[House Report 114-491]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
114th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 114-491
======================================================================
STATE AND HIGH-RISK URBAN AREA WORKING GROUP ACT
_______
April 13, 2016.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. McCaul, from the Committee on Homeland Security, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 4509]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 4509) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002
to clarify membership of State planning committees or urban
area working groups for the Homeland Security Grant Program,
and for other purposes, having considered the same, report
favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill
do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 2
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Hearings......................................................... 2
Committee Consideration.......................................... 2
Committee Votes.................................................. 2
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 2
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 2
Congressional Budget Office Estimate............................. 3
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 3
Duplicative Federal Programs..................................... 3
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff
Benefits....................................................... 3
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 3
Preemption Clarification......................................... 3
Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings.............................. 4
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 4
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 4
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 4
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 4
Purpose and Summary
The purpose of H.R. 4509 is amend the Homeland Security Act
of 2002 to clarify membership of State planning committees or
urban area working groups for the Homeland Security Grant
Program, and for other purposes.
Background and Need for Legislation
Section 2021(b) of the Homeland Security Act (Pub. L. 107-
296) requires States and high-risk urban areas receiving State
Homeland Security Grant Program and Urban Area Security
Initiative funding, respectively, to establish multi-
disciplinary planning committees through which projects are
coordinated. These planning committees assist in the
preparation and revision of the State, regional, or local
homeland security plan and assist in determining effective
funding priorities for grants. H.R. 4509 focuses on enhancing
this multi-disciplinary coordination by adding additional
stakeholders representing public health, educational
institutions, state and regional interoperable communications
coordinators, and fusion centers, as appropriate. Previously,
the Committee on Homeland Security learned that some of these
stakeholders were not included in the working groups regularly.
This legislation further ensures relevant stakeholders have an
opportunity to participate in and coordinate preparedness grant
planning.
Hearings
No hearings were held on H.R. 4509.
Committee Consideration
The Committee met on March 23, 2016, to consider H.R. 4509,
and ordered the measure to be reported to the House with a
favorable recommendation, without amendment, by unanimous
consent.
Committee Votes
Clause 3(b) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires the Committee to list the recorded
votes on the motion to report legislation and amendments
thereto.
No recorded votes were requested during consideration of
H.R. 4509.
Committee Oversight Findings
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee has held oversight
hearings and made findings that are reflected in this report.
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures
In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of Rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee finds that H.R.
4509, the State and High-Risk Urban Area Working Group Act,
would result in no new or increased budget authority,
entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or revenues.
Congressional Budget Office Estimate
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, a cost estimate provided by the
Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 was not made available to the
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chairman
of the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee.
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, H.R. 4509 contains the following
general performance goals and objectives, including outcome
related goals and objectives authorized.
States and high-risk urban areas receiving State Homeland
Security Grant Program and Urban Area Security Initiative
funding, respectively, are required to include relevant
stakeholders in their statutorily required multi-disciplinary
planning committees. This bill expands the stakeholders
required to be included, as appropriate, and will enhance the
abilities of the multi-disciplinary planning committees to
prioritize funding for these respective grant programs.
Duplicative Federal Programs
Pursuant to clause 3(c) of Rule XIII, the Committee finds
that H.R. 4509 does not contain any provision that establishes
or reauthorizes a program known to be duplicative of another
Federal program.
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff
Benefits
In compliance with Rule XXI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff
benefits as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of the Rule
XXI.
Federal Mandates Statement
An estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chairman
of the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee.
Preemption Clarification
In compliance with section 423 of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974, requiring the report of any Committee on a bill or
joint resolution to include a statement on the extent to which
the bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt State,
local, or Tribal law, the Committee finds that H.R. 4509 does
not preempt any State, local, or Tribal law.
Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings
The Committee estimates that H.R. 4509 would require no
directed rule makings.
Advisory Committee Statement
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this
legislation.
Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation
Section 1. Short Title.
This section provides that this bill may be cited as the
``State and High-Risk Urban Area Working Group Act''.
Sec. 2. Administration and Coordination of Certain DHS Grants.
Section 2021(b) of the Homeland Security Act requires
States and high-risk urban areas receiving State Homeland
Security Grant Program and Urban Area Security Initiative
funding respectively to establish multi-disciplinary planning
committees through which projects are coordinated.
This section further delineates the stakeholders, such as
public health officials and fusion centers, as appropriate,
which should be included in such committees. Such membership
should include stakeholders representing local and tribal
government officials, emergency response providers, public
health, educational institutions, state and regional
interoperable communications coordinators, and fusion centers,
as appropriate.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
HOMELAND SECURITY ACT OF 2002
* * * * * * *
TITLE XX--HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS
* * * * * * *
Subtitle B--Grants Administration
SEC. 2021. ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION.
(a) Regional Coordination.--The Administrator shall ensure
that--
(1) all recipients of grants administered by the
Department to prevent, prepare for, protect against, or
respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or
other man-made disasters (excluding assistance provided
under section 203, title IV, or title V of the Robert
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance
Act (42 U.S.C. 5133, 5170 et seq., and 5191 et seq.))
coordinate, as appropriate, their prevention,
preparedness, and protection efforts with neighboring
State, local, and tribal governments; and
(2) all high-risk urban areas and other recipients of
grants administered by the Department to prevent,
prepare for, protect against, or respond to natural
disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made
disasters (excluding assistance provided under section
203, title IV, or title V of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5133, 5170 et seq., and 5191 et seq.)) that include or
substantially affect parts or all of more than 1 State
coordinate, as appropriate, across State boundaries,
including, where appropriate, through the use of
regional working groups and requirements for regional
plans.
[(b) Planning Committees.--
[(1) In general.--Any State or high-risk urban area
receiving a grant under section 2003 or 2004 shall
establish a planning committee to assist in preparation
and revision of the State, regional, or local homeland
security plan and to assist in determining effective
funding priorities for grants under sections 2003 and
2004.
[(2) Composition.--
[(A) In general.--The planning committee
shall include representatives of significant
stakeholders, including--
[(i) local and tribal government
officials; and
[(ii) emergency response providers,
which shall include representatives of
the fire service, law enforcement,
emergency medical response, and
emergency managers.
[(B) Geographic representation.--The members
of the planning committee shall be a
representative group of individuals from the
counties, cities, towns, and Indian tribes
within the State or high-risk urban area,
including, as appropriate, representatives of
rural, high-population, and high-threat
jurisdictions.
[(3) Existing planning committees.--Nothing in this
subsection may be construed to require that any State
or high-risk urban area create a planning committee if
that State or high-risk urban area has established and
uses a multijurisdictional planning committee or
commission that meets the requirements of this
subsection.]
(b) Planning Committees.--
(1) In general.--Any State or high-risk urban area
receiving a grant under section 2003 or 2004 shall
establish a State planning committee or urban area
working group to assist in preparation and revision of
the State, regional, or local homeland security plan or
the threat and hazard identification and risk
assessment, as the case may be, and to assist in
determining effective funding priorities for grants
under such sections.
(2) Composition.--
(A) In general.--The State planning
committees and urban area working groups
referred to in paragraph (1) shall include at
least one representative of significant
stakeholders, including the following:
(i) Local or tribal government
officials.
(ii) Emergency response providers,
which shall include representatives of
the fire service, law enforcement,
emergency medical services, and
emergency managers.
(iii) Public health officials and
other appropriate medical
practitioners.
(iv) Individuals representing
educational institutions, including
elementary schools, community colleges,
and other institutions of higher
education.
(v) State and regional interoperable
communications coordinators, as
appropriate.
(vi) State and major urban area
fusion centers, as appropriate.
(B) Geographic representation.--The members
of the State planning committee or urban area
working group, as the case may be, shall be a
representative group of individuals from the
counties, cities, towns, and Indian tribes
within the State or high-risk urban area,
including, as appropriate, representatives of
rural, high-population, and high-threat
jurisdictions.
(3) Existing planning committees.--Nothing in this
subsection may be construed to require that any State
or high-risk urban area create a State planning
committee or urban area working group, as the case may
be, if that State or high-risk urban area has
established and uses a multijurisdictional planning
committee or commission that meets the requirements of
this subsection.
(c) Interagency Coordination.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 12 months after the
date of enactment of the Implementing Recommendations
of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, the Secretary
(acting through the Administrator), the Attorney
General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
and the heads of other agencies providing assistance to
State, local, and tribal governments for preventing,
preparing for, protecting against, and responding to
natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-
made disasters, shall jointly--
(A) compile a comprehensive list of Federal
grant programs for State, local, and tribal
governments for preventing, preparing for,
protecting against, and responding to natural
disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-
made disasters;
(B) compile the planning, reporting,
application, and other requirements and
guidance for the grant programs described in
subparagraph (A);
(C) develop recommendations, as appropriate,
to--
(i) eliminate redundant and
duplicative requirements for State,
local, and tribal governments,
including onerous application and
ongoing reporting requirements;
(ii) ensure accountability of the
programs to the intended purposes of
such programs;
(iii) coordinate allocation of grant
funds to avoid duplicative or
inconsistent purchases by the
recipients;
(iv) make the programs more
accessible and user friendly to
applicants; and
(v) ensure the programs are
coordinated to enhance the overall
preparedness of the Nation;
(D) submit the information and
recommendations under subparagraphs (A), (B),
and (C) to the appropriate committees of
Congress; and
(E) provide the appropriate committees of
Congress, the Comptroller General, and any
officer or employee of the Government
Accountability Office with full access to any
information collected or reviewed in preparing
the submission under subparagraph (D).
(2) Scope of task.--Nothing in this subsection shall
authorize the elimination, or the alteration of the
purposes, as delineated by statute, regulation, or
guidance, of any grant program that exists on the date
of the enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of
the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, nor authorize the
review or preparation of proposals on the elimination,
or the alteration of such purposes, of any such grant
program.
(d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, in
order to ensure that the Nation is most effectively able to
prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to all
hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and
other man-made disasters--
(1) the Department should administer a coherent and
coordinated system of both terrorism-focused and all-
hazards grants;
(2) there should be a continuing and appropriate
balance between funding for terrorism-focused and all-
hazards preparedness, as reflected in the
authorizations of appropriations for grants under the
amendments made by titles I and II, as applicable, of
the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission
Act of 2007; and
(3) with respect to terrorism-focused grants, it is
necessary to ensure both that the target capabilities
of the highest risk areas are achieved quickly and that
basic levels of preparedness, as measured by the
attainment of target capabilities, are achieved
nationwide.
* * * * * * *
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