The U.S. House Homeland Security Committee has unanimously passed two anti-terrorism bills proposed by U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY).
Rep. Donovan, chairman of the U.S. House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, last December introduced the Shielding Public Spaces from Vehicular Terrorism Act, H.R. 4627, and on Feb. 8 introduced the Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act, H.R. 4991, both of which the full committee passed on June 6 by unanimous consent.
“We have to be increasingly vigilant and make sure that we have the tools needed to properly equip first responders and address evolving terrorist tactics,” Rep. Donovan said. “My bills will help keep more Americans and their families safe, and I look forward to seeing them advance to the floor.”
H.R. 4627 – which the congressman developed in response to the deadly October 2017 vehicle terror attack in Manhattan – would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate to research and develop new tools and effective safeguards to combat emerging terrorist threats, including vehicular attacks, according to a summary from Rep. Donovan’s office.
H.R. 4627 also would ensure that first responders have access to Homeland Security Grant Program resources, including funds from the Urban Areas Security Initiative and State Homeland Security Program. Such monies would allow them to improve security for public spaces, such as bus stops, bike paths and other mass-gathering locations, according to the summary.
Signing on as original cosponsors to the bipartisan H.R. 4627 were U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX), Peter King (R-NY), and Donald Payne (D-NJ).
H.R. 4991 would authorize the New York City-based National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL), which regularly tests equipment, including radiological detection technologies, for the city’s fire and police departments, according to the summary. The authorization would enable NUSTL to continue conducting research, development and evaluations of new technologies for law enforcement officers and first responders for preparedness and response to terror attacks and emergency situations.
Reps. King, Mark Meadows (R-NC) and Kathleen Rice (D-NY) cosponsored the bipartisan H.R. 4991.
Rep. Donovan has made enhanced national security a priority this term and he’s held hearings on terror threats to the nation’s transportation system, weapons of mass destruction, and early warning alerts, among others.
Additionally during this session of Congress, his staff noted in a statement that three of Rep. Donovan’s homeland security bills already have received House approval: the Transit Security Grant Program Flexibility Act (H.R. 549); the Cyber Preparedness Act of 2017 (H.R. 584); and the Securing the Cities Act of 2017 (H.R. 655).