Measure targets weapons of mass destruction

A bill introduced by Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) designed to enhance efforts to protect the nation from evolving threats has unanimously advanced the House Homeland Security Committee.

Donovan said the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act strengthens national security by ensuring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has the structure, authority, and tools it needs to counter weapons of mass destruction.

The legislation authorizes the creation of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office to streamline and improve coordination and anti-terror efforts while also including language from Donovan’s Securing the Cities Act to permanently authorize the Securing the Cities program, which provides resources for detecting and preventing nuclear and radiological attacks in high-risk urban areas, like New York City.

“Threats facing our homeland continue to change and evolve,” Donovan, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, said.”Government has a responsibility to protect the American people and my legislation alongside the several other bills passed today will improve our defenses and mitigate the dangers we face. The House Homeland Security Committee continues to advance bipartisan legislation to improve security and preparedness efforts, and it’s imperative that they are brought to the floor swiftly.”

The House previously advanced Donovan’s Shielding Public Spaces from Vehicular Terrorism Act and Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act to improve vehicular anti-terror and first responder preparedness efforts.