn't really have much of a fence, but I said: ``What is your border security with the Pak border?'' They pointed to aerostats in the sky that could see for hundreds of miles that we saw on our recent trip down there. With the value of 100 percent visibility to see what is coming in and how to stop it, you can measure success, first of all, but you can respond to the threats in realtime. In addition, the VADER technology, the radar on the Predator UAVs, is of tremendous value for a smart border. A lot of these assets were actually used in Afghanistan. We have already paid for these assets, and we want to redeploy those to the southwest border. We also fully fund the National Guard, which to our Governors-- particularly my Governor in the great State of Texas--is of vital interest and concern. We allow access to Federal lands for CBP, which, in the past, they have been denied; and we have a U.S. exit system set up--which the 9/11 Commission recommended, and to this day Congress has failed to act on that--to determine who is staying with visas legally and who is overstaying those visas like we saw with the hijackers on 9/ 11. At the end of the day, this is an important issue that has to get done. It is no longer time for lipservice; it is time for action on what I consider to be one of the most important Homeland Security issues facing this Nation. I just want to thank the gentlelady for holding this Special Order. I know we have members of the committee here who have great expertise, both Federal prosecutors, CIA, and other experiences to bring this issue to life. I hope we can do more of this in the future. The American people know this is an important issue. The problem is the Members of Congress have been tone deaf on this and have not gotten the job done. I would argue to my colleagues who are listening to this and to the American people that now is the time to finally get the job done.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 615, the Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act that was introduced by the Congressman Payne. I am proud to join Ranking Member Thompson and Congresswoman Brooks in cosponsoring this legislation that will begin to solve a problem that continues to plague the Department of Homeland Security. This measure was written to address a November 2012 DHS Office of Inspector General report, which found that DHS lacks an effective governance structure to ensure interoperable communications among its components. This is unacceptable, and an issue that should be fixed, especially after the Department has been in existence for well over a decade. Component agencies of the Department of Homeland Security must be able to communicate on a daily basis, and particularly in times of crisis. One of the benefits of have a Department of Homeland Security should be that components, including FEMA, ICE, and CBP, are able to act as one department and communicate at will. This bill requires the Department's Under Secretary of Management to submit a strategy to the Committee on Homeland Security on achieving and maintaining interoperability within the Department. This measure passed the 113th Congress on a bipartisan vote and I urge all Members to join me in supporting this important legislation.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 361, the Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act that was introduced by Congressman Bilirakis. Over the years, the Committee on Homeland Security has heard about the importance of medical countermeasures. This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make it clear that grant funds under the State Homeland Security Grant Program and Urban Area Security Initiative may be used to enhance medical preparedness and purchase medical countermeasures. We owe it to our emergency response community, our first responders, to ensure that they have every tool necessary to be prepared for and combat the threats they face every day and may face in the future. Over the years, we have seen that the investments in medical preparedness activities have provided positive benefits when it comes to response capabilities. This was clearly demonstrated in the response to the Boston Marathon bombings when the medical community was largely praised by all involved in the response. The Committee on Homeland Security heard testimony last year from the head of Boston Emergency Medical Services, Chief Hooley, who spoke about the importance of Homeland Security grant funding in their preparation for events such as the Boston Marathon Bombing. Sadly, we realize that the threat of a biological or chemical or other attack is real. We therefore must do everything that we can to ensure that our first responders are prepared to combat the threat. This measure has passed the House both in the 112th and the 113th Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support. I ask my colleagues to support this measure and my colleagues in the Senate to do the same