U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY), chairman of the U.S. House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, has introduced legislation that aims to build up America’s protections against weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 2018, H.R. 6198, which Rep. Donovan unveiled on June 22, would ensure that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is fully equipped to counter WMD, according to a statement from the congressman’s office. U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) is the original cosponsor of the measure, which has been referred to the House Homeland Security Committee and the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.
“The threats our nation faces from our adversaries are always evolving,” Rep. Donovan said. “Terrorist groups want to inflict maximum damage by using a wide scope of weapons including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents. It’s critical that we continue to give DHS the tools needed to secure our nation and the American people.”
If enacted, H.R. 6198 would establish the federal Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office, which would be composed of the Office of Health Affairs and the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office to streamline and improve coordination and anti-terror efforts, among other purposes, according to a summary provided by Rep. Donovan’s staff.
H.R. 6198 also would incorporate language from Rep. Donovan’s Securing the Cities Act of 2017, H.R. 655, which would permanently authorize resources for the Securing the Cities program for federal, state and local governments to detect and prevent nuclear and radiological attacks in high-risk urban areas around the country. The U.S. House approved H.R. 655 on Jan. 31, 2017 and the bill is under consideration by the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Rep. Donovan added that the improvements outlined in H.R. 6198 “come directly from expert testimony” given during a Dec. 7, 2017 subcommittee hearing he chaired on WMD entitled, Examining the Department of Homeland Security’s Efforts to Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Rep. Donovan used insight and feedback from the hearing to craft H.R. 6198 after a witness testified that the creation of the CWMD would enhance U.S. defenses against threats, provide seamless sharing of best practices and reform ideas, and ramp up interagency collaboration, according to the congressman’s office.
H.R. 6198 continues efforts by Rep. Donovan to increase the nation’s anti-terror and defense capabilities. On June 19, for example, the U.S. House approved by voice vote two bills he introduced: the Shielding Public Spaces from Vehicular Terrorism Act, H.R. 4627, and the Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act, H.R. 4991. Both bipartisan bills also are now under consideration by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ) cosponsored H.R. 4627, while Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY) cosponsored H.R. 4991.
Also during this session of Congress, the House has approved the Transit Security Grant Program Flexibility Act, H.R. 549, which Rep. Donovan introduced in January 2017, as well as his Cyber Preparedness Act of 2017, H.R. 584, introduced at the same time last year. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is also deliberating both of these bills.