The U.S. House Homeland Security Committee approved eight bills last week that seek to enhance the nation’s cybersecurity, surface transportation security, and air travel and cargo security.
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), the committee’s chairman, said America must “continue to evolve and improve our defenses to ensure we are one step ahead of the dangers facing the homeland” after committee approval of the bills.
The committee approved three bills focusing on vehicular and surface transportation security.
The Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act, H.R. 4227, would require a strategy to curb vehicular terrorism, the Strengthening Local Transportation Security Act, H.R. 5089, would prioritize officer and intelligence analyst assignments at DHS fusion centers with high-risk surface transportation networks, and the Surface Transportation Security Improvement Act, H.R. 5131, would direct the Government Accountability Office to review of the nation’s transportation security strategy.
The committee also approved the DHS Cyber Incident Response Teams Act, H.R. 5074, which McCaul introduced to codify DHS cyber incident response teams within the National Cybersecurity and Communications Investigation Center that provide support and assistance in the wake of cyber attacks.
“My bill, H.R. 5074, supports an additional line of defense by ensuring DHS has cyber incident response teams to assist the private sector in identifying, responding to, and mitigating cybersecurity threats,” McCaul said. “This innovative approach serves as a force multiplier to enhance our cybersecurity workforce. This bill, along with the seven other bipartisan bills that passed the House (last) week, are unified in their purpose of improving our nation’s preparedness.”
Additional measures were approved to enhance the security of aviation. The Strengthening Aviation Security Act, 4467, would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to use risk-based strategies when assigning federal air marshals on domestic and international flights. The Air Cargo Security Improvement Act, H.R. 4176, would establish a division within TSA to conduct all air cargo security policy measures and stakeholder engagement.
The committee also approved the Enhancing DHS’ Fusion Center Technical Assistance Program Act, H.R. 5099. The bill would require fusion centers to focus on providing technical assistance with intelligence and information sharing, terrorism prevention, and the State Homeland Security Grant Program and the Urban Area Security Initiative grant program.