Kathleen Rice

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 449, which passed the House of Representatives on suspension last Congress, will strengthen the Federal Government's relationship with our State and local law enforcement partners. One of our top priorities on this committee is ensuring adequate training for our first responders and creating collaborative partnerships between DHS and its local counterparts. This bill will help us accomplish that. Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 449, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 504) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security to develop an engagement strategy with fusion centers, and for other purposes.

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

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague on the other side of the aisle, Mr. Bacon, for reintroducing the DHS Field Engagement Accountability Act. One of the core responsibilities of this committee is to ensure collaboration and information-sharing among Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial partners. That is how we protect our cities from any and all terrorist threats, whether it is one that comes from a foreign organization or a homegrown, lone-wolf attacker. One example of our commitment to this comprehensive approach is the committee's long history of bipartisan support for the Department of Homeland Security's 79 fusion centers located across the country. These centers are meant to connect the dots at the local level. They are information-sharing hubs that facilitate coordination and the sharing of resources between Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials. However, a 2016 review found that DHS does not have a strategic engagement plan for these 79 fusion centers. H.R. 504 will help fill that void. This important legislation will require DHS to develop a departmentwide strategy for engaging and sharing information with national fusion centers. Additionally, this measure requires DHS to develop metrics that will help hold fusion center staff accountable for their performance. This legislation also requires DHS to improve the classified and unclassified information-sharing systems that are used by fusion centers to ensure that information is shared properly and in accordance with Department standards. Specifically, H.R. 504 would require that all information-sharing policies are developed and maintained by the Department's experts on privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties. The recent shooting in Pittsburgh and the spate of pipe bombs that were mailed across the country last year are potent reminders of how important it is for local law enforcement agencies to be equipped with the resources and information they need to combat urgent threats. In short, events like these exemplify the growing need for well-informed and well-maintained fusion centers. Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 504, which passed the House on suspension last Congress, would help ensure that fusion centers throughout the country have access to the resources necessary to keep our homeland safe and secure. By directing the Department to develop a strategy for its fusion centers, the bill seeks to enhance DHS' overall ability to fulfill its core mission. Additionally, H.R. 504 would ensure that DHS' information-sharing policies include strong privacy and civil liberty safeguards. Regardless of the target or the underlying ideology behind a terrorist plot, State and local law enforcement entities need a clear line of communication with their Federal counterparts. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 504, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 769) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish in the Department of Homeland Security a board to coordinate and integrate departmental intelligence, activities, and policy related to counterterrorism, and for other purposes.

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

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, there is no question that the challenges in securing our homeland have become more complex and diverse in nature. As such, it is imperative that the DHS Secretary and any successors have a stable, codified mechanism for counterterrorism decisionmaking. H.R. 769, the Counterterrorism Advisory Board Act of 2019 does just that. It would codify the Board into law, and ensure that it remains an integral part of counterterrorism policy recommendations and responses across the Department. Since 2010, the Counterterrorism Advisory Board, or CTAB, which is comprised of top DHS officials, has synthesized counterterrorism programs and activities across the Department. The CTAB helps keep America safe. H.R. 769 would authorize the CTAB to coordinate and integrate DHS' intelligence, policies, and activities related to counterterrorism. H.R. 769 also directs the Board to meet on a regular basis, to coordinate and integrate the Department's counterterrorism efforts, assess the current threat environment, and establish the leadership and composition of the Board. H.R. 769 also requires DHS to report to Congress on the board's status, activities, and progress. Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, again, H.R. 769 will authorize within the Department of Homeland Security, the Counterterrorism Advisory Board to coordinate and integrate the Department's intelligence activities and policies as they relate to counterterrorism. This Board already plays a central and necessary role within DHS, and H.R. 769 will ensure that the Counterterrorism Advisory Board will remain in place for decades to come. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague and friend and fellow New Yorker, Congressman Katko. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 769, and I yield back the balance of my time

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2454, the Department of Homeland Security Data Framework Act of 2017. The Department of Homeland Security Data Framework Act directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a data framework consolidating existing databases and systems at the Department. H.R. 2454 requires the Secretary to ensure that this data framework is accessible to DHS employees with proper clearances and that they are trained to safeguard and use such information when appropriate. The central data framework will help cut down on the processing time of data searchs and allow analysts at DHS agencies to more efficiently access information across the Department. I want to thank my colleague, Congressman Will Hurd, for introducing this legislation, and Senator Maggie Hassan for introducing its companion in the Senate. This bill has already passed the House once before, and I look forward to the President signing it into law this year. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, this bill is an important piece of legislation that has strong support on both sides of the aisle. It will improve DHS' operations by moving it towards a consolidated data system, enhancing the ability of the men and women serving at DHS to access, in a timely manner, the data that they need to fulfill their critical missions. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2454. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Chair, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 346.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Chairman, my amendment would require the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of the Treasury to develop and submit a threat assessment report on the use of virtual currencies by terrorist organizations. In the 17 years since the deadliest terrorist attack in American history, the United States has led the global campaign to combat terrorism, thwarting plots and preventing attacks on American soil, identifying and disrupting terrorist networks around the world, hunting down terrorists wherever they hide, and proving that they can and will be brought to justice. We know that the threat of terrorism is not the same as it was 17 years ago. It is a threat that constantly evolves, and we need to evolve with it. We need to evolve ahead of it. That is why I have introduced this amendment. In recent years, we have seen instances in which members of terrorist groups have turned to virtual currencies to finance and support their operations. In 2016, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies investigated a terrorist funding campaign in which a terrorist group in the Gaza Strip received donations through the virtual currency bitcoin. Last year, Indonesian authorities also reported that a Syria- based Indonesian national with ties to ISIL used virtual currency to fund attacks in Indonesia. Virtual currencies offer high-speed, low-cost financial networks with access to users across the globe. Many also offer their users anonymity, making it difficult for law enforcement to track transactions. These factors have made virtual currencies an increasingly appealing tool for terrorists seeking to circumvent American law enforcement and financial institutions. Research suggests that terrorists' use of virtual currencies have so far been limited to a handful of instances, but, as terrorist organizations and lone-wolf attackers become more technologically sophisticated and virtual currencies become more widely accessible, the conditions are ripe for this threat to significantly increase in a very short period of time. That is why it is critical that we act now to assess and understand this emerging threat. There is no denying it: Virtual currencies have exposed deep vulnerabilities in our counterterrorism efforts, and, unfortunately, right now, our government lacks a comprehensive response and strategy to address this threat. My amendment would direct the Director of National Intelligence and the Treasury Department to report to Congress on how terrorist organizations and state sponsors of terrorism could use virtual currencies to finance terrorism, gaps in Federal and State regulations that could be exploited by terrorists, and recommendations to update regulations to more effectively address these vulnerabilities. Enacting this amendment would give counterterrorism and law enforcement officials at all levels the information and strategies they desperately need to confront this threat head-on with 21st century solutions. I want to thank Congressman Peter King for cosponsoring my amendment. This is a commonsense bipartisan priority, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Chairman, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff).

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Nunes and Ranking Member Schiff for supporting the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is a shame that we are wasting our time today on two bills that are harmful and hyperpartisan when we all know that the USA Act, introduced by Representatives Aguilar and Hurd, have the votes to pass on this House floor. This bipartisan solution would finally provide our Dreamers, college students, veterans, servicemembers, and business owners with the status and certainty that they have long deserved. The USA Act would also effectively secure our borders without wasting taxpayer money on a wall that would not make us any safer. The bills being considered today are simply not what most Americans want. They deny Dreamers a path to citizenship. They abandon our obligation to protect those fleeing persecution and violence. And they do nothing to reunite the families who have already been torn apart by the Trump administration. Mr. Speaker, I urge you to do the responsible thing, to finally govern, and allow the bipartisan USA Act to come to the floor.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 150th Anniversary of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks on February 16, 2018. Founded on February 16, 1868, in New York City by Charles Algernon Sidney Vivian and a handful of friends, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an exceptional American fraternal society dedicated to serving and caring for our citizens, communities, and country. That small band of friends has grown to include nearly 1,000,000 Elk members and 2,000 lodges nationwide. For the last 150 years, the Elks have dedicated themselves to the ideals of charity, justice, and patriotism--investing millions of dollars and service hours each year to build stronger communities, assist homeless veterans, provide academic scholarships, and empower kids to avoid drugs. We should all be incredibly grateful for the time, money, and resources the Elks have committed to serve our neighbors in need, especially members of the military, veterans, youth, and disaster-stricken communities. In recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, let's honor the valor, commitment, patriotism, and sacrifice that the Elks have displayed throughout its history and express appreciation for their dedicated service to our country.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this deficit-exploding tax cut for the wealthy and big corporations. This bill will raise taxes on middle class families in my district on Long Island and add trillions to the deficit--and my Republican colleagues want to pay for it with cuts to education, healthcare, and Social Security. They seem to think that the biggest problem in America is that corporations and millionaires are struggling to pay their taxes, but that is not what I am hearing from my constituents. My constituents are asking: When will we take action to protect the DREAMers? When will we reauthorize CHIP? When will we take up the infrastructure bill that the President promised would be a priority? Instead of solving those real, urgent problems, Republicans spent the first 9 months of the year trying to take away people's healthcare and the next 3 on trying to cut taxes for corporations on the backs of the middle class. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues once again to reject this ridiculous trickle-down fantasy, stop the backdoor assaults on healthcare and Social Security, and work with us to solve real problems for the people we serve.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1, a deficit-exploding tax cut for the wealthy that will hurt middle class families in my district. I am all for real, bipartisan tax reform that puts the middle class first, but that is not what this bill is. This is a giveaway to the wealthy and big corporations. It adds trillions to the debt and pays for it on the backs of the middle class. Half of my constituents on Long Island deduct their State and local taxes, an average of more than $23,000. Under this bill, that disappears. Corporations can still deduct their State and local taxes, but individuals and couples cannot. That means many middle class families will see their taxes go up, while the vast majority of relief goes to the people who don't need it: the wealthiest individuals and the biggest corporations. The National Education Association also found that eliminating SALT could lead to a $250 billion cut in education funding just in the State of New York over the next decade. Make no mistake: this bill won't help the middle class. It will explode the deficit, and Republicans will try to pay for it with big cuts to healthcare, education, Social Security, and other important lifesaving programs. I urge my Republican colleagues to give up this trickle-down fantasy and work with Democrats on real bipartisan tax reform that truly puts the middle class first.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 504, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2017, which is identical to bipartisan legislation I introduced in the House earlier this year along with Representatives Dan Donovan, Rick Larsen and Dave Reichert. This bill would permanently reauthorize the APEC Business Travel Card program, which provides access to fast-track immigration lanes at airports for travelers who conduct verified business in the APEC region. The U.S. has been participating in this program and issuing cards to verified American business travelers since 2014, after Congress passed the APEC Business Travel Cards Act in 2011. Under that law, the authority to issue these travel cards to Americans is set to expire on September 30, 2018--meaning that no new cards can be issued after that date, and all cards will expire by 2021, after which Americans will no longer be able to travel throughout the region as easily as business travelers from other APEC countries. S. 504 will permanently extend that authority, while maintaining the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) authority to revoke or suspend an individual's card for security reasons at any time. Mr. Speaker, this is a successful program that operates at absolutely no cost to taxpayers and makes American businesses more competitive in the global economy--including many businesses in my home state of New York, which is home to more than 2,300 cardholders. Allowing these cards to expire would be a mistake that puts American business travelers at a disadvantage, and this legislation reflects a common-sense, bipartisan commitment to reauthorize the program permanently. I'm grateful to my colleagues from both parties in the House and Senate for their efforts to help move this legislation forward, and I urge all our colleagues to give it their full support today so we can send this bill to the President's desk.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2468, the Unifying DHS Intelligence Enterprise Act of 2017, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this measure seeks to help safeguard our Nation's homeland security information. Specifically, it requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop and distribute Departmentwide guidance on the proper procedures for handling and sharing information related to homeland security and terrorism. The 9/11 Commission Report found that the U.S. Government did not fully share or pool intelligence information prior to the attacks. In response, policies and procedures were reformed at all levels to ensure that critical national security information is properly shared. Intelligence sharing is critical to terrorism prevention, but it must be carried out in a manner that ensures that sensitive information is properly handled and distributed. H.R. 2468 seeks to do just that. The bill requires the establishment of rules and regulations for the dissemination of such information both within DHS and with homeland security stakeholders at the State and local levels as well as in the private sector. I urge my House colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2468 has strong support on both sides of the aisle. Effective security measures to improve our intelligence systems and mechanisms are critical to the mission of protecting the homeland. I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry) for his work on this important legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 2433, the Homeland Security Assessment of Terrorists Use of Virtual Currencies Act. Yesterday marked 16 years since the September 11 attacks when 19 terrorists hijacked four passenger planes, two of which struck the World Trade Center towers in my home State of New York. In the 16 years since the deadliest terrorist attack in American history, the United States has led the global campaign to combat terrorism, thwarting plots and preventing attacks on American soil, identifying and disrupting terrorist networks around the world, hunting down terrorists wherever they hide, and proving that they can and will be brought to justice. We know that the threat of terrorism is not the same as it was 16 years ago. It is a threat that constantly evolves, and we need to evolve ahead of it. That is why I introduced H.R. 2433. In recent years, we have seen instances in which members of some terrorist groups have turned to virtual currencies to support themselves and fund their operations. Last year, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies investigated a terrorist funding campaign in which a terrorist group in the Gaza Strip received donations to the virtual currency bitcoin. Earlier this year, Indonesian authorities reported that a Syria-based Indonesian with ties to ISIL used virtual currency to fund attacks in Indonesia. Virtual currencies offer high-speed and low-cost networks and access to users all over the world, which creates significant potential appeal to terrorists, particularly lone-wolf attackers because of the nominal cost often associated with carrying out that type of attack. Research suggests that terrorists' use of virtual currencies have so far been limited to a handful of instances, two of which I have mentioned. But with groups like ISIL becoming more technologically sophisticated and virtual currencies becoming more widely accessible, the table is set for this threat to grow significantly in a very short time. That is why it is critical that we act now to assess and understand this emerging threat. My bill requires DHS' Office of Intelligence and Analysis to develop and disseminate a threat assessment of the use of virtual currencies to support terrorist activities. Further, to ensure that this information is shared throughout the law enforcement community, my bill requires the assessment to be shared with State, local, and Tribal law enforcement, including those offices that operate within State, local, and regional fusion centers. Enacting this bill will give counterterrorism and law enforcement officials at all levels the information they need to evolve ahead of this threat and help keep Americans safe. I urge my House colleagues to support my bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2433 is an important piece of legislation that received overwhelming bipartisan support in the Committee on Homeland Security. Enactment of H.R. 2433 will ensure that the Department of Homeland Security closely monitors this evolving threat so that we are prepared to prevent terrorists from using virtual currencies to finance attacks on the U.S. and around the world. I encourage my colleagues to support my legislation, H.R. 2433. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.