Lauren Underwood

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. 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.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5780, the Safe Communities Act. Last month, a teenager from my district in Antioch, Illinois, went to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he allegedly killed two people with an AR-15- style rifle. The next day, I heard from another constituent, a mother who lives in the alleged shooter's hometown. She wrote: ``There is a militia cell in Antioch that is becoming more and more emboldened to take the law into their own hands. I am becoming fearful to send my children to the same schools at white supremacist militia members.'' I share my constituents' concerns with the rise of domestic violent extremism in this country. FBI Director Wray recently testified before the House Homeland Security Committee that white supremacist extremists are a leading threat to our Nation. I believe we must do more to address the root causes of violent behavior, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in Congress to make America a place where racism, misogyny, and other forms of hate can no longer flourish. Meanwhile, in the face of extremist threats like these, we must take immediate action to secure our critical infrastructure and make soft targets less vulnerable to attack. In addition to domestic extremists, our suburban and rural communities face too many other threats of mass violence. Just last year, five of our neighbors, four of whom were my constituents, were killed by an act of gun violence at the Henry Pratt Company in Aurora, Illinois. Our workplaces, schools, and places of worship are far too vulnerable to mass shootings and other forms of targeted violence. This bill seeks to fix that. Rural and suburban communities like mine in northern Illinois are increasingly targets of violence but often don't have access to the Federal resources they need to protect themselves. That is why I introduced H.R. 5780, the Safe Communities Act of 2020, bipartisan legislation to help better protect soft targets in communities like mine. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's protective security advisers help improve security at schools, places of worship, and other soft targets, but there are too few of them to meet the demand of their services. H.R. 5780 would require CISA to maintain an online security resources clearinghouse to provide security guidance and best practices, serving as a one-stop shop for school districts, religious organizations, and local officials to find the information they need to keep their communities safe. The bill would also require CISA to develop a stakeholder outreach and operational engagement strategy and implementation plan to ensure that the Agency is delivering infrastructure security services across sectors and throughout regions. Finally, H.R. 5780 would authorize a PSA force multiplier pilot program, which would require CISA PSAs to train State, local, Tribal, and territorial officials to perform security vulnerability and terrorism risk assessments. These risk assessments are an important part of qualifying for FEMA's security grants; the force multiplier program will help expand access to them. I am proud that the Safe Communities Act of 2020 has been endorsed by the Jewish Federations of North America and the Anti-Defamation League. I would like to thank my colleague, Mr. Katko, for joining me in introducing this measure. I am grateful for his collaboration and leadership as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation. I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the Homeland Security Committee staff for their work on this legislation. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation today to make sure every community in America has the resources it needs to keep people safe. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5780, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Last week, I was appointed as the new chair of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation of the Homeland Security Committee. It is a great honor and opportunity for me to amplify the homeland security concerns of the people of Illinois' 14th Congressional District here in Washington. My constituents are concerned about the vulnerability of so-called soft targets to violence. CISA, which is overseen by my subcommittee, has a critical role to play to empower communities to be more secure and resilient against ever-increasing lists of homeland security threats. I am committed to ensuring the success of the PSA program, and I look forward to working with CISA to make sure that every community can benefit from it. Enactment of the Safe Communities Act of 2020 will help CISA think more strategically about how it deploys PSAs and other services and do so in a way that will scale. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5823) to establish a program to make grants to States to address cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats to information systems of State, local, Tribal, or territorial governments, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. 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.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I don't need to tell anyone here that cyberattacks against State and local governments are growing more frequent and more sophisticated. In 2019, there were over 100 ransomware attacks on State and local governments. From major cities like New Orleans and Baltimore to small towns across Texas, cyberattacks sought to cripple the ability of governments across the country to carry out basic functions, from processing real estate transactions to collecting payments for services. The cost is more than just a mere inconvenience. A ransomware attack against a State and local government can disrupt lifeline services, like 911 call centers and public hospitals, and extort money those governments do not have. Last summer, the mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms, testified before my subcommittee that the ransomware attack that hit her city in 2018 cost city taxpayers $7.2 million to recover from, but experts expect that cost to grow to as much as $17 million. The COVID-19 pandemic, by dramatically expanding the threat landscape and making government networks more attractive targets for hackers, has made the situation more dire. More Americans than ever before are working from home. That includes State and local government workers who may be less accustomed to teleworking and less prepared to do it securely. At the same time, the cyber risk to State and local networks has increased dramatically due to unprecedented demand for online services, including unemployment compensation and human services applications. The transition to online learning that COVID-19 has forced many schools to undertake has also not been without incident. According to Education Week, there have been 220 cyberattacks against schools so far this year. And while the pandemic is bringing the vulnerability of our school districts' networks into focus, it is worth noting that there have been over 1,000 cyberattacks against school districts since 2016, according to the K-12 Research Center. Despite the urgent need to address their cyber vulnerabilities, many State and local governments are not in a position to do so without outside assistance, as they are overwhelmed by the challenges of maintaining basic services in the face of steep COVID-19-related revenue losses. It is time for the Federal Government to step up and help. Passing H.R. 5823, the State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act, which I am proud to cosponsor, is an important first step. The bill would establish a $400 million targeted grant program to help States and local governments develop robust cybersecurity capabilities. Importantly, it requires States to pay a graduated match to incentivize them to budget better for cybersecurity. And it requires the Department of Homeland Security to create a plan to improve the cybersecurity posture of State and local governments to ensure that Federal resources align with State goals and objectives. The smart investments we make in the cybersecurity of our State and local governments now will pay for themselves in the future. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5823, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ruppersberger).

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Maryland an additional 2 minutes.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Kilmer).

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am prepared to close after the gentleman from Pennsylvania closes. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, over the past decade and a half, Congress has redoubled efforts to secure Federal networks. This legislation will continue that work by supporting State and local cybersecurity improvements. It was approved on a bipartisan basis in committee and has broad and deep support within stakeholder communities. I would like to congratulate Congressman Cedric Richmond, the former chairman of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation Subcommittee, on this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. 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.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5822) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish an acquisition professional career program, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5822, the Homeland Security Acquisition Professional Career Program Act. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5822 authorizes an existing program within the Department of Homeland Security focused on strengthening its acquisition workforce. DHS established the Acquisition Professional Career Program in 2008 to create a pipeline for hard-to-fill acquisition workforce positions, such as contract specialists. Since its inception, the program has had over 300 program graduates join the ranks of DHS' acquisition workforce, which oversees billions of dollars of transactions to procure what DHS needs to carry out its diverse missions. They are charged with purchasing everything from cybersecurity software for protecting Federal networks, to disaster response supplies, to sophisticated security screening equipment. And when it comes to COVID-19, they have been responsible for spending over $1.7 billion on a wide range of response activities. Unfortunately, the Government Accountability Office has highlighted workforce shortages as a persistent challenge for DHS acquisition programs--one that can negatively affect their ability to deliver vital capabilities on time and on budget. H.R. 5822 will help address this challenge by authorizing DHS' rigorous development program, which provides participants with acquisition training, mentorship, department-wide rotations, and other career development opportunities. H.R. 5822, if enacted, will help DHS maintain a pipeline for its acquisition workforce that directly supports the Department's frontline officers with the tools that they need to perform their jobs. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentlewoman from Nevada, Representative Titus, for introducing this measure, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, enactment of H.R. 5822 would help ensure that DHS maintains a pipeline for hard-to-fill acquisition positions throughout the Department. Given the critical nature of DHS' mission, it is essential that it have a robust acquisition workforce in place. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5822, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5811) to require the Transportation Security Administration to provide nursing facilities and paid parental leave for Administration personnel, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for H.R. 5811, a bill that seeks to improve conditions for working parents in TSA's frontline workforce. These improvements may increase morale and retention, which is critical to ensure the effectiveness of aviation security in the face of evolving threats. I thank the gentleman from New York for introducing this bill, and I urge its passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. 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.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 5811, the TSA Personnel Workforce Improvement Act of 2020. The country recently observed the 19th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, a day that shook the Nation to its core and changed it forever. The federalization of the aviation screening workforce was one of the most important steps taken as a Nation to restore America's confidence in flying again. Today, with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, we find ourselves at another moment when many Americans are not comfortable flying. Still, we have a dedicated workforce in our Nation's airports that stand ready to protect America's flying public. Yet, this cadre of frontline workers, transportation security officers--also known as TSOs--continues to be among the lowest paid Federal employees. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5811, the TSA Personnel Workplace Improvement Act of 2020, seeks to ease some of the burden on TSOs who are also juggling the care of small children. The legislation directs TSA to provide lactation facilities for nursing mothers and 12 weeks of paid parental leave for all TSA personnel. Under H.R. 5811, these lactation facilities must be assessed for cleanliness, safety, and accessibility to personnel duty stations, and TSA must coordinate implementation of the bill with relevant stakeholders, including the union representing frontline TSA officers. Given TSA's complex and challenging mission, the agency must explore all options to retain talent, which includes parents and nursing mothers. Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5804) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance the Blue Campaign of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I have no speakers, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5804, which seeks to build upon the success of the DHS Blue Campaign's human trafficking awareness campaign to make it more accessible and effective. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the government's latest reports describe violence by white supremacists as a significant terrorist threat to the homeland. In fact, it was recently reported that DHS analysts assessed ``the threat from white supremacists as the deadliest domestic terror threat facing the U.S.'' Further, this past week, a DHS official testified before a Senate committee that attacks by white supremacists are on average the most lethal of domestic terrorist actors. This statement came on the heels of testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee by FBI Director Christopher Wray, who stated that racially-motivated violent extremists are ``the most lethal of all domestic extremists,'' and that white supremacists are the number one threat within that group. We have also seen evidence that this threat is increasingly linked to individuals and groups abroad. Last year, the perpetrators of terror attacks in El Paso, Texas, and Poway, California, drew inspiration from the deadly white supremacist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand. There are indications that the links go beyond mere inspiration. Reports have documented that white supremacists have traveled internationally to train with neo-Nazi militant groups in war zone environments. By some accounts, white supremacist groups are drawing on jihadist tactics to organize, and the threat they pose is no less deadly. The Transnational White Supremacist Extremism Review Act would require the Department of Homeland Security to disseminate a terrorist threat assessment regarding foreign, violent white supremacist extremist groups to State and local law enforcement partners. The bill also authorizes DHS to share information regarding symbols used by such groups with social media companies to assist in efforts to identify content that may violate their terms of service. The bill includes vital civil rights and civil liberties safeguards to protect First Amendment rights. The first step in confronting a threat is making sure that the people on the front lines have the information they need to understand it. When it comes to the white supremacist threat, that is exactly what this bill would do. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rose), the sponsor of this bill.