A centralized office focused on America’s economic security would be established within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under legislation introduced on July 16 by U.S. Reps. Peter Meijer (R-MI) and John Katko (R-NY).
“It is clearer now than ever before that economic security is homeland security,” said Rep. Meijer, who serves on the House Homeland Security Committee. “This bill would formalize and centralize these important efforts at DHS to ensure that the department works more efficiently and remains focused on addressing these challenges in the years to come.”
The DHS Trade and Economic Security Council Act of 2021, H.R. 4476, which Rep. Meijer sponsored and Rep. Katko cosponsored, would establish the DHS Trade and Economic Security Council and the position of Assistant Secretary for Trade and Economic Security, according to the text of the bill.
“The COVID-19 pandemic taught us the painful lesson that economic security impacts homeland security in ways that affect the daily lives of Americans,” said Rep. Katko, ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee. “We cannot find ourselves in that position ever again. Improving our posture begins with the Department of Homeland Security placing a greater emphasis on economic security and the resiliency of our supply chains.”
Without a unified and coordinated DHS effort, added Rep. Katko, “we risk again being unprepared for the next national or global disaster, scrambling to respond.”
If enacted, H.R. 4476 also would task the council with providing advice and recommendations to the DHS Secretary related to the economic security of the homeland, which would include identifying concentrated risks for economic security, setting priorities for securing the nation’s economic security, coordinating department-wide activity on economic security matters, and proposing statutory and regulatory changes impacting economic security, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
Additionally, the assistant secretary would advise the DHS Secretary regarding matters relating to U.S. critical economic security domains, oversee related activities within the department, and coordinate with relevant stakeholders across the government and private sector, the summary says.
“The COVID-19 pandemic opened our eyes to the dangers of becoming dependent on untrustworthy countries like China for materials that are critical to the daily lives of Americans,” Rep. Meijer said. “I appreciate Ranking Member Katko’s support and look forward to working with him and the rest of our colleagues to safeguard our nation’s economic and homeland security for future generations.”