Homeland Security Science and Technology Authorization Act of 2010

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4842, the ``Homeland Security Science and Technology Authorization Act of 2010.''

This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate, S&T, and Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, DNDO, through fiscal year 2012.

Introduced by Representatives Yvette Clarke and Dan Lungren--the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Committee's Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology Subcommittee--H.R. 4842 seeks to strengthen our homeland security by ensuring more effective research, development, testing, and evaluation activities.

As Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, I strongly believe that recurring authorizations are important mechanisms to effectuate oversight findings and help steer an agency on the right course.

This legislation represents the first reauthorization of S&T--which was authorized in 2002--and DNDO--which was established in 2006.

Taking into account the Committee's extensive oversight findings as well as findings of GAO, the Inspector General, and the National Academy of Sciences, H.R. 4842 directs DHS to put robust management, administration, and programmatic systems in place at S&T and DNDO.

Specifically, to foster greater alignment between S&T research and the needs of DHS' operational components--such as TSA, CBP, and the Coast Guard--H.R. 4842 directs the establishment of rigorous processes within S&T for identifying, prioritizing, and setting requirements for research opportunities.

The bill also recognizes that, in order to conduct the best research, we need the best people.

H.R. 4842 contains advanced professional development provisions and creates fellowship opportunities for new scientists and engineers to bring their skills to DHS.

H.R. 4842 also takes into account that innovation is often fueled by the private sector and that the challenging and evolving nature of the terrorist threat demands closer collaboration between S&T and the private sector.

Accordingly, in an effort to improve collaboration between S&T and the private sector, H.R. 4842 authorizes an office of Public-Private Partnerships and, within the office, establishes a ``Rapid Review Division'' to evaluate technological proposals and provide feedback within 60 days.

A common concern that I hear from firms with novel homeland security technologies is that they do not know who to contact at S&T to pursue research opportunities and that they cannot seem to get anyone at S&T to look at their technologies.

Establishment of this new review division will go a long way to improving collaboration and innovation.

Further, H.R. 4842 directs DHS to evaluate whether establishing a venture capital program--modeled after the Defense Department's InQtel program--could facilitate swifter development of homeland security technologies.

H.R. 4842 also authorizes several specific programmatic areas for research including: mobile biometric technologies for deployment at the border; enhanced detection of border tunnels; hand-held detectors for DHS to do rapid detection of biological threats at ports and airports; technologies to mitigate the threat of small vessel attack; research to assess the extent of cyber compromises to federally-owned networks and devices; and enhancements to unmanned aerial surveillance technology for safe and effective deployment for border and maritime missions.

From the very beginning, H.R. 4842 was developed in an open, collegial, and bipartisan manner.

The Full Committee favorably reported H.R. 4842--which authorizes $2.3 billion to S&T and $620 million to DNDO through 2012--by a unanimous vote of ``26 to 0''.

H.R. 4842 also reflects collaboration between my Committee and the Committee on Science and Technology.

I would like to thank Chairman Bart Gordon and Ranking Member Ralph Hall for their contributions to the bill and for working with us to get H.R. 4842 to the floor today.

I think our process has proven that the barriers of partisanship and jurisdiction can be overcome when we put the good of the country first.

Finally, I would like to thank Under Secretary for Science and Technology Tara O'Toole, and the Acting Director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office Bill Hagan, as well as the dozens of stakeholders who took the time to give their input, as we worked through the process of developing this bill.

Again, I congratulate Representatives Clarke and Lungren on their solid work steering this important homeland security bill and urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4842.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source