The U.S. House of Representatives advanced legislation last week to help the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) fight terrorist threats from weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
The House unanimously approved the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 2018 (H.R. 6198), which enables DHS to establish the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office permanently. It now moves to the Senate for approval.
“The United States faces rising danger from terrorist groups and rogue nation states who could use weapons of mass destruction to harm Americans,” DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said. “Although DHS has broad authorities to guard against radiological and nuclear dangers, we don’t have the authorities we need to do the same against biological and chemical threats. We must stay a step ahead of our enemies, and this legislation would help us do that.”
Nielsen established the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office in December 2017. If this bill is approved in Congress, the office would be permanently established and be granted new authorities to combat WMD threats. Assistant Secretary James McDonnell currently leads the CWMD Office.
“I applaud the House Homeland Security Committee for their leadership in developing this legislation—especially Chairman Michael McCaul and Rep. Dan Donovan—and all House members who voted to enhance our defenses against WMD threats,” Nielsen said. “I now urge the Senate to do the same—to pass this legislation and send it to the President’s desk for signature.”