Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 615) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to
require the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of
Homeland Security to take administrative action to achieve and maintain
interoperable communications capabilities among the components of the
Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

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Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 615, the Department of
Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act, introduced by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), the ranking member of the
Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Emergency
Preparedness, Response, and Communications.

This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to include, among
the responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security's Under
Secretary for Management, achieving and maintaining interoperable
communications among the Department's components.

H.R. 615 addresses the findings and recommendations of a November
2012 DHS Office of Inspector General report, which stated that the
Department does not have the appropriate oversight or governance
structure to ensure communications interoperability among its
components.

The Department has been in the forefront on working with stakeholders
to provide our Nation's first responders with the resources and tools
needed to have effective interoperable communications. Now the
Department needs to practice what they preach. It is vital that the
Department's components are able to effectively communicate day to day
and, most importantly, during emergencies.

Mr. Speaker, I recently visited our southwest border and met with men
and women from the Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, and
the Coast Guard who are on the front lines of our efforts to secure the
border. It is vital that they have the ability to communicate with one
another and personnel from other DHS components as they work to achieve
their vital missions.

In order to ensure the Department is taking the necessary steps to
achieve and maintain interoperable communications capabilities, H.R.
615 requires the Department's Under Secretary for Management to submit
an interoperable communications strategy to the Committee on Homeland
Security no later than 120 days after enactment.

I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.

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Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.

Mr. Speaker, it is vital that the various component agencies at the
Department of Homeland Security be able to communicate on a daily basis
and particularly in times of crisis. This bill will help to ensure
these capabilities are implemented and maintained.

I urge all Members to join me in supporting this legislation, and I
yield back the balance of my time.

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