Next Generation Radiation Screening Act Of 2008
Floor Speech
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Mr. BILIRAKIS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of H.R. 5531, the Next Generation Screening Act, sponsored by my Homeland Security Committee ranking member, Peter King. Since 2003, the Department of Homeland Security has deployed radiation detectors at our Nation's ports of entry. The Department has also engaged in an aggressive research and development program to test, evaluate, and deploy the next generation of radiation detection technology to detect and identify radioactive material.
This technology, known as the Advanced Spectroscopic Portals, has the potential to provide improved detection capabilities, while reducing the number of nuisance alarms caused by the legitimate transport of non-threat-related radioactive material, such as cat litter and fertilizer.
H.R. 5531 requires the Director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office and Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to enter into an agreement regarding the minimum standards of operational functionality in order to deploy ASP systems. This legislation also clarifies what is meant by previously passed statute.
Last year's omnibus appropriations bill stated the Secretary shall submit separate and distinct certifications prior to the procurement of Advanced Spectroscopic Portal monitors for primary and secondary deployment that address the unique requirements for operational effectiveness for each type of deployment. H.R. 5531 requires the Secretary to develop a quantitative definition of significant increase in operational effectiveness and develop appropriate metrics for measuring this effectiveness.
In addition to authorizing the ASP program, this bill also authorizes the Securing the Cities Initiative, a pilot program to prevent the illicit transport of radiological material in the New York City metropolitan area. The Securing the Cities Initiative has fostered unprecedented collaboration and coordination among its Federal, State, and local partners, and has advanced the security of the New York metropolitan region.
The bill authorizes $40 million for the initiative, the same amount that was appropriated in fiscal year 2008 to ensure its continuation in fiscal year 2009.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this important bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and if the gentleman from Florida is prepared to close, I am prepared to go after him.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, before I yield back the remaining time, I just want to emphasize how important I believe it is for the House to consider both an authorization and appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security this year.
I yield back the balance of my time.
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