Hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee - Full Committee Markup

Hearing

Today, Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G.
Thompson (D-MS) delivered the following prepared remarks for the full Committee markup:

"I am pleased we are here to consider a number of bills that address discrete administrative and
security challenges at the Department of Homeland Security. Individually, each of these measures
has some merit and warrants timely consideration.

That said, I would put on the record my disappointment that, with the exception of the bill to
authorize the Integrated Public Alerts and Warning system, none of these measures provide new
funding to the Department to carry out additional, unbudgeted activities. Though I am generally
supportive of all the measures to be considered today, I will offer my comments on the bills authored
by Committee Democrats.

H.R. 1646, the "Homeland Security Drone Assessment and Analysis Act," was authored by the
Ranking Member of the Oversight Subcommittee, the gentlelady from New Jersey, Representative
Watson Coleman. It speaks to an emerging homeland security concern--the risk of drones being
used to execute a terrorist act.

Today, an off-the-shelf, small or medium-sized drone, in the wrong hands, can jam law enforcement
signals, take surveillance imagery, and even be weaponized. As such, there is an urgent need for a
thorough assessment of the security risks posed by drones utilized by terrorists and other malicious
actors in U.S. airspace. I commend the gentlelady for her timely and important legislation.

The second measure was introduced by the Ranking Member of the Emergency Preparedness
Subcommittee, the gentleman from New Jersey, Representative Payne. H.R. 2206, the "State Wide
Interoperable Communications Enhancement Act," seeks to ensure that the Federal and State
partnership to achieve interoperable communications continues.

Finally, there is the measure I introduced with the Ranking Member of the Cybersecurity
Subcommittee, Representative Richmond, H.R. 2390, the "Homeland Security University-based
Review Act." This bill calls for a comprehensive look at the Department's R&D efforts with
universities in the Centers of Excellence network and directs the Department to provide more detail
on their designation, tasking, and support for these institutions in a report to Congress. This
measure is a good compliment to H.R. 1637, which looks at the utilization of Federally-Funded
Research and Development Centers.

I understand that the Committee is expected to move more legislation next month. I look forward to
working with you to ensure that other important Democratic bills get due consideration. With that, I
look forward to a robust debate on the measures under consideration today and yield back the
balance of my time."

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