Meijer bill to bolster economic security advanced by committee

The U.S. House Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill from U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI) to strengthen economic security efforts at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 

The congressman’s bipartisan DHS Trade and Economic Security Council Act of 2021, H.R. 4476, now awaits a vote by the entire House of Representatives. The bill, if enacted, would aim to identify economic risks, set priorities, and establish a coordinated response to economic security issues.

U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) was the original cosponsor of the measure, which was also cosponsored on Oct. 26 by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

“We can no longer assume that our supply chains are functioning, ever-present, and resilient,” Rep. Meijer said during the mark-up of his bill. “Instead, we need to analyze them for vulnerabilities to ensure that DHS can contribute to the goal of greater economic security for every American.”

The legislation would specifically strengthen economic security efforts at DHS by codifying two existing entities within the department: the DHS Trade and Economic Security Council, and the position of Assistant Secretary for Trade and Economic Security within the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans, according to a summary of the bill provided by Rep. Meijer’s office.

The Council would provide recommendations related to the nation’s economic security, including identifying risks for trade, coordinating department-wide activity on trade and economic security issues, and proposing statutory and regulatory changes impacting trade and economic security, the summary said.

The Assistant Secretary would chair the Council and be responsible for setting policy on trade, cargo security, and economic security, overseeing activities within the department related to supply chain mapping and economic security domains, and coordinating with government and private sector stakeholders.

“By codifying these important facets of the Department, this bill sends a clear signal that DHS remains focused on our economic security,” Rep. Meijer said. “The work that this Council and the Assistant Secretary will do is critically important to the nation’s response and resilience to the next, unforeseen global crisis.”