Committee Advances Legislation to Reauthorize DHS Joint Task Forces and Secure Technology Procurement Through OTA, Enhance FEMA Outreach

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) released the following statement after the Committee advanced, by a bipartisan vote, legislation to reauthorize the Joint Task Forces of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), reauthorize DHS's Other Transaction Authority to enable the procurement of secure and trustworthy technology, and enhance outreach for the Urban Area Security Initiative and the State Homeland Security Grant Program of DHS:

"I am proud of this Committee's work today advancing legislation to strengthen the homeland security mission while increasing transparency for the American people. By reauthorizing DHS Joint Task Forces, department components like Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Coast Guard can better coordinate to address dynamic threats to our land, air, and sea. Amid growing threats, we also reauthorized the department's authority to purchase cutting-edge technology from non-traditional contractors, addressing critical capability gaps and enhancing DHS law enforcement's abilities in the field.Lastly, by improving DHS's outreach to states and urban areas that receive funds through FEMA's State Homeland Security Program and the Urban Area Security Initiative, these communities can be better prepared to prevent or recover from terrorist threats and other homeland security emergencies."

Legislation reported out of the Committee includes:

• H.R. 9460, ''DHS Joint Task Forces (JTF) Reauthorization Act of 2024," introduced by Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA).
  • This legislation would extend DHS's authority to establish and operate JTFs through September 30, 2026. This legislation includes new oversight related reporting requirements to Congress. The bill would require DHS to: create JTF staffing plans; update Congress on modifications to any JTF's missions and goals; provide annual Congressional briefings on staffing levels and resource needs; and submit to Congress a feasibility report on relocating JTF-East headquarters from Virginia to another location closer to its operating theatre.
• H.R. 9459, ''Producing Advanced Technologies for Homeland Security Act,'' or the ''PATHS Act," introduced by Congressman Michael Guest (R-MS).
  • This legislation will reauthorize DHS use of OTAs for three years, until 2027. This bill requires DHS to provide notification to Congress to explain all uses or extensions of the transaction authority involving artificial intelligence technology. To improve transparency, this legislation will decrease the threshold for what defines a 'covered contract award' under the DHS Contract Reporting Act from $4 million to $1 million. This will require DHS to report transactions valued at $1 million or more on its public website.
• H.R. 9458, ''Enhancing Stakeholder Support and Outreach for Preparedness Grants Act," introduced by Congressman Dan Goldman (D-NY).
  • This legislation requires the Administrator of FEMA to, on an ongoing basis, provide stakeholder outreach, engagement, education, technical assistance, and support, prior to, during, and after the awarding of UASI grants and SHSP grants. This includes conducting annual surveys and other feedback mechanisms to gather input from State, local, Tribal, and territorial stakeholders, and incorporate this feedback into future SHSP and UASI grant funding opportunities.

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