Ritchie Torres

Mr. TORRES of New York

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, H.R. 490 will improve morale among the Department's 240,000 employees. That is why it has the support of unions representing DHS employees: The National Border Patrol Council, the National Treasury Employees Union, and the American Federation of Government Employees. Enactment of H.R. 490 will also force DHS to examine the root causes of the longstanding morale problems and develop responsive approaches to move the Department forward in a positive direction. Madam Speaker, I ask for my colleagues' support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 490) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to improve morale within the Department of Homeland Security workforce by conferring new responsibilities to the Chief Human Capital Officer, establishing an employee engagement steering committee, requiring action plans, and authorizing an annual employee award program, and for other purposes.

Mr. TORRES of New York

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 473) to require a review of Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler programs, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 473, the Trusted Traveler Reconsideration and Restoration Act of 2021. Before the pandemic, millions of travelers participated in DHS' trusted traveler programs, like TSA's PreCheck and CBP's Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST programs, to get them where they need to go a little faster. These are win-win programs where DHS moves vetted goods and people in an expeditious manner, thereby freeing up screening resources to focus on higher-risk travelers. Given the benefits of these programs, it is troubling to hear about people being unable to enroll in one of these programs, despite meeting all of the security requirements needed to participate. We all have an interest in ensuring that the vetting for these programs is thorough and, where there are identifying matching errors or other issues that may result in a qualified applicant being wrongly rejected, the issues get addressed in a timely way. To ensure these programs are operating effectively and consistently, H.R. 473 directs the Government Accountability Office to review DHS' trusted traveler programs. The GAO's study will provide important insight into the Department's identity matching process and the redress options available to those who are improperly rejected. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, the Department of Homeland Security's trusted traveler programs are important tools in the Department's toolbox to screen people efficiently and concentrate its resources on high-risk travelers. It is critical that the Department's processes to vet enrollees be fair, consistent, and based on accurate information. The GAO assessment directed by this bill will help drive DHS to work towards those ends. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from New York (Mr. Katko) for introducing this bill. I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TORRES of New York

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 367) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish an acquisition professional career program, and for other purposes.

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam 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.

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 367, the Homeland Security Acquisition Professional Career Program Act. H.R. 367 authorizes the Department of Homeland Security's Acquisition Professional Career Program which, since 2008, has been credited with helping DHS onboard over 300 new hires into its acquisition workforce. At DHS, acquisition professionals, such as contract specialists, are responsible for spending billions of dollars each year on the goods and services needed for the department to carry out its missions. They acquire everything from disaster relief supplies for FEMA to Coast Guard cutters and software designed to protect Federal Government networks from cyber threats. Unfortunately, when it comes to hiring and retaining acquisitions professionals, DHS has experienced chronic staffing shortages that, in the view of the Government Accountability Office, create a persistent challenge for DHS that can negatively affect the ability of DHS to acquire vital capabilities on time and on budget. H.R. 367 seeks to address this challenge by codifying DHS' rigorous development program in which participants are provided with acquisition training, mentorship, department-wide rotations, and other career development opportunities. Enactment of this measure will help DHS maintain a pipeline for its acquisition workforce to directly support the department's frontline officers and provide them with the tools that they need. A prior version of this bill passed the House by a voice vote last September on a bipartisan basis. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to once again support this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Nevada for her leadership on this bill. Americans look to DHS to respond after a disaster, prevent terrorism, and protect cyberspace. Within DHS, its leaders at every level of the organization look to the acquisition workforce to ensure that the department has the tools needed to get the job done. Since 2008, DHS' Acquisition Professional Career Program has created a vital pipeline for the department to hire acquisitions professionals who develop their knowledge and skills in house at DHS. Enactment of H.R. 367 would ensure that DHS is able to continue to run this successful program which the department has come to rely on to help address chronic staffing shortages within its acquisition workforce. Again, I want to thank and commend the gentlewoman, Congresswoman Titus from Nevada, who is presently presiding over the House, for her leadership on H.R. 367. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 367. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TORRES of New York

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam 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.

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 408) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a mentor-protege program, and for other purposes.

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 408, the Department of Homeland Security Mentor-Protege Program Act of 2021. Since the earliest days of the Department of Homeland Security, it has operated a mentor-protege program to encourage large businesses to help small businesses build their capacity to compete for government contracts. However, this important program was never codified in law. H.R. 408 not only authorizes the existing program but improves it. Small businesses, including woman-, veteran-, and minority-owned firms, are the backbone of our economy, but far too often complex Federal contracting requirements shut them out of the Federal marketplace. Building and sustaining a reliable pool of small business vendors is critical to ensuring that DHS' ever-evolving contracting needs are met and America's security is enhanced. H.R. 408 seeks to build and sustain this pool by incentivizing large businesses to provide technical, managerial, and financial assistance and subcontracting opportunities to small businesses. The bill requires participating businesses to commit to a mentor- protege relationship for 3 years to help establish long-term relationships between large and small contractors. Additionally, to ensure that Congress can monitor the effectiveness of the program in an ongoing way, it requires DHS to annually report on program participation and the benefits conferred upon small businesses. Enactment of H.R. 408 will ensure the continued and lasting success of the mentor-protege program, a vital small business development program. It should also be noted that this bill passed the House unanimously during the 116th Congress. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to once again support this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, formally authorizing the Department of Homeland Security's mentor-protege program will ensure the continued success of this important small business program. John Crosby, the famous conductor, once said, ``A mentor is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.'' DHS is to be commended for recognizing that there are small businesses with novel technologies that want to help keep America secure, but may lack experience in the Federal marketplace and need a mentor to give them a push in the right direction. I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. McEachin) for introducing this bill to help grow partnerships between small businesses and DHS. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 408. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TORRES of New York

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam 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.

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 397) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear intelligence and information sharing functions of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security and to require dissemination of information analyzed by the Department to entities with responsibilities relating to homeland security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 397, the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2021. This past year, we have witnessed a global pandemic dominate nearly every aspect of American life and claim the lives of over half a million people. As it tore through our communities, it also brought into stark focus hard truths about inequities in our healthcare system, the reliability of our PPE pipeline, the need for better information sharing between the Federal Government and State, local, and private- sector partners. The legislation before us seeks to promote timely sharing of intelligence about chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, or CBRN threats. It does so by specifically directing the Department of Homeland Security to analyze CBRN-related terrorist threats and share threat information with Federal, State, and local partners. In the event of an attack of this nature, situational awareness at all levels of government is key. Better situational awareness is also important to help New York City and other DHS grant recipients more efficiently target their grant dollars to address threats. Earlier versions of this bill overwhelmingly passed in the House in the last three Congresses, and I urge my colleagues to support the measure once again. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, effective prevention and response to terrorism and naturally occurring threats start with information-sharing. At a time when threats are changing at such a rapid pace, H.R. 397 will help to facilitate information-sharing to better safeguard the homeland from bad actors. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 397, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TORRES of New York

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 396) to amend the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 to clarify certain allowable uses of funds for public transportation security assistance grants and establish periods of performance for such grants, and for other purposes.

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam 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.

Mr. TORRES of New York

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 370) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make technical corrections to the requirement that the Secretary of Homeland Security submit quadrennial homeland security reviews, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 370, the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Technical Corrections Act. Since 2007, the Department of Homeland Security has been required to produce a quadrennial review of the sprawling Federal department to help chart its course for the future. To date, DHS has issued two Quadrennial Homeland Security Reviews, or QHSRs. The third review, which was due by December 31, 2017, was never released by the Trump administration. Congress mandated that DHS, like the Defense Department, undertake a bottom-up review every 4 years in recognition of the fact that it has a vital, complex, and ever-expanding set of missions that need to be assessed in regular intervals to help DHS stay ahead of the constantly evolving threats facing our country. With the deadline for the fourth QHSR fast approaching, the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman) reintroduced this bill to ensure that deficiencies that the Government Accountability Office identified in prior reviews are fully addressed. In 2016, GAO issued a report that identified several weaknesses in how the Department developed the first two QHSRs. GAO, for example, expressed concerns about the degree to which the Department retained documentation to explain its findings and emphasized that documentation of the review process is essential to ensuring the repeatability of the review process. Importantly, H.R. 370 requires that DHS retain and, when requested, provide to Congress certain documentation related to each QHSR. It also addresses weaknesses that GAO identified with respect to consultation with Homeland Security stakeholders and directs robust consultation with State and local governments, academic institutions, and other stakeholders. Finally, H.R. 370 requires DHS to undertake and document a risk analysis to inform its policy positions, a critical feature that was lacking in prior reviews. Madam Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 370, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, DHS is a sprawling $50 billion Federal agency with a diverse array of mission sets. As such, it is critical that, every 4 years, DHS carry out a rigorous bottom-up, risk- informed review of the entire department that reflects robust engagement with Homeland Security partners to produce a QHSR that can drive the department's strategic vision for years to come. Enactment of H.R. 370 will help ensure that happens and that, in the years ahead, DHS better aligns its budgets and programs with its ever- expanding missions. An identical version of this measure passed the House last Congress by a vote of 415-0. Madam Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 370 and I yield back the balance of my time.