DHS SPECIAL EVENTS PROGRAM AND SUPPORT ACT

On 2024-12-10, Representative Dina Titus (D-NV-1) delivered a floor speech titled "DHS SPECIAL EVENTS PROGRAM AND SUPPORT ACT" in the House. The speech addressed immigration and also covered taxes, the environment. It referenced legislation: HR6229.

DHS SPECIAL EVENTS PROGRAM AND SUPPORT ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024)] [House] [Pages H6565-H6566] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] DHS SPECIAL EVENTS PROGRAM AND SUPPORT ACT Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6229) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize a program to assess the threat, vulnerability, and consequences of terrorism or other security threats, as appropriate, to certain events, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6229 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``DHS Special Events Program and Support Act''. SEC. 2. DHS SPECIAL EVENTS PROGRAM. (a) In General.--Subtitle H of title VIII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 451 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``SEC. 890E. SPECIAL EVENTS PROGRAM. ``(a) In General.--There is authorized within the Department a program to assess the threat, vulnerability, and consequences of terrorism or other security threats, as appropriate, at certain special events in accordance with subsection (b). ``(b) Requirements.--The program authorized under subsection (a) shall-- ``(1) apply to special events that are pre-planned and not designated as National Special Security Events by the Secretary; ``(2) include a standard process for Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial officials to voluntarily submit to the Secretary requests for a special event rating that could result in direct support for security and situational awareness for such special event; ``(3) maintain a risk-based methodology to assess ratings requests, including requests submitted pursuant to paragraph (2), that considers the anticipated attendance by United States officials or foreign dignitaries, the size and venue of the special event, credible threats of terrorism or other security threats, and other homeland security information, as appropriate; and ``(4) include a process for expedited consideration and, where appropriate, a process for the reassessment, of a special event rating. ``(c) Support to Special Events.--For purposes of protecting a special event described in subsection (b), the Secretary may provide security and situational awareness support to a Federal, State, local, Tribal, or territorial official at the request of an appropriate Federal, State, local, Tribal, or territorial official. ``(d) Annual Reports.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the program authorized under subsection (a). Each such report shall include information relating to the following: ``(1) The total number of special events submitted to the program authorized under subsection (a) in the prior year, including the number of special events at each rating level. ``(2) The total number of events in the prior year for which the Secretary designated a Federal coordinator or coordinated security and situational awareness support, including a summary of Federal support provided. ``(3) The total number of requests for special event rating reassessment under subsection (b)(4), including the following: ``(A) The identification of the requesting entity. ``(B) The special event name, date, and location. ``(C) The initial and final rating determination. ``(D) The justification for such final rating determination. ``(e) Periodic Assessments.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section and every five years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate an assessment of the program authorized under subsection (a). ``(f) Definition.--In this section, the term `homeland security information' has the meaning given such term in section 892.''. (b) Mass Gathering Research.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Undersecretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security and the official responsible for carrying out section 890E of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a), shall, to the extent practicable, carry out research and development, including operational testing, of technologies and techniques for enhancing the Department's security and situational awareness support to Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial officials relating to mass gatherings consistent with applicable constitutional, privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties protections. (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 890D the following new item: ``Sec. 890E. Special events program.''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Green) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee. General Leave Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6229. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Tennessee? There was no objection. Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6229, the DHS Special Events Program and Support Act. I thank the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus) for bringing this measure forward. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6229, the DHS Special Events Program and Support Act, sponsored by the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus). H.R. 6229 is a bipartisan bill that would make our communities safer during large public events and mass gatherings by ensuring that our State, [[Page H6566]] local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement have access to tools, resources, and help from the Department of Homeland Security. We all know that the United States holds some of the world's greatest events, from professional football games to Formula One races, rodeos, State fairs, NASCAR, and so on. Every one of these events, big or small, requires security planning and management by State, local, Tribal, and territorial officials. Good planning and management are what it takes to prevent threats at mass gatherings and public events and, in the event of any danger, respond quickly and effectively. H.R. 6229 is an opportunity for Congress to provide our communities with planning and management resources by authorizing the Special Event Assessment Rating program, known as the SEAR program, within DHS. The SEAR program has had great success in every one of the States we represent, helping us ensure safe and enjoyable experiences at home events, big and small. What SEAR does is measure the risk of a terrorist attack or other hazards, as appropriate, on a special event. Events are submitted to DHS by a State, local, Tribal, or territorial partner for an assessment. Under the bill, DHS may provide security coordination and protection support for events with the most serious ratings. Earlier this year in a hearing during National Police Week, former Atlanta Chief of Police Rodney Bryant told the House Committee on Homeland Security that the SEAR program and DHS resources helped him ensure a safe experience for Americans attending the Super Bowl and college football playoff championship. Looking forward, our communities are going to need even more help from DHS through the SEAR program. In addition to longstanding large- scale public events like NFL games or New Year's celebrations in Times Square, the United States has a robust and growing presence on the Formula One racing circuit, and in just 2 years, we will be host to the World Cup. {time} 1515 DHS recently informed Congress that the World Cup matches across the country in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, and New Jersey are SEAR rated and will need Federal help to secure their global soccer matches. Mr. Speaker, it is time we authorize this critical program and ensure that these social, sporting, and other events can be enjoyed freely, safely, and without fear. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus), the author of the bill. Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6229, the DHS Special Events Program and Support Act. Nevada's First District, that I am proud to represent, hosts hundreds of high-profile events each year that require considerable security measures to keep safe the southern Nevadans and the thousands of visitors who attend these events. While State and local law enforcement take the primary responsibility in providing support for local events, many occasions, from the Super Bowl to Formula One races, require additional Federal support to ensure that security measures are hardened to prevent and protect against bad actors intending to do harm. Through October of this year, about 35 million visitors have come to Las Vegas. This includes 5 million who came for conventions, 330,000 who attended the Super Bowl, and 300,000 who were there

Referenced legislation: HR6229, HR6229