The House Homeland Security Committee Wednesday passed multiple bills, including bipartisan legislation to improve the federal government’s efforts to prevent and prepare for a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) attack, as well as bipartisan maritime security and transportation security legislation, according to a committee statement.
The committee passed by unanimous consent the WMD Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2011 (H.R. 2356), according to a statement. The legislation will improve the federal government’s efforts to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from a WMD attack in the United States by, according to a statement:
· Establishing a special assistant to the president for biodefense to coordinate federal biodefense policy;
· Developing a national biodefense plan and a coordinated budget that assess capability gaps and spending inefficiencies;
· Requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a national biosurveillance strategy;
· Ensuring voluntary vaccinations for first responders and response guidance for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents; and
· Authorizing the “Securing the Cities” program to allow for interdiction of a radiological device in high-risk cities.
Committee Chairman Peter King (R-N.Y.) said in a statement this legislation implements many of the recommendations of the WMD Commission, which, in 2008, delivered the warning that terrorists are likely to deploy a WMD somewhere in the world by 2013.
The committee passed H.R. 3857, which, as amended, allows Transportation Security Grant Program funding to be used to sustain specialized patrol teams, such as the New York Police Department’s Transit Operational Response Canine Heavy Weapons (TORCH) team, in addition to creating new teams as is currently allowed, according to a statement. H.R. 3857, as amended, passed by voice vote, according to a statement.
The committee also passed the Gauging American Port Security Act (H.R. 4005), which directs the DHS secretary to conduct a study and report to Congress on gaps in port security and a plan to address them, according to a statement. The bill, as amended, passed unanimously, according to a statement.
H.R. 3173, as amended, also passed, according to a statement. H.R. 3173 directs the DHS secretary to reform the process for the enrollment, activation, issuance and renewal of a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) to require not more than one in-person visit to a designated enrollment center, according to a statement.