Leveraging Emerging Technologies Act of 2016
Floor Speech
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Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5389) to encourage engagement between the Department of Homeland Security and technology innovators, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5389
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Leveraging Emerging Technologies Act of 2016''. SEC. 2. INNOVATION ENGAGEMENT.
(a) Innovation Engagement.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security--
(A) shall engage with innovative and emerging technology developers and firms, including technology-based small businesses and startup ventures, to address homeland security needs; and
(B) may identify geographic areas in the United States with high concentrations of such innovative and emerging technology developers and firms, and may establish personnel and office space in such areas, as appropriate.
(2) Engagement.--Engagement under paragraph (1) may include innovative and emerging technology developers or firms with proven technologies, supported with outside investment, with potential applications for the Department of Homeland Security.
(3) Co-location.--If the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that it is appropriate to establish personnel and office space in a specific geographic area in the United States pursuant to paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall co- locate such personnel and office space with other existing assets of--
(A) the Department of Homeland Security, where possible; or
(B) Federal facilities, where appropriate.
(4) Oversight.--Not later than 30 days after establishing personnel and office space in a specific geographic area in the United States pursuant to paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall inform Congress about the rationale for such establishment, the anticipated costs associated with such establishment, and the specific goals for such establishment.
(b) Strategic Plan.--Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall develop, implement, and submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a Department of Homeland Security-wide strategy to proactively engage with innovative and emerging technology developers and firms, including technology-based small businesses and startup ventures, in accordance with subsection (a). Such strategy shall--
(1) focus on sustainable methods and guidance to build relationships, including with such innovative and emerging technology developers and firms in geographic areas in the United States with high concentrations of such innovative and emerging technology developers and firms, and in geographic areas outside such areas, to establish, develop, and enhance departmental capabilities to address homeland security needs;
(2) include efforts to--
(A) ensure proven innovative and emerging technologies can be included in existing and future acquisition contracts;
(B) coordinate with organizations that provide venture capital to businesses, particularly small businesses and startup ventures, as appropriate, to assist the commercialization of innovative and emerging technologies that are expected to be ready for commercialization in the near term and within 36 months; and
(C) address barriers to the utilization of innovative and emerging technologies and the engagement of small businesses and startup ventures in the acquisition process;
(3) include a description of how the Department plans to leverage proven innovative and emerging technologies to address homeland security needs; and
(4) include the criteria the Secretary plans to use to determine an innovative or technology is proven.
(c) Prohibition on Additional Funding.--No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support and I am very pleased that the House is considering H.R. 5389, the Leveraging Emerging Technologies Act of 2016. H.R. 5389 encourages engagement between the Department of Homeland Security and technology innovators, including tech startups.
This important bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to proactively engage with innovative and emerging technology developers and firms to address homeland security needs. More specifically, H.R. 5389 provides the Secretary authority to identify geographic areas in the United States where high concentrations of innovative and emerging technology developers and firms exist and to establish personnel and office space in these areas to more effectively collaborate with these technology hubs.
The Federal Government needs to do a better job working with the private sector, and this bill will support that goal by requiring the Secretary to develop and implement a targeted strategy to proactively engage innovative and emerging technology developers and firms. The Secretary must use this strategic plan to address and to reduce barriers to leveraging innovative and emerging technologies and the small business and startup ventures that create those technologies by incorporating them into the Department's acquisition process.
In order to keep pace, the Department of Homeland Security recently established an office in Silicon Valley to encourage engagement and communication with the innovative technology developers in that area. Although a vital technology hub, Silicon Valley is not the only technology hub in the United States. For that reason, the Department should not be limited to a single geographic area from which to identify emerging and innovative technologies.
Mr. Speaker, we are all learning that cybersecurity is national security. The Nation is under constant cyber attack from nation-states, from criminal groups, and from terrorist organizations, and, with each passing day, the attacks and tools that they are using are becoming more sophisticated. Requiring the Department to consider strategically how it will engage these technology developers will strengthen the Department's ability to access innovative and emerging technologies in order to combat these evolving threats.
I am happy to support this measure today and believe it will move us toward further addressing homeland security needs by supporting technology innovation.
Before I close, I include in the Record an exchange between the chairman of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security.
House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Washington, DC, June 20, 2016. Hon. Michael T. McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning H.R. 5389, the ``Leveraging Emerging Technologies Act of 2016,'' which your Committee reported on June 8, 2016.
H.R. 5389 contains provisions within the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Rule X jurisdiction. As a result of your having consulted with the Committee and in order to expedite this bill for floor consideration, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will forego action on the bill. This is being done on the basis of our mutual understanding that doing so will in no way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with respect to the appointment of conferees, or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation.
I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding, and would request that you include a copy of this letter and your response in the Committee Report and in the Congressional Record during the floor consideration of this bill. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Sincerely, Lamar Smith, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC, June 20, 2016. Hon. Lamar Smith, Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Smith: Thank you for your interest in H.R. 5389, the ``Leveraging Emerging Technologies Act of 2016.'' I appreciate your cooperation in allowing this legislation to move expeditiously before the House of Representatives on June 21, 2016. I understand that the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to the extent it may have a jurisdictional claim, will not seek a sequential referral on the bill; and therefore, there has been no formal determination as to its jurisdiction by the Parliamentarian. While we are not prepared to recognize the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology over this bill, we do appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
The Committee on Homeland Security concurs with the mutual understanding that the absence of a decision on this bill at this time does not prejudice any claim the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology may have held or may have on similar legislation in the future.
I will insert copies of this exchange in the Congressional Record during consideration of this bill on the House floor. I thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Sincerely, Michael T. McCaul, Chairman.
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Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Mississippi for cosponsoring this bill and for his leadership in this area.
I, once again, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5389.
I yield back the balance of my time.
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Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
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